Get ready for the Summer Live Music Events
I know - I know ! It’s hard to think about planning for outside events , festivals , bashes and celebrations when all we have had is rain . Now I ain’t complaining (who’d listen) ! I am always optimist (mostly) when planning for a picnic or a festival ! So I hope for good weather and great events this Summer Season . After the long lockdown , we all need a big dose of Happy ! So mark your bank calendars for the upcoming opportunities for Summer fun for the whole Family !
Starting off with a full weekend ,Fri. Sat & Sun. - June 4-5-6 , in Heavner City Park . It’s called First Friday Food Fair and Trade Days . And plans are to continue on First Friday thru the Summer . I had another chance to visit with Barbara Tyson and get more info . The event is hosted by the Heavner Lamplighter Theatre . It will be a fundraiser . There will be several ways to contribute to the restoration fund and bring the Historic building in Downtown Heavner back to a place that is usable again . Check out their fb page to see the work in progress . Vendors , contact Barbara Tyson at 918-653-2187 or email BarbaraJTyson34@gmail.com ! To make a donation to the Heavner Lamplighter Theatre , there is a gofundme set up or If you want to donate and you do not wish to use goFundme make your checks out to the City of Heavener Lamplight Theater Account. Mail the check to the City of Heavener C/O City Clerk, 103 East Ave. B, Heavener, OK 74937
OK , back to Live Music . This First Friday event has food , crafts , a Flea-Market all 3 days . But Friday Night at 7 pm , there will be a chance for pickers and grinners to jam , share songs and just have a good time . I’m asking for those folks that I know that sit in at other jams to take a nite to support this cause . And get to play for a different crowd of listeners . This will be fun .
Then on Sat. Nite at 7 , It will be an Open MIc Nite ! Singers , bands , Comedians will have a chance to show their stuff . So two nites to be able to play and sing ! And help this worthwhile cause . Fix the Lamplighter Theatre and we can start playing music there again !
Father’s Day weekend , June 19th from 9 am til 7 pm , there will be Big doings down at Talihina . Almost as big as the County Fair , this event is called the Talimena Scenic Mountain Bash ! It has a BBQ contest , pony rides , a cake walk , a pie-eating contest , a bigfoot photo booth and more ! But my interest lies in the Live Music ! On stage at Noon , my friends , MJ and the Geezers .
Some of the best Homegrown LeFlore Co. talent that we have to offer . This acoustic trio sings a wide variety of music from classic Rock to Red Dirt/Americana and just plain folk music ! Great arrangements , tight harmonies and awesome talent on several instruments - guitar/mandolin/harmonica ! This is my Guarantee that you will enjoy them ! MJ and the Geezers are a great fit for this event !
Then , apparently , they had to import some talent from Antlers - Pushmataha Co. (just kidding) and at 2 pm singer/songwriter Robert Shores takes the stage ! He is a popular singer , well known along the Red River . He has a great voice that is keeping Country alive and pure ! What a great wordsmith , shaping lines that make ya think of love and loss , country backroads and goodtimes ! He tells his story of making a couple of lifestyle changes and his comeback to performing again !
Great testimony of recovery that could've ended like a sad George Jones song ! And he is making the most of this time around . He has some great originals about those days ! It will be a couple of hours that you will need to have a lawn chair with ya to sit and listen !
Then , Gatlin and Hoffpauir kick off at 4 pm . This husband/wife duo sings original songs written and recorded while performing in Austin Tx .
They moved to Big Cedar and have shared their music with folks from Ft. Smith to the Red River ! Connie sings like a songbird , sweet and clear . David has some real life experiences from his rodeo days , great songs ! And his lead work on their songs tell a story , sad and blue - happy and free , but an awesome style that can only come from years of practice and just an incredible talent on guitar !
Now the one thing that gives David a chance to build these lead parts around is the rhythm guitar that Connie lays down . She is the very best acoustic rhythm guitar player for 300 miles . And I mean that ! I got a chance to play lead for her one nite at the Coffee Cup and she made me sound good !
Make plans to hear my friends - Gatlin and Hoffpauir !
So a couple of events that are in the works are , Connie Abbott and Country Pride in the Pocket Park , More info to follow . Poteau’s Fourth of July Celebration with Live music at the City Center and Grannie’s Nightmare will be playing Downtown that day , too !
This weekend , Sat. the 29th , Rearvue Mirror will be on stage at La Heurtas on Garrison . This is a great place to hear some Americana/Red Dirt music . This trio has a big sound and a wide variety of music . It starts about 7 !
Send info to 918-649-5736 or tj.wiles61@outlook.com !