Perry County’s MUSIC ON MAIN STREET 2012
SUMMER SATURDAY NIGHTS OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES

Perry County’s ambitious Music on Main Street, the all-Summer and every-Saturday-night concert series is back this year, alternating from week-to-week again, between Linden and Lobelville.  The weekly and free-admission music series kicks off in a few weeks in Linden, on the Perry County Courthouse Square, with a special Memorial Day weekend concert Saturday, May 26.  And every Saturday night this summer, each weekend in either Linden or Lobelville at 7:30 PM, the music will continue, featuring a vast array of musical styles and performances each week.

The Music on Main Street 2012 shows with local, Nashville and regional talent includes beloved bluegrass-roots artist Mike Webb, 1980’s country soul and hit-maker Razzy Bailey, beautiful harpist/songwriter Deanna Loveland, award-winning, critically-acclaimed group Blue Mother Tupelo and guitar wiz John Richards.

Beach Music Hall-of-Fame member Clifford Curry returns, along with hit singer/ songwriter Jim Sales and Perry County’s countrified Willie B. Turner Band.  Perry County and Lewis County will be well-represented as Manuel Ledbetter & Friends will serve up decades of classic country favorites.  Harmonica wild man Roguie Ray LaMontagne will be back to Music on Main Street in 2012.

Other acts already booked include Walter Eagan (who had the pop mega-hit single “Magnet and Steel”), Gary Talley, of major blue-eyed soul group The Box Tops (who had the four million-selling #1 single “The Letter”), Nashville jazz group Eight O’ Five Jive, Perry County’s beloved yodeling preservationist McDonald Craig, country-rocking gal Donna Frost, folk singer Mike Dunbar, Cajun king Les Kerr, Los Angeles-based blues band The Deltaz, multi-talented songbird Joy Lynn White, the Lawrenceburg show band Skyliters (who are celebrating their 50th year performing as a group), and saxophone extraordinaire Evan Cobb.

“It’s hard to believe that we now are in our third year, and little by little, this thing keeps growing, and the word-of-mouth from folks on how good the shows are, is what keeps it going,” bragged Lobelville Mayor Robby Moore.  “We’ve done thirty outdoor concerts these past two years, and people have enjoyed every one of them.  I hope more and more families will realize that this is the place to be on a Saturday night this coming Summer.”

Music on Main Street 2012, will now have the very first hour (7:30 PM to 8:30 PM) of every week's summer concerts, broadcast live on WNKX - 96.7 FM (KIX 96), from Centerville.  The station’s coverage includes Dickson, Perry, Hickman, Lewis, Wayne, Decatur,  and other southwestern Middle Tennessee and northern Alabama counties.  The weekly concerts will be held rain or shine, and “weather locations” are currently being sought.  Organizers are hoping that possibly the Mason’s Lodge on the square in Linden, and the new Public Works building in Lobelville can be named soon as locations in the event of weather.
 
“Simply, if there is a chance of rain or stormy weather for any Saturday night this Summer, everyone will already know that we’re moving everything inside to a pre-determined location that night,” explained Cristal Odom, with the City of Lobelville.  “The Saturday night concerts, and the hour radio broadcast, will now be held rain or shine, and that is a huge step for us. We just have to determine where exactly those designated rain locations are going to be in each town.”
 
Rounding out some of the talent on tap for 2012, are Nashville all-female eclectic band The Granny Whites, veteran entertainer Joe Sun, (who had the Gold country single “Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You”), the late Jerry Reed’s talented daughter Seidina Reed, renowned Nashville songwriter Wood Newton, (who has written numerous million-selling country hits including “Bobbie Sue” and “Riding With Private Malone”).

“We have grown in these two years, and continue to flourish despite much fanfare and publicity outside of Perry County,” added Mayor Moore.  “The word-of-mouth buzz, of people telling others how good the concerts are each week, is what has slowly impacted the number of people attending these family-friendly shows we’ve already presented. I know this coming Summer, everyone will really be proud of our efforts.”

The Lewis County-based Inman Brothers & Six Stroke will rock Lobelville in August, and Perry County’s own Lost Creek will co-headline with the hard-working Johnny Collier Band in June.  Cigar box bluesman Little Johnny Kantreed and Nashville thinking-man tunesmith Tommy Womack are also on the schedule.

“In this modern realm of instant info and quick internet accessibility, I really hope folks will take time to look up all these people scheduled this year, and see just how gifted they are,” challenged Music on Main Street organizer Hugh Waddell. 

Also new this year to Music on Main Street, is that many of the acts will backed by The Main Street Orchestra, the house band consisting of Waddell on drums, Alabama country-rocking guitarist Johnny Collier, bluesman/guitarist Clyde “Memphis Blue” Dotson, renowned Hammond B-3 organist Moe Denham, Nashville bass man John Terrence, and back-up vocalist Pat Tambour.

Waddell continued, “I always say this and I mean it, that given the tough current economic hardships of this rural area, to be able to offer a few hours of grand music to the people of South-Central Tennessee is a blessing we are privileged and proud to be a part of.  There are great shows booked showcasing quality and diverse talent, right here in Perry County, every Saturday night.”

All of these summer-long, outdoor concerts are free admission, and patrons are urged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for optimum seating comfort.  Cans of delicious creamed corn will be given away.

The Lobelville shows will again happen at Main Street Music Park, right next to the Lobelville City Hall.  Linden’s concerts will happen in front of the Perry County Courthouse on Linden’s newly-refurbished Courthouse Square.  Food and drink concessions will be available onsite. The success of these concerts has already led to Perry County becoming the permanent home for the  Tennessee State Finals of  the prestigious national Texaco County Showdown.

“This year, we have several food vendors lined up, and one is featuring some of the best funnel cakes and corn dogs you’ve ever tasted,” Waddell added.  “We’ve got vendors coming all the way from Columbia to tiny Perry County every week, just because they want to be a part of Music on Main Street.  I just hope we get people that live only a few miles away to come join us, as well.”
The Music on Main Street Summer Saturday Nights Summer Concert Series is sponsored by Perry County’s own Buffalo River Review and the Perry County Chamber of Commerce, and co-produced jointly by the towns of Linden and Lobelville. 

For more information, call 615-876-3400, find Music on Main Street on Facebook, or contact the Perry County Chamber of Commerce (www.perrycountytennessee.com).