City Hall Bar & Grill features live music
Hans Ritter, who recently finished recording his first full-length album, will be the headliner as City Hall Bar and Grill presents a night of live music on Friday, Feb. 15.
Ritter graduated from Russell-Tyler-Ruthton with City Hall Bar and Grill manager Jordan Dressen in 2009. His album, entitled “Wondrous Place,” was slated to be released in the middle of February, but due to unforeseen complications, is set to be released in early March.
“This will sort of be his album release party,” said Dressen, about the music night at City Hall Bar and Grill. “This should be a fun night for everyone.”
It will also be a birthday celebration for Ritter, who turns 28 on Feb. 15. Music will take place in the activity room north of the bar area with Jesse Breems of Marshall starting out at 8:30 p.m.
He will be followed by Broken Oak around 9 p.m. HJR will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. Broken Oak, a duo act featuring Jake Moravetz and Mark Colvin, performed in Veterans Park last July in Minneota as part of the ‘Music in the Park” night in conjunction with the final Farmer’s Market of the season.
HJR is a solo act who plays elements of country and progressive in his songs. He writes all his own music, including all 10 singles on the album. His top individual song on the album is called “Dancing Silhouettes”.
Ritter first got into music while in high school at RTR. He is a self-taught guitar player.
“I beat the heck out of the guitar until it started sounding good,” he laughed. “I learned a few things form other musicians, too, but basically I taught myself how to play.”
Ritter currently attends Minnesota West in Canby and is enrolled in the Electrical program. “I know how hard it is to make it as a singer,” he admitted.
“So I want to make sure I have a job. Music will be a sideline.” Ritter’s album was a “three-year passion” that concluded last month with the final recording.
The album is being produced by Henrickson Sound in St. Paul. “Andy Henrickson also graduated with Jordan and me at RTR,” said Ritter. “This album wouldn’t have been done without him.”
Ritter’s music was inspired by several influences in his life. “I would get a thought for a song and write it down on a piece of paper,” he said.
“I’m always writing. I’ve got pads of paper all over.” Because the project took so long to complete, Ritter admitted that there were frustrating times.
“There were moments when I wondered if this was ever going to happen,” he recalls. Available in the restaurant will be the February specials which include Canjun pizza, spicy honey garlic chicken wings, and a fried bologna sandwich with homemade spicy brown mustard sauce and diced pickles.
“We also recently added wraps to our menu,” said Dressen. “They have been a really popular item.”
Wraps include Buffalo, Chicken Bacon Ranch, Garlic Parmesan, and Southwest. There will also be an alcohol special the night of musical entertainment; City Hall brews will be reduced.
And Dressen also noted that the Valentine's Day special on Feb. 14 will feature a prime rib dinner with baked potato, side salad, and mini cheesecake.
Trivia Night at City Hall Bar & Grill
Every third Thursday at 7 p.m. of every month will be Trivia Night at City Hall Bar and Grill, with the inaugural event slated for Feb. 14. Teams can be comprised of one to six individuals.
Prizes such as gift cards, T-shirts and more will be given to winners each week. “There will be a variety of categories,” said Katie VanHecke.
“No pre-registration is necessary and there is no cost to participate.”