CFTC-A Benefit for The American Cancer Society

photo by Bob Hunter

  Concert For The Cause

By Lydia Lowe

     And then there was the dance off.  It was another first for CFTC on Saturday when two little girls felt the beat and just had to get their dancing feet moving.  One by one more kids of all ages, shapes and sizes began joining in and by the time the song was done about two dozen kids were dancing on the grass in front of the stage.  There were even a few cartwheels thrown in for good measure.  By the time the last song played the adults on the other side of the stream had joined in and we had a dance off!

     It took some time for the first performers to hit the stage on Saturday night at The Hip Hop for Hope Show.  When the music finally got going, the crowd had gone through some ebb and flow but the crowd in the park when the show began were solidly behind the performers.  DJ Spawn, from Junctions City, kept the music going through the down times and mixed the sound when the performers were on stage.

     KeyBoy and Josh Lightsey aka JWheelz kept the crowd entertained.  They rapped together and each did their own music.  These two are always entertaining and fun to watch.  The kids in the crowd were delighted.  They danced, they joined in singing on songs that they knew, and once in a while JWheelz would sit on the side of the stage and a group of star-struck young ladies would hop up on the stage next to him, swinging and swaying to the music as he sang.  There were other entertainers on this night but KeyBoy and JWHeelz stole the show.

     There was also another interesting thing that happened.  I wasn’t sure what to make of it.  There was a young man who showed up who goes by the name Skylow.  Somehow he got a mic and at one point during the show “delivered his message”.    The crowd wasn’t really sure what that message was all about, it had something to do with the Lord and “seeing with your eyes and heart” but other than that, I’m not sure what to make of it all.  He delivered his message, left the stage and was never heard from again.

     The featured non-profit was the American Cancer Society and they were pretty pleased with the turn out.  They were rocking out to the beat up by the visitor's center.  They’ll be another concert this coming Saturday, so if you are looking for a nice evening out with the family, come to Avenue A Park, have some food and drinks, enjoy the music, and help out a great non-profit.

CFTC-A Benefit For The Red Cross

Concert For The Cause

By Lydia Lowe

      Concert For The Cause had a rocky week leading up to the Saturday concert.  On Sunday, both of the featured performers, Staynlis and Sara Phoenix cancelled at the last minute.  It’s too bad when bands don’t follow through on their commitments, especially when they make these commitments a year in advance so it’s already on their schedules.  Fortunately, though, there are always those waiting in the wings ready to take advantage of any opportunity and then run with it.  

     Saturday’s show featured Riley and Kathy Withrow and Burgess Martin along with Dominus X.  Kathy filled the park with her friends and acquaintances as well as the CFTC regulars who attend every concert.  Kathy treated us to two hours of 60’s and 70’s classics as well as a variety of country songs from the same era.  Some of the more memorable tunes for me were: Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon and Garfunkel), The Letter (The Box Tops), Silver Threads and Golden Needles (Linda Ronstadt) and The Good Old Days (Roseanne Cash).

 

     Burgess Martin and his band, Dominus X, along with Burgess’ sister, Burgundy rounded out the evening.  Burgess rearranged his schedule with his employer, Olive Garden, at the 11^th hour to perform for CFTC.  A big thank you goes out to Olive Garden for making this happen.

      Burgess and the band, as well as Burgundy, did a great job.  Burgess did his tap guitar method for several original songs he’d composed.  If you haven’t seen Burgess and listened to the songs using his tap guitar method, you’re missing out.  Check him out on YouTube.  There were some concert-goers who were really into the original material and when I mentioned he was playing a guitar, all eyes turned to the stage because it’s hard to believe that he’s getting that sound out of a guitar.  He also played bass and guitar at the same time, and changed it up by using a bow with the guitar.  You just never know how far Burgess will push the envelope.   Burgundy sang a couple of songs and I hope we hear her sing more in the future.  And of course none of this would have been possible without the rest of Dominus X filling in the background tracks.

     It was a first for CFTC as the non-profit, The Red Cross, did not show up to prepare the food or sell drinks.  While we didn’t have food, we did have drinks and we did collect a small donation.  If you haven’t been to CFTC this year, you’re missing out.  You never know where the concert series will go, so if you haven’t checked this downtown Saturday night staple out yet, make it a date to go this coming Saturday night.  The non-profits and weekly concert listing is on the website.  Also, check out the ad’s on the radio at 93.1, SNB Bank’s and HGECU’s electronic signs each week.

Artist-Don Lind

Sculpture Walk-Hutchinson

By Lydia Lowe

     I went to the artist reception for the Sculpture Walk and got to interview three of the artist's who were here for the opening: Nelson Escalante, Gregory Johnson, and Don Lind.  Check out the artwork of Don Lind and the interview with the artist.

