Preaching to the Unconverted With Free Music, Line Dancing : Live bands and prizes are part of K-Hay radio Country Celebrations held at store openings and parking lots.

If you’re a country holdout but would like to see what all the noise is about, you might try sampling some free line dance lessons and country music at a K-Hay radio Country Celebration.

These parties are usually held on a weekend afternoon at store grand openings, parking lots and bowling centers. You can bring the family to enjoy country music provided by live bands, meet the radio personalities, and collect prizes and giveaways. Sometimes the sponsors also provide food, especially tri-tip barbecue.

A maximum of three Country Celebrations are held each month. Sometimes they are fund-raisers, like a recent carwash for Future Farmers of America. But the next celebration will take place Saturday at the Borderline in Malibu. K-Hay personalities Charlye Parker and Bob Allen will be on hand to collect canned food for the Malibu fire victims, give away K-Hay T-shirts, CDs and other goodies. The evening will feature live cut-ins and deejays will broadcast remote live from the club as they report on the disaster relief progress. Ya hoo!

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You’ll have to wait ‘til New Year’s to hear Most Wanted again. The band was booked to play the Crazy Bull in Camarillo this weekend but lead singer Floyd Wayne told me he blew his vocal cords and needs time off. No wonder. I caught their last gig at the Bull and was blown away myself by the power of Wayne’s pipes--especially on a John Fogerty number.

But the high-energy band will play the San Marcos Bowl’s City Line Club in Santa Barbara, Dec. 31. And they’ll be back at the Bull once a month through June.

P.S. The Crazy Bull’s owner is still booking lots of bands for the weekends. But there’s been a change of management. Could that mean no more Best Buns contests? We can only hope. . . .

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Miracles do happen! That pesky surfboard-table at Splash nightclub is out. And the two barrels are soon to follow.

Rick Henderson, deejay for the Simi Valley Radisson Hotel’s country nightclub, assured me that dancers will no longer have to cue up for a ticket at that bottleneck to two-step.

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Splash is a great and jumpin’ place on Tuesday nights. But if you’re looking for a darker, more intimate atmosphere with good bands and plenty of room to dance on a good floor, Simi Valley’s best kept secret is Cousin’s Country Saloon just down the freeway from Splash.

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Here’s another well-kept secret: Nicholby’s Upstairs Pool Hall and Lounge in Ventura has just introduced an acoustic folk and country night on Thursdays. And in case you haven’t heard, Nicholby’s refinished its dance floor and will continue to dedicate Sunday nights to country dance lessons and dancing to live bands. For the time being Sarah Pierce and the Healers and Sky King are playing in rotation.

About a month ago nearly 90 members of Country Lovers checked it out and agreed with me that this place has great potential. Bands play on a lighted, raised stage, tables can be moved back to accommodate more dancers, and, gals, if your fella doesn’t dance, just park him at one of 10 pool tables while you tear up the floor.

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Plan to arrive early on Friday and Saturday nights to avoid waiting in line at the new Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks. Otherwise, some folks have figured out that there’s now more room to dance at the Malibu location.

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Jay Bee’s in Agoura Hills is still serving alligator and other eats. But dance instruction and live entertainment are on hold temporarily while it straightens out some paperwork.

Meanwhile, Country Western Nite held on Tuesdays at the Westlake Inn is history. It just switched to top 40 music. “Sometimes you’re the windshield. Sometimes you’re the bug.”

Robyn Loewenthal, an avid two-stepper, welcomes all news of country doin’s around the county. All submissions should arrive at least two weeks before the event. Write to her at 5200 Valentine Road, Suite 140, Ventura, 93003 or send faxes to 658-5576.

Details

* WHAT: The K-Hay radio Country Celebration and fire relief food drive at Borderline Bar and Grill.

* WHEN: Saturday, 8 to 11 p.m.

* WHERE: 30765 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

* FYI: For more information, call (310) 457-5212.