Musee de Venoge

06/20/2026

06/20/2026

This is a one time only musical adventure!

Join us Saturday, June 20 from 6 to 9 pm. for "Along the Banks of the Ohio: Popular music of the Indiana Frontier!”

We have a full evening of music, merriment, history and stories! Two historical drinks and delicious summer refreshments are included in the price.

The concert will take place outdoors on the Venoge grounds. You can bring a lawn chair, a blanket or find table space inside the Hayloft Tavern located in our barn. Site opens at 5:30 pm.

This is a ticketed event. Tickets are $20 available through our on-line link until 3 pm. https://Venoge.betterworld.org/events/along-banks-ohio-popular-music-i Or buy yours at the door for $25.

06/19/2026

WE'VE GOT MORE CARGO ON OUR FLATBOAT!
Venoge is proud to announce the addition of Ryan Vallo to our list of performers for this Saturday's concert: "Along the Banks of the Ohio", Music of the Indiana Frontier. Ryan is an accomplished professional actor who has just returned from two years studying in Scotland. He was the voice of Jacob Weaver in our film "To Make a Beginning."

Ryan will be giving a reading from the Fourth of July Oration given by Daniel Webster. Grand orations were popular and meaningful entertainment to Americans of the early to mid 19th century.

He joins our musicians, The Traveling Caudells, Adin Pemberton, Michael Kruse, and your host Michael Thompson. The concert is from 6 to 9 pm. Saturday June 20 at Musee de Venoge. The Hayloft Tavern opens at 5:30. Two historical libations and plenty of snacks are included in your concert ticket price.

In fact, the only thing not currently on our flatboat is YOU! Buy your tickets in advance for $20 by using this direct link. Tickets may be purchased at the door, but will be $25. Buy now and save! https://venoge.betterworld.org/events/along-banks-ohio-popular-music-i

06/18/2026

WAKE UP! WAKE UP!
Paul Caudell here, of the Traveling Caudells, reminds you that if you snooze, you lose. Our special outdoor concert “Along the Banks of the Ohio” Music of the Indiana Frontier, is this Saturday June 20, from 6-9 PM. Location is the Musee de Venoge, 4085 Hwy 129, Vevay, IN 47043. Tavern opens at 5:30.

Tickets are $20 each IF PURCHASED IN ADVANCE USING THE ONLINE LINK BELOW. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but those will cost you $5 more. Save that money and purchase yours now by using this online link. https://venoge.betterworld.org/events/along-banks-ohio-popular-music-i

Wake up Paul, you’re on!

06/15/2026

ONLY ONE???????
Perish the thought! At our upcoming concert "Along the Banks of the Ohio" Music of the Indiana Frontier, you get two. By that we mean included in your ticket price you get, not only the outdoor concert and snacks but TWO, historic libations served by TWO historic Tavern Keepers.

Pictured here is the one and Only "Himself" and Captain Vincent Dufour of the Helvetian Artillery. You've seen them in our YouTube series "Tales from the Tavern". These....two... will be behind the bar of our Hayloft Tavern. It is located in the barn immediately adjacent to the concert site. Count on them dispensing not only the ardent, but more than likely arguing over which is the superior military branch of service: the Infantry or the Artillery!

The concert is this Saturday June 20 from 6 to 9 pm. The Hayloft opens at 5:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased either online or at the door. Our two Tavern keeps want you to know that if you purchase your tickets in advance the cost is only $20. BUT, if you wait to purchase at the gate the cost is $25. Here is the money saving, buy in advance, online ticket purchase link: https://venoge.betterworld.org/events/along-banks-ohio-popular-music-i

SAVE YOUR HARD EARNED CASH and purchase now. Our tavern keepers hope you will appreciate them cluing you in on this money saving tip. They encourage all like minded patrons to use some of the money saved to tip them for their speedy dispensing of the ardent. They remind you: "If you must throw money at them, please throw the paper kind as it hurts less!"

We'll see you on Saturday!

06/11/2026

MEET OUR MUSICIANS! PART 4
Ten days and counting. Until “Along the Banks of the Ohio” Music of the Indiana frontier.
On Saturday June 20th from 6-9 PM Musee de Venoge is sponsoring this special musical event. Our tavern opens at 5:30 PM. Tickets are $20. They include not only the concert but libations and snacks. Purchase your ticket using this link. https://venoge.betterworld.org/events/along-banks-ohio-popular-music-i

Tonight, we introduce you to our final performer, Mike Kruse. You have seen him on our YouTube channel. Now meet him and hear his music in person. Mike wants you to know, you won’t be able to do that unless you purchase your ticket in advance…time is running out. Here is a little bit about Mike you will find interesting.

Michael is a self-taught musician from Cincinnati. Starting on a toy organ he got for Christmas when he was 10, next a plastic Tiger guitar with a small amplifier. A few years later, a small drum kit appeared, and was set up in the basement, just below the kitchen, from where his mother could enjoy his playing along to Monkee albums. Over the years more instruments appeared and enthralled Michael.

In 1969, yet another guitar appeared on his bed. A Yamaha classical, a real instrument! Soon after, he began forming his first band with friends, playing at local YMCA dances.

The next phase saw him playing in a nine-piece horn band, The Crystal Web, the band was managed by William Dickerson, the music teacher at his Junior high school, who later became the first Principal of the School for Creative and Performing arts, in Cincinnati.

