Located on Wildcat Creek Road in Manhattan, you’ll find Liquid Art Winery, a hidden gem that’s been crafting delicious wines since 2014. They’re open to the public year-round, Wednesday through Sunday. In 2020, they built an amphitheater that was originally designed for dreamy wedding events. As the venue has grown, so have its offerings — it now hosts lively concerts, making it a perfect spot for both romantic moments and fun-filled nights out.
On Friday, Sept. 26, Liquid Art Winery is hosting Pretend Friend, featuring a special appearance by the Kansas State Pub Crawl Band.
The event, held on the winery’s lawn, encourages guests to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Every age group is welcome to attend, with children under 10 admitted free of charge. Wine tasting is open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., with Pretend Friend starting their set at 6:30 p.m.
Pretend Friend is a progressive bluegrass band based out of Wichita. Progressive bluegrass is a fusion of Americana music styles with rock elements. Grant Boesen founded Pretend Friend, where he is the songwriter, lead singer and guitarist. As the band’s founder, Boesen’s multi-faceted role is deeply rooted in the diverse moments that inspire his creative process.
“I write songs about my experience, whatever it may be,” Boesen said. “Sometimes it’s my story, sometimes it’s my perspective of someone else’s story. I enjoy the creative freedom that comes with combining aspects of different genres. I like making something new that feels familiar. It’s all music.”
This personal approach to songwriting is translated to the stage, where Boesen believes live performance is a powerful tool for creating a community connection.
“Performing is about connecting with my bandmates and the audience,” Boesen said. “It’s so fun. I’m looking forward to it. Their team [Liquid Winery] has been great to work with so far, and I love an outdoor venue.”
His enthusiasm for the outdoor setting is well-founded, as the band is no stranger to large-scale, open-air events.
“I have played events like this all over the country,” Boesen said. “I tour solo and with my band, playing more than 150 shows each year. Each show is fun and unique.”
He is planning a special lineup for the show that he’s excited to bring back to Manhattan. With the excitement, there is a lot of work that goes into show preparation.
“Rehearsals, coordination, promotion, etc.,” Boesen said. “There’s a lot that goes into show preparation in more of a long-term sense. I’ve done this for 10 years, so the preparation is constant. I’ll build a setlist specifically for this show and make it a unique experience.”
For Boesen, the life of a touring musician is an act between the thrill of a lively show and the logistical challenges, a duality he embraces wholeheartedly.
“The best part of performing is putting on a high-energy show and letting the music take you for a ride,” he said. “Making music is pure joy. Being a touring musician, you get to meet some of the best people around, wherever you are. There are hard parts of touring. Coordination, being on the road, interpersonal challenges, etc. You do it for the lifestyle and the excitement, and graciously accept the challenges that come along with it.”
Boesen takes every show with a grain of salt and uses them as a growing and learning experience, just like the Kansas State Pub Crawl does.
Ethan Oppold, a sophomore in mechanical engineering, is new to the Pub Crawl experience and has taken the experience with grace and excitement.
“I joined the band because I have seen the videos of the Pub Crawl going through Aggieville, and the crowd at Kites was going nuts,” Oppold said. “The band was running around doing random shenanigans that seemed like so much fun to be a part of.”
With the new excitement of the band, Oppold had the pleasure of going to Ireland this past month with the band, fulfilling his dream.
“The most memorable moment was for sure doing the Pub Crawl in Ireland,” he said. The energy was off the charts from the crowd, and even though the streets were completely filled with purple, we had such a blast. My favorite moment was spotting some family friends in the crowd and seeing their huge smiles on their faces while we performed.”
The tradition and energy of the Pub Crawl band have made Oppold fall more in love with Manhattan and the band.
“The Pub Crawl is a mix of different emotions,” Oppold said. “At first, it’s the excitement of seeing the band come in, and then the confusion of trying to figure out what each section of the band is doing while playing the fight song super slow, and then back to excitement as we stand up and play fight song and Wabash proudly.”
With a shared passion for bringing music to the community, the two bands are excited to collaborate.
