Vincent Neil Emerson at Showboat Saloon

Texas country songwriter Vincent Neil Emerson brings his raw, heartland honesty to Showboat Saloon’s intimate stage, where the historic downtown venue’s 24 taps and local crowd create the perfect setting for his stripped-down storytelling. Emerson writes in the tradition of Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle with songs that chronicle small-town struggles, working-class pride, and the kind of detail that only comes from living the stories you sing.

Showboat shows usually start around 9:00 PM with modest door charges (typically $10-$20). The bar serves food from Tug’s Kitchen until 9:00 PM, featuring Wednesday steak night ($15.95 sirloin, $25.95 ribeye) and Tuesday/Thursday half-price wings. Arrive by 8:00 PM to grab limited seating at the bar or small tables, or plan to stand near the stage where you’ll be close enough to hear every fingerpicked note.

Turn this into a full Dells weekend by booking a riverfront rental through Lake.com. Balance the honky-tonk energy with daytime water activities on the Wisconsin River’s calmer stretches, where you can rent a pontoon and find sandy swimming beaches away from the main tourist areas. Before the show, grab dinner at River Walk Pub & Grill, a riverside spot where you can watch boat traffic while eating Wisconsin cheese curds and local walleye. After Emerson’s set, walk the illuminated RiverWalk back to your parked car, with the river reflecting downtown lights and the evening’s music still echoing in your head.