Free Summer Fun

If you are feeling the economic crunch and still would like to enjoy the summer with family and friends I have a couple of ideas for you.

I went to free concerts this weekend.

They have been a long-standing tradition in some communities from Nashville’s symphony in the park to enjoying a concert from a local band by the lake. I have never attended any of these, until now. I hopped over to McMinnville to Main Street Live (http://www.mainstreetmcminnville.org/play/calendar.php) and then to Winchester for the Music by the Lake (http://www.franklincountykiwanis.com/MusicByTheLakeEvent1.html) sponsored by the Kiwanis and The Herald Chronicle, the local paper in Winchester TN. I saw two completely different bands and had a great time at both events. Bring your chair or blanket, grab some friends and get ready for a great time. Usually they have food and drinks for sale but all city park rules apply as far as drinking goes.

Now that I have said all that, the first place I went was McMinnville’s Main Street Live. The M.C. for the evening is local radio celebrity Jeff Barnes from radio station

Jeff Barnes Star 107

Star 107. The Security Federal Saving Bank at 306 West Main transforms its parking lot and lawn to make a beautiful stage and seating area. If you live in that part of the country you know the air hangs thick with faint smell of honey suckle and lilac. After all, this is Nursery country. A place where the outdoors is a part of making a living and a tree isn’t just something to curse in the fall but a source of revenue. McMinnville Nurseries are known all over the world. The lawn area used for seating has a slight breeze and the cooling comfort of the shade trees makes for the most pleasant of evenings. McMinnville has a free concert every Friday so you have plenty of opportunity to catch a great show. Yes I did say free. I went to see Entice http://enticemusic.com . They are a 70’s funk band with the strong guitars, drums and the whaling of the saxophone. Which we all know, I am particularly partial to any thing that has horns.
Now if you want to sit with your hands folded and just enjoy the sound of the music, while relaxing under the shade trees, don’t go see this Entice. Entice http://enticemusic.com is big into audience participation. If you love music and want to clap your hands stomp your feet and even sing out a bit then Entice http://enticemusic.com is a must see band. This is a band that is booked well into next year so if you get the chance to see them take it. I have always had an exceptional time with this band. The energy they bring to the stage and to the audience is best experienced, rather than described. They have made me forget about the pouring rain or the extreme heat. The founding members of Entice include: Eugene, Renee and Derel Ewing other members are Virgus Ewing, Ron Ballentine, David Martin, the sax player was Karl Wingruber.
I can’t wait to see them in the future. As for the Main Street Live in McMinnville, TN. http://www.mainstreetmcminnville.org/play/calendar.php I hope to go back and would like to thank all the sponsors Security Saving Bank, Dr.Pepper, Star107 http://www.star107fm.net/personalities/jeff_barnes.php, for concert information in Tennessee, Boys11 Men to the Jonas Brothers go to http://www.star107fm.net/concerts.php, BLTV http://www.bltv.net/index.html
Up coming Main Street live McMinnville Tn. Concerts
June 26th The Tennessee Four
July 3rd Four on The Floor
July 10th Rubber Soul
July 17th The Boomers
July 24th Joe Harvey Band
July 31st Timeline

Be sure and give a listen to Jeff Barnes on Star 107 6am to 10 am Monday thru Fri. Their County affiliate is 105.3 WOW, McMinnville’s Information Station 960 WBMC -
Main Street Live is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Arts Commission and the National endowment for the Arts.

The next night I went to see Music by The Lake sponsored by the Kiwanis www.franklincountykiwanis.com of Winchester, TN. and the Herald Chronicle www.heraldchronicle.com. I don’t need much of an excuse to go to the lake and the Winchester Park is on part of the Tims Ford Lake. There is not much better than being able to pull your boat up to a free concert. The Kiwanis www.franklincountykiwanis.com and Herald Chronicle http://www.heraldchronicle.com along with WCDT radio and the city of Winchester have provided fun blow-ups for the kids for slide down climb thru. The next event there will be water fun. Music By the Lake is only a once a month event but, like McMinnville, it is a free concert. All you need is a chair. If you wish to purchase food there is food and drink available. They also have Shaved Ice, hamburgers, candy and a variety of soft drinks. Because this is Winchester City Park the rules for drinking and firearms apply.
On Saturday the 20th I saw Steve Middlebrooks and the Sleepin Hounds. http://sleepinhounds.com/index.html They did of course bring the Middlebrooks dancers. If you haven’t see the Middlebrooks http://sleepinhounds.com/index.html dancers they are as much a part of the show as the music. While their husbands sing the young women dance and they can also show you how to line dance. It sounds a bit old fashion and maybe it is, but these wives aren’t sitting in the corner pouting, they are laughing and having a good time. They have shown a lot of men and women and young adults to line dance. I think the way the families’ work together has created a recipe for success. Good music and good fun. Steve and the Sleepin Hounds play every Friday Night at Troy’s Place in Ringgold, GA. The place is packed with dancers. They play a compilation of their own songs and old stand-bys. Steve and the Sleepin hounds are about ready to go back into the studio, but for now you can find their music here http://sleepinhounds.com/our_music.html. I cover a lot of country bands and they are one of my favorite bands. The Band Members are: Steve Middlebrooks – Lead Vocals, Lead guitar; Tim P – Bass Guitar; Paul Middlebrooks – Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals; Richard Brannon – Drums; Tim Middlebrooks – Fiddle, Steel guitar, Vocals; Tommy Middlebrooks – Rhythm Guitar & Vocals. Look for Steve and the Sleepin Hounds At Troy’s Place in Ringgold, GA every Friday night. For information Troy’s Place, 320 Emerson Drive, Ringgold, Ga. Steve and The Sleepin Hounds 8-11 p.m. each Friday. $6. No-smoking-or-alcohol venue. (706) 965-8346. Want to learn to dance www.chattanooga-dancesport.com

The up coming concert for Music By The Lake;

Lee Gibson
with special quest
Valerie Borman, Veronica Leigh, and Amanda Jo Chandler
 
Children activities begin at 6:00. All Water this time
Music begins at 6:30
Concessions available with freshly grilled burgers and hot dogs.
IT FREE,Bring a lawn chair
If you use this link it will take it to the Franklin County Kiwanis web site;:
 
www.franklincountykiwanis.com