When I was young I used to think when you became a mother your life was over, at least your social life. When I had kids of my own I discovered that yes life does change, but it doesn’t have to be as dramatic as you might’ve thought. Motherhood shouldn’t prevent us from having fun, children should enhance the fun. The wonder of a child is a beautiful thing, and sharing new experiences, like rocking out to a couple of sweet bands at a concert at the Shitty Barn in Spring Green, WI with my 5 year old is a true gift.
As the evening approached, my mind was reeling. My husband and I were bringing our 5 year old son, and I began to question whether we should have arranged for a sitter instead. Up until then, I had been preoccupied with end-of-school preparations and planning for the upcoming summer and hadn’t given much thought to my decision to take our little wild child to what I would’ve considered an adult venue. Although the Shitty Barn website clearly states that “Children 5 years and older are welcome with a ticket, no questions asked.” I was still a bit nervous about my decision.
Earlier that afternoon my little guy and I had stopped at one of our favorite places, Rumble Seats, to grab a sweet treat to celebrate the end of school. Rumble Seats brings back nostalgic memories from my childhood. The place has a drive up, walk up and indoor seating area. It’s reminiscent of an A &W, serving much of the same fare. However, this is definitely not a chain restaurant! The eclectic mix of memorabilia inside and out spans a few decades, I would guess; and there are so many oddities hidden in the old roof trusses, we always find something new.
On this particular occasion we were sitting outside, enjoying the warm sunshine, indulging in our delicious frozen treats; I was sitting at one of the many picnic tables, and my little guy was playing on the aged Yogi Bear teeter totter. I was preparing him for our evening, outlining a few expectations, telling him where we were going and what we would see, when he very loudly busted out chanting “Shitty Barn”! His outburst nearly caused an elderly couple to drop their ice cream! I caught a glimpse of the couple’s open mouths as they stopped midway getting into their car and suppressed a laugh as I loudly told him, “Yes, that is where the concert is tonight.”
The clock was ticking towards 6 p.m., and we were on our way to an evening I wasn’t sure I was completely prepared for, but we were doing it anyway! “No turning back now” I said, laughing lightly as my husband maneuvered our truck onto the lush green grass surrounding the barn. He looked at me with a sideways eye and just smiled. I took a deep breath, struggling to calm my frazzled nerves. Think positive and it will be positive I told myself. It was our little guys first concert, and I had time out with my boys, it was going to be a good night. At least I had the tickets! Out in this part of the beautiful driftless countryside you don’t always get the best internet connectivity, so I had saved them directly to my phone.
We were slowly meandering across what I supposed must be a parking area when suddenly a small figure appeared to our left. A boy, who looked about the same age as my 11 year old son, dressed in a bright yellow vest, was waving his hands at us. He was directing us where to park, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was the son of one of the owners. I was left to speculate, for as soon as we had parked the young man was off, kicking his soccer ball across the green space.
Upon entry my husband and I were greeted by Sarah, one of the many co- owners, and our little guy was asked if he wanted to ring the gong, that’s how they signal the start of the show at the Shitty Barn. He looked at me with big wide eyes and shyly declined. When it comes to crowds and speaking to adults he can be quite shy, but when he thinks no one is watching he’s a completely different child.
As soon as we were through the gate I made a b-line for the bar, hoping to ease my nerves and settle my frazzled mind. I was somewhat stunned by the choice of adult cocktails: beer, wine or hard cider. It was Spring, but the heat of summer had already begun to settle in. Hard cider sounded perfect, but they had 3 different kinds, and I’d never tried one before. The bartender, who also happened to be a co-owner, asked a few questions, then gave me his recommendation, which turned out to be spot on!
