Jackson Junction will cut loose and run wild with full intent to excite both the younger and older crowds when it takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Fred’s Dance Barn .

At Fred’s it is pretty wild, lead singer and rhythm guitar player Dave Clark said. We can just let our hair down out there.

Originally a local-based band, Jackson Junction is a popular favorite at Fred’s Dance Barn, north of Route 13 on Route 6 between Carbondale and Carterville.

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Fred’s booking agent Fern Palmer said the band’s performance is typically a huge success because of the members’ ability to play off of each other so well.

It is nice to see such a tight band perform, she said. They always bring out a big crowd.

Clark said he feels the band’s popularity may be credited to the flamboyant crowds and laid-back environment at Fred’s.

I love it. It is one of my favorite places to play, he said. There is always a good crowd, and they really get into what we are doing.

You can be yourself there with no restraints on you.

Clark said the band will receive numerous requests from the enthusiastic crowd throughout the evening and tries diligently to squeeze all of the popular tunes into its show.

I wrote some songs for the band, but at this time we do no original music. But we plan to eventually incorporate some of the [original] songs, he said. Requests are good for us because of the capacity of our band we can account for most of the instrumentals in the songs.

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Despite the band’s ebullience, Clark and his fellow band buddies find practice time difficult and far-fetched.

It is just very difficult to practice when we only see each other once a week when we play, Clark said. The entire band has full-time jobs outside of the music and we are spread out all over.

I’ve always felt music is my life, Clark said. If I can feel that the crowd is having a good time, then I know I’m doing my job.

Clark also said it is a solemn relief to see the band’s talents can distract some persons problems away for them.

When you’re seeing people enjoying themselves, you can’t help but feel your getting their mind off of their stress, he said. That should make anyone feel good about themselves.

Clark said the crowd revolves around the main objective of the band, which is to fully entertain.

We love [performing] but not because of the money, Clark said. We all have the same goal in mind, and that is to just step up there and have a good time and see that the crowd is having as good of a time as us.

Doors to Fred’s Dance Barn open at 7 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30 p.m. There will be a $5 cover, and patrons 21 and older may bring their own alcohol.

For information, call 549-8221.