In 1977 he purchased a sunburst Les Paul custom guitar to play in the band Warlock, who played at the first WEBN fireworks in downtown Cinci.

In 1981 he hit the road with the Hyroller band, playing 5 and 6 night a week gigs and constantly traveling, to 14 states over a 2-year period.

In 1983 he joined the band Orphan Ante, and in the summer of 1984 traveled to London England. Michael remained in London and found work as a roadie, working for Kiss, The Moody Blues, Elvis Costello, Barry Manilow and others.

He then moved to Rome Italy, where he lived for 24 years, playing with several groups, during that time, recording an album, “Back to the one I was” with Fab and the Hoopsnakes.

He worked 8 years at the Italian Senate, including a 3-year stint in the Senate library, playing music all the while. Returning to the states in 2008, Michael worked solo gigs in South Eastern Indiana. In 2016 a duo was formed, adding the beautiful voice of Kathy Holcomb to the mix.

Michael's musical influences are many and varied. Hearing Michael Thompson’s wonderful traditional violin playing at the Venoge cottage introduced him to early American music, expanding his musical knowledge even further.

06/07/2026

MEET OUR MUSICIANS! PART 3
In just 13 days, Saturday June 20th from 6-9 PM our flatboats will be casting off for “Along the Banks of the Ohio” Music of the Indiana Frontier. Our tavern opens at 5:30 PM. We have a memorable outdoor concert planned for you at Musee de Venoge.

Tickets are $20 which include the concert, two period adult libations or unlimited non-alcoholic libations. Purchase yours using this link. https://venoge.betterworld.org/events/along-banks-ohio-popular-music-i

Tonight, we are introducing to you to someone you have seen singing and playing his mandocello in our Musee de Venoge videos, the one and only, Adin Pemberton.

Adin is a long-time musician and reenactor from Cincinnati Ohio. His music specializes in Irish and Scottish traditional songs along with the history associated with them. He sings, plays mandocello and bodhran, and performs with the band “The Roving Rogues”.

06/04/2026

MEET OUR MUSICIANS! PART 2
Our Saturday June 20th performance of “Along the Banks of the Ohio” Music of the Indiana Frontier, is now just over two weeks away. The site opens at 5:30; the show runs from 6-9 PM at Musee de Venoge. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased using this link. https://venoge.betterworld.org/events/along-banks-ohio-popular-music-i

To get you ready for this incredible evening of music, songs, storytelling, meet the man who is putting it all together, Michael Rennells Thompson.

Michael is Emeritus Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati. He earned a Ph.D. in Biophysics at the Medical College of Virginia in 1974. From 1975-1977 he served as a basic research scientist achieving the rank of captain in the U.S. Army at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

In 1997, he decided to follow a passion and left the university medical school environment for a second career. He apprenticed in instrument making in Naples, Italy. He builds, repairs and restores instruments, teaches and plays violin for historical dance.

At numerous historical reenactments and fairs, he sets up his “workshop” and demonstrates and teaches virtually all aspects of instrument making and playing, one on one with children and adults alike. His goal is to stimulate curiosity, especially in children, but then for them to discover directly by "seeing and doing”, use and respect for traditional materials and methods. Most especially, his goal is to instill confidence in their own manual skills and abilities, to follow dreams to become more active, creative people.

05/31/2026

MEET OUR MUSICIANS! PART 1
On Saturday June 20th from 6-9 PM Musee de venoge is sponsoring “Along the Banks of the Ohio” Music of the Indiana frontier. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased using this link. https://venoge.betterworld.org/events/along-banks-ohio-popular-music-i
To get you ready for this incredible evening of music, songs, storytelling, and plenty of historic libations we will be publishing brief biographies of the talented performers who will be gracing our stage.

Our first introduction is for Paul and Kim Caudell, known as the Traveling Caudells.
Paul and Kim Caudell (known as The Traveling Caudells) have been involved in living history since 1995. Over the last three decades, they've performed at historic sites and events all over the Southeast and beyond. Paul and Kim have a special interest in keeping the music of the past alive for modern audiences and teaching people what music was like before the age of amplification. They reside in Old Hickory, Tennessee with their dog, Teddy Blue Roosevelt, and will celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary in July.

05/25/2026

LET'S FINISH SPRING BEFORE WE START SUMMER!
And we have a great way to do just that! Traditionally Memorial Day marks the official beginning of the summer season. Technically June 21 is marked as the beginning. That means the last day of Spring is June 20!

You can mark the day and celebrate the end of Spring with Musee de Venoge! Mark your calendars now and join us for "Along the Banks of the Ohio" Popular music of the Indiana frontier!

From 6-9 pm on Saturday June 20, we are hosting an outdoor concert of these fantastic period musicians. Join Paul and Kim Caudell, Adin Pemberton, Michael Thompson and Mike Kruse as they take you down a tuneful cruise of the river that helped define early Indiana. This is a first of a kind event for Venoge. Why?

Our concert is outdoors!

Be sure and bring a lawn chair or spread a blanket. Tickets are $20 each. They are available in advance using the link found at the bottom of this post. Two historical libations are included with your ticket. Our period tavern, The Hayloft, will be set up inside our barn. Limited seating can be found there.

This promises to be a wonderful evening that you will long remember. "Along the Banks of the Ohio" is less than one month away. Don't let the flatboat cast off without you! Book your passage by purchasing your ticket today! Here's the link: https://venoge.betterworld.org/events/along-banks-ohio-popular-music-i