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An open mic at the Northland Ballroom in Stevens Point led to a lot of open doors for Horseshoes & Hand Grenades. It was there in 2009 that five University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point college students first bonded over bluegrass music.

"People asked, 'Can you come jam at our house? We can give you free beer,'" said guitarist, vocalist and dobro player Adam Greuel, 23. "We didn't even have a band name."

These days, its name carries a strong reputation, thanks to the band's soul-nourishing, toe-tapping tunes and crackling live sets.

"I've had booking agents contact me and say they want Horseshoes & Hand Grenades on the bill," said Cathy Dethmers, owner of High Noon Saloon. The band headlined the 400-capacity venue in Madison in December; the show sold out, as did others in recent months in Green Bay, La Crosse and Stevens Point.

"The music is approachable, and you can tell on stage they are fun-loving guys," Dethmers said. "It makes the whole show just feel like a big family having a good time together."

Horseshoes trekked to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2012, where it won third place in the band competition. Last year, it opened a La Crosse gig for country legend Merle Haggard, a career highlight thus far, Greuel said.

Rustic, romantic "This Old Town" came out just last year, but Horseshoes is already working on its fourth album, and is in talks with some bluegrass talent agencies.

"We're putting a lot of blood and sweat and tears into our music and our career," Greuel said. "We can't say with any certainty what direction we'll go, but we'll play it as it goes."

Listen to the song "Wisconsin Water."

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