Concert For The Cause

 Concert For The Cause:

Featuring cKenzi and Duffy McGee

Avenue A Park

Hutchinson, KS

© Lydia Lowe 2013

      A word to the wise, keep your commitments.  It's never good to cancel a show at 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning when you're suppose to play at 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday night.  Why?  Well, if you turn down a chance to play, there is always another band waiting in the wings who would love a chance to perform and would love to be the one who saved the day.  Case in point, cKenzi Millermon.  She returned to Concert For The Cause as the opening act for Duffy McGee on Saturday, replacing Raging Sea.

     cKenzi's voice is so pure and just rings out through the park.  I love to hear her sing outdoors in a festival setting.  She brought good news with her, too.  She has found a producer for her next CD and is currently at work writing the songs for that CD and raising money to pay the new producer, (who happens to be Justin Bieber's producer).  What exciting news.

     Even with the threat of rain, the crowds still turned out in the park and they were a hardy bunch.  They brought lawn chairs, blankets and jackets braving the chilly winds that occasionally made their presence known.  There were plenty of hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill, plenty of pop and water available.  Unfortunately, no Mel Hambelton ice cream van on this night but with the chilly temps, I don't think the crowd was to upset.  

     Duffy McGee took the stage just as the rain was beginning to mist.  They brought banjos with them and played a rousing Blue Grass tune for their sound check.  The crowd burst into applause and after that, even with rain imminent, not a person got up to leave.  A person in the crowd likened the group to a barbershop quartet with a Blue Grass sound track.  I think that's close to the truth.  They harmonized and completed the songs with banjos, guitar and drums.  Truly a treat.  I'd love to hear them play again.  If you missed this performance, you missed one of the great performances of this Concert For The Cause season. 

     Next week, Concert For The Cause has a special treat planned.  It's a benefit for the Hutchinson Zoo.  The concerts, yes concerts, will begin at 10 a.m. and run until 10 p.m.  They'll be music in two locations on two separate stages.  So, check out DCI Park and Avenue A Park.  There will be food and drinks at both parks as well as some other surprises.  Feel free to come and go as the day progresses and enjoy some great live music, outdoors.