Prairie Windsong

Artist-Gregory Johnson

Sculpture Walk-Hutchinson

By Lydia Lowe

     I went to the artist reception for the Sculpture Walk and got to interview three of the artist's who were here for the opening: Nelson Escalante, Gregory Johnson, and Don Lind.  Check out the artwork of Gregory Johnson and the interview with the artist.

Books Flying Off The Shelf

Gathering of the Magnificent

Artist-Nelson Escalante

Sculpture Walk-Hutchinson

By Lydia Lowe

     I went to the artist reception for the Sculpture Walk and got to interview three of the artist's who were here for the opening: Nelson Escalante, Gregory Johnson, and Don Lind.  Check out the artwork of Nelson Escalante and the interview with the artist.

Musicale

Pink Meditations

Biker Schick

 
 

CFTC-A Benefit for The Salvation Army

 

Concert For The Cause

By Lydia Lowe

      Concert For The Cause set its biggest attendance record yet, this past Saturday.  This weekly event on Saturday night in Avenue A Park just keeps getting bigger and better.  If you’ve never been to a CFTC event you are missing something because you just never know what will happen.  This past Saturday one of the bands donated some inflatables to the Salvation Army and these were set up for the children in the park to enjoy.  The inflatables were quite popular as was the splash park just over the bridge.  There were fire spinners during VOS’s performance.  It was pretty spectacular as the evening wound down to darkness.

      The evening’s music began with Fraktured Black from Salina. Their music is smooth and just great to listen too.  I was somewhat shocked when they classified their sound as hard rock.  I could detect elements of that in their lyrics and with the sound but their music goes way beyond the hard rock genre.  To classify them as a typical hard rock band doesn’t do their music justice.  Many dismiss hard rock and don’t give it a chance.  In fact, where I was sitting there were a group of folks that had come to hear one of the other bands on this evening and weren’t very happy about having to sit through a “hard rock” band.  But that all changed once the music began.  Their little group was be-bopping in their seats to the tunes that Fraktured Black delivered.  You’d have been hard pressed to find anyone in the park who wasn’t totally into the music.  This group has redefined what “hard rock” means.

 

     Up next was Godzillionaire and as the name implies they came from “outta Hutch space”, the band is from Lawrence, and trampled their way through town to the gazebo at the park.  Unlike their pseudo namesake, who just makes lots of raucous noise, these guys can really sing and play great music.  They classify themselves as heavy space rock.  But to classify this group as heavy rock misses the mark.  Their sound is unique and you can tell that from the very first taste of their lyrics.  If the crowd could have gotten them to play longer, they would have.  Hopefully, they’ll be back again, soon, because they’ve already begun to establish a fan following in Hutchinson.  I heard from quite a few people that they felt the band was wasting their time in Lawrence.   They should just move here and play in venues around Hutchinson.  A statement like that says a lot.

      Then, it was time for VOS AKA Victims of Spotlight to take the stage.  It happens everywhere, VOS shows up and the park, the bar, whatever venue they play fills up with fans.  Many of those in the park had come at 7:00 pm because they didn’t know what time VOS would play and they didn’t want to miss them.  Saturday’s concert did not disappoint.  The guys were in fine form and played what’s become their signature song, Twlight Zone, to round out their set.  The crowd hung on and wouldn’t let them leave.  It was so hot but the guys took a quick break and did a couple more songs for the fans.  The fans hung in there waiting through the break.

      If you haven’t been to a CFTC event, come down to Avenue A Park on Saturday nights from 7:00 to 10:00 pm through the end of August and check out the event.  Every week there’s a different charity to support, great music, food, drinks, and fun.  Plus you’ll probably see most of your friends and neighbors there, too.

Sculpture Walk-Hutchinson

     While it may not be a big walking sculpture tour, like some in surrounding towns, it has its own charms.  There are several things that set this tour apart from the rest.  

     As each sculpture is set downtown, it can be viewed.  It's not covered up.  Every trip down Main Street brings surprises and delights.

     All the sculptures face the street so you can drive by rather than having to walk.  Some folks aren't able to walk the entire route so this makes the art accessible to all.

     The "Best In Show" is announced at the artist reception which is held at the beginning of the event.  Mr. Eggwards won "Best of Show.

     The artists are accessible.  The Art Center held a lovely reception with drinks and desserts.  It was really nice.  Donors of sculptures from previous sculpture walks were recognized and honored.  The public was invited.  It was really a wonderful reception.

     Sculptures were grouped into categories: such as the multiple Humpty Dumpty sculptures.  Several artists had multiple entries: such as Nelson Escalante and Gregory Johnson.

     The overall feel of the show is relaxed and laid back, rather then nerve racking and uptight.  I think it's because the show is one you can do at your own pace, from the very beginning, as the artwork is set out and put on view.   It's much better than being forced to participate in day long regimented activities in the hot sun with an overwhelming amount of art to view.

     Check out upcoming posts that feature more of the artwork from the walk along with interviews with the artists.  Following are a few more photo's from the walk.

Canteen Lady by Sondra L. Jonson

Comforter by Karen Crain