For more than a year, The Banjo Bill Show has been gaining viewers on YouTube and Facebook and for the first time on October 21 at Greener Groundz, fans will be treated to a live version of the show.

According to Bill Green, “Banjo Bill and BJ are portrayed in the YouTube videos as struggling local musicians—performing most often at the fictional Wagon Wheel Inn somewhere outside of Bowling Green—with day jobs in a local factory. But they have never performed together live until now. Nor have Sheldon and I. Fiction and reality will smash together for the first time October 21, and I hope sparks will fly.”

While the personas of Banjo Bill and BJ Redman, featured in the show, have existed for some time, their colloborations on video began in 2009,  prompted by the actual event of of Banjo Bill being invited to sing the National Anthem at a local baseball game but not being called to the field once there.

After the incident the two created a short, comedic video entitled Banjo Bill at the Ballpark followed by The Musicologist.  Though seen as one time videos, reaction to the footage promoted them to create an ongoing series.  The first official entry, the Yankee Next Door began introducing the duo’s friends, family and neighbors, several of whom became regulars and will make guest appearances at the live show.

“We expect most of the continuing characters and guest stars from the Banjo Bill Show to be at our first live show next Thursday, to chat with us and join in rousing choruses of “I’ve Got Friends in Low Places.” James Catalan, who plays lead guitar with Rock and a Hard Case and will be the guest star in the next Banjo Bill Show, is expected to be there jamming with us. James has already played the psychotic CIA agent in my video “Free to Go,” and I’ve directed him in three Fountain Square Players plays.  The bulk of the show will be music, original songs by Bill and Sheldon and a few favorite covers. Bill and BJ will be onstage in character, chatting with each other and the audience between songs, and you may expect new material, not retreads of YouTube shows.”

Among the guests expect to be seen are: Luther played by Jerry Wallace, Maybelle played by Marie Gutherie, the Yankee Lady played by Donna Lauth and Bill’s blind date played by Deanna Weaver.

Banjo Bill is played by William Green who has been performing and hosting open mics for more than a decade under the moniker.  A CD was released under the stage name, as well as a popular video (currently over 16,000 hits on YouTube.com) of the title song “Bowling Green”.  Green has also directed a variety of plays for area theatre companies and had several of his original plays produced on stage.

BJ Redman is played by Sheldon Shaffer and was created for a music video of his comedic song “My Truck is Broke”.  Another pre Banjo Bill Show recording of a monologue by BJ Redman later became the basis for the “Rodeo” episode of the show.  Shaffer is a professional blues/rock guitarist which can frequently found at Kentucky Blues Society Jams or with his band Shady Jake and the Upsetters.  Also a stage actor, Shaffer first met Green when he was directed by him as the lead in a Blithe Spirit.

To subscribe to the Banjo Bill Show visit Bill’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/BanjoBillGreen