Turning brown grass to Bluegrass

This Friday night, regardless of whether it rains or not, we are going to turn the brown grass of Fountain Park to Bluegrass … compliments of Feller and Hill & the Bluegrass Buckaroos.  Formed in 2012, Tom Feller and Chris Hill follow in the tradition of such legendary duos as Flatt and Scruggs and the Osborne Brothers. Their music is also heavily influenced by classic country greats Buck Owens and Ray Price.

In 2014, their release of Here Come Feller and Hill … Again! reached No. 2 on Sirius XM”s most played list. They are joined on stage by Bluegrass veterans, Mark Poe and Bobby Davis to create the Bluegrass Buckaroos. Their latest release is a Southern Gospel recording from Tommy Hillpicker records entitled “I firmly promise you.” It is receiving rave reviews in the Gospel Bluegrass circles.

For those who have been waiting for Bluegrass to return to Fountain Park, your wait is over. If we can’t have green grass in the park, we can at least create some Bluegrass in the form of music. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a beautiful evening with Feller and Hill & the Bluegrass Buckaroos this Friday night. Phi Beta Psi will be dealing up the food, so I encourage you to support this non-profit organization of ladies who do many good things throughout our community.

I can’t remember having such rave reviews and comments as I had after last Friday’s performer, Chris Higbee. Although we had a good audience, the weather forecast must have scared a few from attending. The evening was actually very pleasant. The heat was an issue for those setting up in the afternoon, but by the start of the show, the sun was setting behind Eggerss Stadium and it became a perfect night for a concert in Fountain Park. If you did miss it, you literally missed seeing a fiddler on the roof in Fountain Park!

This Friday could be another hot day, but pleasant evening.  If you enjoy Bluegrass, Country and/or Gospel music, then I invite you to join your neighbors, friends, and visitors to Fountain Park. It all starts at 7 p.m.

The next week is a bye week for us on August 5. The Van Wert Area Community Concert Band has chosen to perform on August 19, while August 12 is our big summer finale and it features an outstanding concert all ages should enjoy: “The McCartney Years.” You will hear music from Paul McCartney and Wings, as well as the many memorable songs Paul wrote as a member of the Beatles.

If you are still looking for a fun event in Van Wert this weekend, you might head to the fairgrounds on Saturday or Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Railroad Heritage Days. Model trains and other interesting items will be on display all over the fairground buildings.

Larry Webb just stopped by to pick up some summer concert brochures and told me they have grown to three buildings now at the fairgrounds. This 13-year celebration got its start when we presented the “Singing Trainmen” in Fountain Park.  I’m glad the VW County Historical Society has continued this wonderful event.  Check them out this weekend if you get a chance!

The box office at the Niswonger is still busy as people are packaging three or more shows and concerts and selecting their seats early. There are a number of events leading the ticket sales right now. The Hitmen are a surprise leader in ticket sales, followed by the Andy Williams Christmas Extravaganza, REO Speedwagon, The Time Jumpers with Vince Gill, and several others.  Although a few of the earlier concerts have released single tickets to the public, you can purchase any of the 26 by bundling them with two others.

The Gala concert featuring Bernadette Peters opens to the general public on January 4.  Members, Sponsors, and Grand Series supporters will have the opportunity to purchase during December.  Check the catalog or online at NPACVW.ORG for those dates.

The interesting aspect of the Boston Pops performance in Van Wert is that it is the only performance of their tour where you will have the opportunity to see Bernadette Peters with the Pops. Their tour throughout the major cities of the Midwest is the Boston Pops by themselves. To help make our gala extra special, we have combined these two dynamic performers to create a night of “wow!”

There is much to look forward to this year.  Some of it will finish up soon in Fountain Park, but then continue in a major way as we celebrate “Ten Years of Wow!” at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.

FINÉ.