Last Thoughts of the Festival

Year after year I am amazed with the quality of shows, concerts, and events that is brought to Lancaster for the Lancaster Festival. Each year, I think this is the best Festival yet - and then the next year’s event is even better.

The same is true for this year. Unfortunately, because of the death of my father on July 17, I was unable to attend the events as planned. However, the ones I was able to go to were, as always, most excellent.

It has been exciting for me to cover Festival events for seven years as a reporter for the Lancaster Eagle Gazette, one year for the Towne Crier, and three years as an online reporter with the Lancaster Festival. It was my pleasure to have a weblog for people to log onto and read my thoughts on the various events. Thank you to those who took the time to read my blog and post comments.

I want to thank the Festival organizers, Lou Ross and Maestro Gary Sheldon for out-doing themselves with the quality of talent you brought to us to enjoy. They cannot do it all themselves. There are countless numbers of people who work hard as volunteers to make the Festival possible. I encourage people to consider to be a volunteer next year - there is so much to do that everyone can do something to help. Another thing you can do is to take the time to thank the organizers and give them your feedback. They welcome your thoughts and comments - as well as suggestions for performers for future concerts. After all, this is Lancaster’s own festival. they want to make sure that you truly enjoy this special time of the year.

I woud like to know your thoughts about this year’s Festival and am curious as to who you would like to see perform during the Festival. Feel free to make your comments - tehy will be passed on to the Festival office.

I only have one more word - BRAVO Lancaster Festival (okay that was three!!) BRAVO!!

Kenny Loggins - we love ya!!

Thank you Lou Ross, Maestro Gary Sheldon and the Lancaster Festival organizers!!! Thank you for bringing Kenny Loggins to the Festival for one of the best concerts I have attended throughout the years. I have always been a fan - and I became a bigger fan after Saturday’s concert.

I also thank my oldest brother Kenny Saunders Jr. for visiting his son in Pickerington and staying out of town for the last concert.

Allow me to explain. Kenny moved to California years ago and doesn’t make back to Lancaster too often. When he does, he always wishes for a good hard thunder and lightening storm because they don’t happen in the Golden State. And he always manages to experience at least one during his visits - much to our chagrin. The thing is, when he visits in the summer, it’s during the last week of the Festival. If you can recall the concerts that were cancelled because of storms - those were times when Kenny was in town. When I worked at the Lancaster Eagle Gazette, the reporter who was assigned to the Saturday headliners always asked me if Kenny was in town. Anyway, Kenny kept teasing us about raining out the Kenny Loggins concert. So when I woke up Saturday to a cloudy day with threats of a storm, I was upset with him. However, he and his wife went to visit his son. So, the show went on.

I had to laugh at Kenny Loggins’ remarks as he looked out over the tree lines and saw the two big white clouds that competed for the coolest lightening show. On occasions big thick lightening bolts went from one cloud to the other. Loggins said the gods were putting on an awesome light show. “We don’t have anything like this in California, we only have wimpy sheet lightening.”    

Loggins and his band put on a storm of a show. of their own. He captivated the audience with his opening song “This Is It” and didn’t let go until his last song. He easily talked with the audience between songs in a personal, down-home manner. After singing “Sweet Love,” he turned to the Festival Orchestra and said, “This is such a rush to have this kind of music behind me.”

Loggins drew laughter when he talked about the story behind “House at Pooh Corner.” He said he was a senior in high school and he wrote the song instead of studying for a final. He told the kids, they didn’t have to study, just write a good song - but quickly reassured the parents otherwise.

Loggins sang several songs from his upcoming album Leap of Faith including “Real Thing” and If You Believe in Me.” He had audience members help him sing familiar songs, often holding the microphone out towards the audience and allow them to sing without his help.” I heard many people say they didn’t realize how many songs they knew but didn’t realize they were Loggins’ songs. Some of the more familiar songs, besides the Christopher Robin song, included “Addiction of the Heart,” “I’m Alright,” and “Everything is Going to Be Alright.” A sea of people crowded in front of the stage and danced during the entire set.

I was far from disappointed when he sang my personal favorite ‘Celebrate Me Home.” Oh my goodness!! I had goosebumps throughout the song. He SANG that song! Instead of the piano solo in the middle of the song, lead guitarist Scott Bernard played a wicked solo that almost had me on my feet. Loggins walked off the stage and into the audience while singing this song. He shook hands, received hugs from women, posed for pictures - all while singing. I only wish I was down at the stage!

By the end of the concert, the audience did not want Loggins to leave. Their thunderous applause and screams brought Loggins back for two encores - “Momma Don’t Dance and Daddy Don’t Rock and Roll,” and “Footloose,” and then “Forever in My Heart.” Someone yelled he couldn’t leave without singing “Danger Zone.” But he did.

Maybe he will if the Lancaster Festival organizers bring him back for an encore performance.

