The FurLow Riders are a blues and rock band that formed in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in the fall of 2009, named in honor of the state-imposed furlough days for public employees. Their repertoire includes blues classics (Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon), rock and roll (Chuck Berry, the Kingsmen), and blues rock of the ’60s and ’70s (the Rolling Stones, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, the Doors).

Lead singer and guitarist Joe Gow serves as Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-L), and has been singing and playing the blues for many years. Drummer Bart VanVoorhis, a professor of psychology at UW-L, recently dusted off his drum kit after a long hiatus and hasn’t missed a beat. Bassist Nizam Arain, a recent transplant to La Crosse from Chicago, serves as UW-L’s contract administrator and risk manager. The band also includes frequent guest vocalist Betsy Valentine, and keyboardist/bagpiper Carmen Wilson, who will soon be leaving UW-L to become the newest Campus Executive Officer and Dean of UW-Rock County.

More information including performance schedule, video clips and photos can be found at www.furlowriders.com.