Music in the Park 2007 Review

38 Music in the Park Concerts took place on Friday and Saturday nights with 1 act providing the music for the evening.

15 Rock-N-Putt Concerts took place with multiple act shows.

14 Special Events took place with non-musical based events.

It’s pretty hard to beat a West Texas sunset with wonderful LIVE music…and that happened 53 special evenings this past year at Play Faire Park. Not bad considering the Park is only open for 42 weeks a year, and the first 4 weeks and the last 6 weeks of the year, weather is usually “iffy” to schedule a show.

Besides the importance of showcasing the incredible musical talent that is so often overlooked and underappreciated in Abilene, we were able to raise over $5,000 for very worthy causes. Live music outside for a good cause are the reasons that we opened the Park to be a music venue, as well as the oldest continuously operating miniature golf course in Texas.

This past year, we had the opportunity to host not only our great local talent, but we had the honor to host many out-of-town talents. From Lubbock to Tyler, Fort Worth to Austin, Sweetwater to Waco…our stage was graced with some incredible bands. Our roster of talent didn’t stop at the state line…we welcomed a blue grass band from Washington state, Christian bands from Louisiana, pop rock from St. Louis and a singer/songwriter from Utah…and even an international event with music and poetry from down under, Australian Dreaming. Wow! What a year!

Mel (the boss) and I had ring side seats for some really magical nights. Some highlights:

• Victoria Moore’s farewell performance, before moving the Houston area and her set at the Groove Fest.
• The 4th Annual Earth Day celebration with the Happy Fat Band and SOLID tearing it up.
• How fun it’s been to watch At Fever Pitch grow into an incredible improvisational band.
• An evening of Australian Dreaming with Thom the World Poet and Bob Mud…wow!
• Greg Young…a gospel show…’nuff said!
• The best show that nobody saw…the J Price Band, from Austin, with local up and comer, Timmy Dixon.
• The benefit concert for Doug Richburg. 22 acts performed that day and there wasn’t a weak link in the lineup.
• Any night that the Dave Hobbs Trio performed.
• Authentic blue grass from Bellingham, Washington’s Feed & Seed (and I’m not even a big blue grass fan).
• “The Best One Ever” was repeatedly said throughout the day and night of the 3rd Annual SOLID Groove Festival!
• Best new band on the local scene…the Rockin’ Extensions. Their Halloween show was outrageous!
• We ended the magical season with a very high note with Tony Barker’s Songwriters Circle! More of these to come next season!
• Don’t know if Victoria Moore singing Traveling Soldiers or Lance Richburg performing Jerusalem gave me the biggest goose bumps.

A special thanks goes out to Meatball and Barker for all that they did and contributed to not only the music scene here, but the community as a whole…great guys and great musicians, thank you guys once again!

Mel (corporate headquarters) and I want to thank all the musicians that graced our rickety ol’ stage. It definitely wasn’t for the money…a great big thanks to all those that came out to support our local music scene…a tip of the hat thanks to Brien Murphy of the Abilene Reporter News and Derek and Jerry at the Creative Pulse for their support and for spreading the word. One more thanks goes out to our artist in residence, the Amazing Randy Blain Naylor, who helps out in so many ways and makes a fun night special!

We are excited about the 2008 season and the magical nights that await us. I would ask that next year, when there’s a show coming up that you are excited about, invite someone out that’s never been to the Park, or who doesn’t know what an incredible music scene we have in Abilene.

There really is a lot going on in town…we, those that are clued in, just have to wake up all those around us. We promise we will continue to do our part and more.

With Peace and Love to all,
Melanie and Chris “Doc” England
And the Staff of Play Faire Park