Sounding Off

Local Stars …

Story & Photos by Steve Scott/Contributing Writer

Your relentless journalist is gathering thoughts and information for this month’s column while enjoying lunch at the Lakeside Grill, located close to the Lake Ponca Recreation Area. Even when dining out, I often crave the simple goodness of down-home cooking, and this restaurant delivers in spades. I also crave the down-home, heartwarming experience of live music, and there are strong indications the sun is rising, acts are being booked and we are seeing the Ponca City entertainment scene’s revival.

The Bandstand

Wow! For the month of April and May, our local entertainers were steadily booked, ensuring everyone could enjoy their talents somewhere every weekend. After canvassing the venues, here’s what is already lined up for June: The Liverpool Legends will be in concert on June 4 in the parking lot behind PC Provisions in downtown Ponca City. This is a big production show that you do not want to miss!

In addition to the annual Herb Festival on June 5, the Ponca City Arts and Humanities Council is sponsoring a concert featuring Mark Galloway and Jerry Wilson in the amphitheater at City Central. Be there from 6-9 p.m. to enjoy the music. The North Central Oklahoma Arts Council “Full Moon Concert Series” will have the always popular Hillcrest Ensemble performing under the gazebo in Tonkawa on Thursday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. At the risk of sounding rah-rah, the growth of dynamite duo Backroads in the northern Oklahoma music scene is something to applaud. They will be at Zanotti’s in Stillwater on June 19. Oklahoma City and on June 17 at the Enid Moose Lodge. The always trendy Astoria Wine Bar in downtown Ponca City is hosting Greg Demyon on June 18 and Austin DuPlantis on June 25.

Are you ready for some Rock ‘n’ Roll? Dirty Erin has several dates on the books, including July 10 at the Elks Ballroom in Stillwater.

Ridin’ High, continuing their dominance as the dance club in northern Oklahoma, has Mas Tequila scheduled in July. Watch their Facebook page for band announcements as they happen. Something Happening …

Down by Downtown! is a new event, scheduled to occur on the final Friday of each month, June thru September. The entertainment will be from 6-9 p.m. A known artist will be featured as an opening act, and then the stage will transition to “open mic night.” For those who are interested in performing live for the public, this will be a chance to grab your guitar and hit the stage on the west side of City Central. Food vendors will be across from the stage in Central Fare along with a drink caterer. Please set aside Friday, June 25 for the first event in this new “Downtown Entertainment” series. I am taking a little “journalistic privilege” this month by featuring the group I play with, the Hayes Brothers Band. Members of this seven-piece powerhouse include Clark Hayes on guitar, Kent Hayes on drums, Stan Villines on bass, Keke Johnson on guitar and Hammond organ, Eddie Holick on guitar and fiddle, Steve Scott on synthesizer/ keyboards and Jace Sober on guitar. The band is known for playing music from the 1950s thru today, including pop, rock and country tunes that everyone knows and usually sings along. Most of the members are literally local legends, having played in various groups for over 50 years. However, there is a common theme: six of the members played in the infamous Good Ol’ Boys band during the 20 years it was together. They traveled the central United States playing the larger clubs and dance halls, and at one point won the annual Marlboro Championship in Nashville, Tennessee. On a personal note, I can remember being asked to play with the band in 1993. The Good Ol’ Boys were regionally famous with incredible, top-of-the-line musicians who set a “high bar” in musicianship. Even with my decades of professional band experience, the opportunity to play with these “idols of mine” was enough to have me doubting my capabilities. Needless to say, the first rehearsal was nerve-racking, but I distinctly remember the moment Kent said, “Why are you sweating – you’ve got the job!” Over time I’ve had the great fortune to meet, work, play music and become friends with some of the most amazing people and entertainers, but joining the Good Ol’ Boys, and the band’s current iteration (the Hayes Brothers Band), literally changed my life forever. All of us still love entertaining the public, and with bookings starting to fill the band’s calendar from summer thru Oktoberfest, it sure feels good to be working again. If anyone has information on live music events, please write me at smscott54@hotmail.com.

Holly the Jazz Singer is once again performing at TS Fork in Tonkawa every Friday and Saturday night, and the full band, Holly and the Guys will be performing outdoors at the TS Fork Block Party on June 26. You can enjoy guitar and vocal virtuoso Larry Newsom on June 4 at Back 2 Sighs, June 22 at the grand opening of Skydance Brewery in The Hayes Brothers Band