John Hancock and the Skirtlifters!

Dance the night away to the sounds of ragtime music in the New Rosebud Cafe at Scott Joplin House State Historic Site on Feb. 12.
The Skirtlifters and John Hancock will get your toes tapping to the pulsing baseline and march tempo of traditional ragtime music. The Skirtlifters, a band from northwest Arkansas, specializes in ragtime, square dance and late 19th century and early 20th century traditional and authentic music including American rags, gallops, marches and minstrel tunes. Composing and performing ragtime music is a favorite hobby of John Hancock, a sixth generation Missourian, and the music of Scott Joplin is his favorite. Period clothing is welcomed for the event, but not required. Light refreshments will be served. Contact the historic site to make reservations to attend this annual ball.
Annual Rosebud Balls were once held at the Rosebud Cafe, the turn-of-the-century bar and gaming club that the New Rosebud Cafe is modeled after. These events featured food, piano duels and music, including some of the best musicians around.
Scott Joplin House State Historic Site is located at 2658A Delmar Blvd. in St. Louis. For more information about this event or to make reservations, contact the site directly at (314) 340-5790 or call the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 1-800-334-6946 (voice).
The event, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is free and open to the public.