Item World: Tangled Up In Billy
For years, the annual summer gathering at Wolfe Park in St. Louis Park has been to celebrate the music of Bob Dylan. But on Saturday, two dozen Twin Cities musicians were not just celebrating Dylan’s tunes but also the music and work of Billy Hallquist. An organizer of this long-standing event, the St. Paul singer-songwriter is battling colon cancer. His pals not only interpreted his songs for a few thousand concertgoers but was saluted for raising $35,000 the past five years for Guitars for Vets, a national nonprofit that gives guitars and lessons to veterans. That Milwaukee-based organization gave Hallquist a “gold record” on Saturday to commemorate his service. “I have a feeling it will go on,” he said when accepting the award. “The good Lord willing, I plan to be here next year. But you never know when you’re gonna get hit by a bus.”
Jon Bream