Community groups closes final day

The Lancaster Festival always open with the international Festival Orchestra at St. Mary Church. It is most fitting that the local Festival closes with performances by local musicians and singers.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon, local talented groups were showcased at the bandstand in the downtown area. The Lancaster Summer Youth Band and the Lancaster Fairfield Youth Choir gave Festival goers a glimpse of the future of music in Lancaster, while enjoying their present talent and dedication. The Youth Band, under the direction of Judy Rehrer, and the coaching of various members of the Lancaster Community Band, is made up of students grades five through nine. Whenever I listen to the band, I can’t help but remember when I was downtown to listen to my daughter play her saxophone. She thought it was the coolest thing to play for the Lancaster Festival. I thought it was the coolest thing for her to play the saxophone in any band setting in public. This helped her when she played in the Band of Gold, Swinging Gales and other bands throuhgout her high school career.  The Lancaster Fairfield Youth Choir, under the direction of Andrew Brown, is becoming famous in their own right. They recently went to New York City and performed several concerts at two large churches.

The Lancaster Community Band under the direction of Judy Rehrer is always a treat. Just watching them play, you can sense their love of music and desire to play together. The ages and playing experiences of the band members vary, but not the enjoyment of being in the band. They played songs including from Disney’s “Mary Poppins” - one of my favorite Disney movies. 

The newest vocal group - One Voice - I think has changed people’s perception of barbershop singing. I have to hand it to Mary Jo Stratton, the founder of One Voice. She has been the driving force behind several community choral groups, including the Unity Singers, Celebration Singers, and the Olivedale Senior Choir. I have always loved listening to barbershop quartets - especially after watcing “Music Man” as a kid. To me, barbershop traditionally is a quartet of four men - one who has to have a great mustache. I was always jealous because I didn’t fit that image. After the performance by One Voice, Mary Jo has shattered that traditional image. And the traditional barbershop songs they performed were just as enjoyable. Judging from the crowd’s reactions, she made a believer of others.

Congrats Mary Jo on starting another successful group in Lancaster. Don’t be suprised if you see me walking into a rehearsal in the near future. It has always been may dream to be part of a barbershop group. I have a low second alto/first tenor singing voice. And I promise to leave my mustache at home!!

Kenny Loggins Closes 2008 Festival

In an evening that began and ended with light rain, Kenny and the Orchestra played to a large, happy crowd.

The Festival Orchestra plays Hava Nagila

Kenny Sings to the Dancing Crowd up front

Arnett and Friends has sweet soul sound

When I used to go out dancing people would yell “party over there, party over here.” The same could be said for Lancaster tonight. There was a party going on downtown and one jumping off at the Eagles on the Far East side of town. And everyone was having a good time.

There were several events taking place in the downtown area. After the bike races for kids, Jack Blankenship hosted Poetry Open Mike at Art & Clay on Main. This gave anyone interested a chance to recite their poetry or writings, sing, or play an instrument. Performing on the Broad Street stage was the returning favorite of local musicians, Rosemont Crossing. The three-part harmony and guitar playing reminds me of a Peter, Paul and Mary type of singing. The group performed original songs and contemporary favorites. The group consists of Donna Rawlins, Doug Wenger, Neil Snider, Scott Siedow, and new members, Robert Feist and Mark Tobler. It’s wonderful to see local talent come back to the old hometown and perform. I remember Doug Wenger and Donna Rawlins when we were students at Lancaster High School. Donna and I are former classmates and friends. She is a member of the Rawlins family, all of whom are successful singers in their own right. Even her parents, Harry and Esther Rawlins ae locally known performers.

Robin Lacy and DeZydeco stepped up the musical pace after Rosemont Crossing with their New Orleans Creole style of music. The group has performed downtown for several years after Arnett Howard retired from his Creole Funk Band. Dezydeco has become a crowd favorite and always provide a fun partyatmosphere for the attendees. The only thing missing was the gumbo and crawdads!

Across town, those who went to party with Arnett Howard and Friends at the Eagles Lodge may have been dressed less casual but they partied just as hard.

Howard and friends “Jazz” Mary Daniels, Bob Davis, David Hampton, Ron Henderson, Mike Roberts, and Lancaster’s own Dr. Steven Cox had everyone on their feet and dancing to Southern soul music recorded during the 1960s.

Because I was first in the downtown area, I arrived just before the first set and heard them perform “Knock On Wood.” Arnett then played a “When the Saints Come Marching In” as a tribute to Mayor David Smith’s mother who passed away this week. He said “I know she would have been right here tonight to party with us.” Also before break, Arnett auctioned off a shiny gold coat he was wearing, posters and mementos from his past three Eagles concerts. Proceeds went to the Marcia Rose Fund. Marcia has been a staple of the Lancaster Festival and one of the organizers for Arnett’s concerts. As a gifted artist in her own right, she always provided beautiful and unique table decorations. Arnett announced that she is very ill at this time, and while she was not there physically, she was in spirit.

Arnett and his band launched into the second set with “Goldfinger.” Other songs included “Mustang Sally,” “Wait Till the Midnight Hour,” “Chain of Fools,” “Something is Wrong With My Baby,” and “When a Man Loves a Woman” sang in Arnett’s trademark raggae style. “Jazz” Mary Daniels took over the stage with her sassy rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman.” Arnett told everyone who was left in the audience to get on the dance floor and help the band close out with “Living in America.”