We had arrived about an hour early, stopping to grab cold sandwiches on the way. I wasn’t sure if there would be food on site and I wanted to make sure the beast, aka little guy, was fed before the show. It turned out there was a food vendor, Wander Provisions. They have a place just down the road in Spring Green, and I had wanted to try their menu for some time. I love trying new local spots, and knew everything they carried was regionally sourced, which made it all the more appealing. Seeing as we already had our dinner in hand, I settled for a chocolate chip cookie, sneaking in just one bite before handing it over to the little guy. I will definitely be visiting their place soon.
The cold drink in my hand and chill atmosphere eased me into a comfortable state of mind. I looked around the yard, taking in each piece of the place. My eyes kept wandering to the rack of Shitty schwag, T-shirts, sweatshirts, even canvas tote bags bearing the venue’s name. I had to have a serious talk with myself about want vs need; I really really wanted a bag!!! Ultimately I came to the conclusion that I really didn’t need another bag; but if we go back, and I do plan on another show, I’m totally getting one! A friend asked me after the show, “How often do you get the chance to run around sporting Shitty Barn on something”?
Before the music even began we were having fun! The vibe at the barn was very laid back and no one seemed to mind that our 5 year old was at the show with us. I was intrigued by the variety of patrons, but one woman in particular captivated my attention. She appeared to be a regular fixture at the barn, or so it seemed, but completely alone in her own space, she stood out from the crowd. I stopped to chat with her for only a brief moment and found out that she had only missed one show at the Shitty Barn since it opened in 2010! I didn’t even catch her name before I was pulled away, my little guy tugging at my hand, squealing excitedly.
There is plenty of green space around the barn, and our little guy delighted in running circles around the array of tables scattered throughout. Some of which are supported by whisky barrels that he insisted they must’ve gotten from pirate ships! Our little guy elicited nothing but smiles from everyone he crossed and even provided a few lucky people with some pre-show entertainment, continually jumping off one of the wooden benches around the fire pit until it nearly tipped over. Then it was on to attempting to scale the wood pile, peering through each and every window in the place and investigating a bees nest. Even the music tech indulged us, answering questions about the “trap door” we had stumbled upon during our exploration.
One of our most intriguing finds were the Shitty Barn’s interior walls. They are covered in posters of past bands, and I delighted in indulging little guys’ questions about what the bands names were as he chattered away about why he liked them and what he thought the logos might mean.
The barn has limited in-house seating, but most people had brought their own chairs anyway, us included, so there were plenty of options. Our little guy took up a position on the highest chair he could find, way in the back, refusing our chairs as expected,. The lack of seating is purposeful, leaving plenty of open floor space for those that are inspired to leave their chairs behind and move to the music.
As we waited, some of us impatiently; it almost felt as if I was watching a movie scene unfolding, watching my husband laugh with our little guy about something only they shared. Entranced by the sinking sun, a burning glow emanating through the doorless entry, I was lulled into an almost dreamlike state of relaxation; of which I’m certain the couple of ciders played a role in.
We heard a low thrum, drawing our attention to the front of the barn, knowing the music was about to start. The moment the band began, our little guy’s gaze became fixated on the scene in front of him, enthralled by all the lights, pulsating drum and vibrant guitar. When the songs were finished we would all clap and holler, little guy included. I absolutely loved watching his reactions, perhaps my favorite part of the show. It takes a lot to garner more than a few minutes of my child’s attention, so for him to sit through an entire set, I clearly wasn’t the only one who thought both bands were absolutely amazing!
Our trio’s unanimous favorite was the small town band from Milwaukee, “Holy Pinto”, that one patron commented sounded like Ben Folds 5. They were somewhat of a mismatch crew, with a lead singer from England who had the entire audience rolling with laughter. His interactions enhanced our experience, making it a memorable show for us all.
What started out as an afternoon walk along the anxiety high wire quickly manifested into a chill evening filled with good times, great music and left us with memories I will forever cherish. The incredibly interesting venue, friendly staff, cool bands and hidden location make the Shitty Barn a true diamond in the rough, and an absolute must experience.
By Stephanie Campbell