Lorena Smith of Lancaster attended the concert with friends and had one comment - “Have Arnett will travel.”

Alex Render, also of Lancaster said tonight’s event was on the top of his list to purchase tickets for the Lancaster Festival.

“Arnett is on the primo stars of the Festival. If you don’t move in some kind of way when he plays, there’s something wrong with you,” Alex said. “I have enjoyed listening to Arnett since his first year at the downtown bandstand and I will always continue to enjoy him. Since he has been associated with the Festival Board, he has added to the Festival and continues to add to it evetry year.”

Recommendation for Saturday:

For kids:  The Children’s Art Fair downtown

For adults: Everything!! This is the final day of the Lancaster Festival until next year. Go downtown in the morning and support the local children in the Lancaster Summer Youth Band and the Lancaster Fairfield Youth Choir; the local talented Lancaster Community Band; and the recently formed women’s barbershop quartet in the debut Festival appearance “One Voice.” In the evening, grab a friend or two and head to OU-L to enjoy the music of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra and Kenny Loggins.

A Musical Feast Satisfies

The third course in last nights Musical Feast evening was a performance by Festival Orchestra ensembles at First United Methodist Church.

The Veronika String Quartet

ZOSO explodes !

ZOSO blasts the crowd

The Led Zeppelin tribute band ZOSO exploded, literally, on the OU-L outdoor stage last night, with ’70’s temperatures for 70’s music’, stage pyrotechnics, and great lighting effects. A trip back in time for all those who were there then, and those younger folks who have kept the band’s memory alive today.

Orchestra prepares for recording

Last night’s Concert at Faith Memorial Church showcased some great contemporary music by composer William Bolcom and Clare Fischer. The four works played will be recorded during the week for future release on the Festival Orchestra’s first CD.

Thanks to all the staff at Faith Memorial who have gone beyond the call to make the orchestra comfortable.

Stoltzman Plays Bolcom

Wynonna woos festival crowd

I have always been a fan of the Judds and of Wynonna. I liked her trademark red hair, sultry alto voice, and her unique personality that set her apart from her mother and sister Ashley. After Saturday’s concert, I became an even bigger fan.

I think Wynonna must have read my earlier blog and recommendation that the concert would be a great date-night. Most of her songs centered around LOVE of one form or another.

I have to admit that I was surprised. Knowing she is a country singer, that’s what I expected her to sing. The orchestra began to play a jazzy-bluesy tune, and I wondered why they were playing that for Wynonna. Then when she came out singing “I’m in the Mood for Love” and threw in scatting - I was pleasantly taken aback. Then she followed it up with “It’s Almost Like Being in Love” - I thought wow - the girl has soul!!! 

Her easy rapport with the concert-goers was refreshing. She thanked everyone for coming to her party, which brought cheers from the crowd and got them in a party mood. She talked about being on the road with her mother and about being true to her country roots. She said to her, country was about family and community. She sang what she said was her theme song - “Dream Chaser” because she has learned to never give up on her dreams for her life.

Other love songs she performed included, “If I Could Change the World,” “Heaven Help Me of I Lose Your Love,” “Love Was Made for Me and You,” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

Love apparently was also in the air for a young 8-year old boy named Travis. He presented Wynonna with a bouquet of flowers and said he loved her. She was touched and asked if he knew who she is. He boldly said Yes. Wynonna then gave Travis a moment he will never forget as long as he lives. She told someone to help him up on stage and posed for a picture of the two of them.  She then dedicated a song to him that she recorded for the Disney movie “Lilo and Stitch” - “A Hunk of Burning Love.”

For me personally, the highlight of the evening was when she talked about how she has found joy in the journey of life and that she now wakes up every morning and thank God for her talent, the ability to share it with others, and asks God what does He want her to do that day. She sang “I Can Only Imagine” from the very depths of her soul and gave me goosebumps and chills despite to very warm and humid air. With the death of my dad, Kenneth Saunders, just two days before, I closed my eyes and imagine my Dad before the throne of God and wondered what he did when he saw Jesus. I was glad for the darkness but I am not ashamed to say I cried like a baby - not in sadness, but in the joy of knowing my dad was enjoying eternal life in a new and painless body. Thank you Wynonna - that song gave me more comfort and peace than you will ever know. When she finished, there was such a hush over the crowd that, for a few seconds, you could hear a pin drop.

Wynonna was brought back to the stage by the thunderous and appreciative applause. Her rendition of my dad’s and mine favorite, “At Last” was awesome. She closed out the show with what she said was “country meets classical” - “No One Can Love Me Like You.”

 Believe me - I will be buying her new CD that she said should be released in October.

 That is my recommendation for today! You won’t be disappointed!

Wynonna !

Hey Everybody - what a show that was last night. Thanks to Wynonna and all of her production crew for a really fantastic evening. Really enjoyed hearing Richard Stoltzman play.

Richard Stoltzman

Wynonna with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra

The orchestra sounded great with the band, no weather worries, a big crowd of happy people, and how about that carillon!.

Who could ask for more.