Bands of Brothers II
In the continuing effort to present events of the highest quality to the community, Sons and Brothers Events in association with the Canon City music and Blossom Festival Committee, is proud to present Bands of Brothers. An all day music event at Centennial Park in Canon City, Colorado. A broad lineup of presentations is scheduled to include old time Gospel, bluegrass, western, classic and country rock, blues and americana. This show will certainly offer something for listeners of almost every taste.
Sunday May 7th starting at 10AM, a non denominational cowboy church will be held at the events tent, Centennial Park. The church service will feature “Old Time” Gospel singing led by Mr. Paul Danley of the High Atmosphere Bluegrass Band from Colorado Springs, Co. Musical portions of the program will also be presented by Sons and Brothers Band of Westcliffe, as well as, guest musicians from the other groups. Inspirational message by nationally renowned speaker, Mr. Grant Adkisson of Canon City. The cowboy church service will be free to the public. There will be powerful preaching and inspirational “Old Time” gospel singing in a beautiful setting; an opportunity not to be missed.
Bands of Brothers II concert:
Tickets - $10
Kids 12 and under get in free
May 7th starting at 12PM, a music concert in the event tent at Centennial Park, featuring 6 bands. The name “Bands of Brothers” is a continuation of the theme that was originated at the highly successful, February 4th, Blossom Pageant Fundraiser, held at the Annex Ballroom. In each band performing on Sunday, there will be at least one pair of brothers, or a brother connection with one of the other bands. The driving and organizing force for this concert will be Sons and Brothers band of Westcliffe, presenting Bluegrass, Gospel, and Western music in their unique style which they like to call, “WestGrass.” The group consists of Frank Wolking and his three sons, Mike, Aaron, and Joe Wolking. The Ackerman brothers, Aaron and Jeremy, will be bringing “Old Time”, Bluegrass and red hot fiddle music with their sister, Rebecca, and their father, Randy, as the Ackerman Family Band. The McCarter brothers, Glen and Dan, along with Rick Kamerzell, will be bringing classic rock as the Deja Blues Band. The high powered, High Atmosphere Bluegrass band will be presenting their trademark excellent harmony vocals and great gospel and bluegrass; bluegrass with an altitude. Heid brothers, Larry and Dennis, along with Rusty Disanti, Russ Spaeth, Matt Kouba, and Johnny Watson will bring a blues and rock, 6 piece, as Johnny Watson Blues Band. Fred Wolking will round out the program with a 7 piece Roadcone Blues Band which includes, Stacy Cushing, Steve Wilcox, Brian McClure, Kirk Glienky, Ned Cop, and Bill Francouer. A 40 year span of musical excellence is represented by this gathering of performers. The family names of McCarter, Wolking, Heid, and Wilcox, have been synonymous with great musical innovation and entertainment in Fremont County since the mid 1960’s. The younger generation, Wolking’s and Ackerman’s are continuing that tradition in presenting great entertainment at not only a local and regional level, but branching out and performing in various venues across the nation. According to concert organizer, Frank Wolking, “I truly cannot recall a line-up this strong having been presented in Fremont County during my time here in the past 20 years. Fremont County has always had, what I believe to be, a remarkably high level of talent and musicianship. These groups organized here are a reflection of that high level of giftedness that has resided here over the years. We just think it’s really a unique opportunity to present this continuity of theme with the brother elements in all of the bands and the fact that the parade marshals this year are also brothers, Mario and Albert DiNardo.” This event is intended to present a Sunday opportunity for the people of Fremont County and surrounding areas to gather together and enjoy a day of music in the park, renew old acquaintances, visit with friends, and celebrate the sense of community. Pursuant to that goal, the event committee would like to make a special acknowledgement of not only the parade marshals and queen’s court, but give a special thanks to the DOC and FBOP employees which are such a vital and important element of the fabric of the Fremont County community.
Continuous music performances will run from 12PM to about 8PM. Tickets are $10.00 at the gate, with children 12 and under free. The day will also feature activities for the kids, a car show, food and beverage vendors, pancake breakfast, and much more.
We would invite you to visit www.ccblossomfestival.com for further details.
Look forward to seeing you there.
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Grant Adkisson
Grant Adkisson is the 3rd generation of a ranch and rodeo family that first homesteaded and raised cattle in Colorado in the 1880s. Grant and his two sons still work cattle in several ranches, raise and train quarter horses as well as team rope.
Grant started preaching cowboy church services for the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys in 1974, the year the ministry was founded. For the last nine years he has served as president of the FCC and has preached at most of the major Rodeos including the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the National Western Stock show& Rodeo in Denver, the San Antonio Rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and many more. He also leads and preaches at nightly services at the Thomas and Mack Arena as well as Sunday Cowboy Church services at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Grant has preached in 50 states and over 20 foreign countries. We are thrilled to have Grant delivering the message for our Cowboy Church service at Mania of Melodies.
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The Roadcone Blues Band
The Roadcone Blues Band is led by the inimitable Fred Wolking aka “Roadcone”. Fred grew up in Fremont County has been playing music and leading bands his entire life; such top acts as The Great Speckled Bird, Briar Rose, and now the Roadcone Blues Band have all been under his dynamic direction. He is also the older brother/uncle of Sons and Brothers and is one of their most important mentors. Besides Wolking, the other members of the band are bass player and harmonica expert (and Fremont County native) Steve “Red” Wilcox, lead singer Stacy Cushing, piano and keyboard guru Bill Francouer, drummer Brian “the Rock” McClure, percussionist extraordinaire Ned Cop, and sax genius Kirk Glienke. The band plays an exhilarating mixture of blues, rock, country, and … you name it! Each band member has between 25 and 35 years of experience in the entertainment industry and will be rocking the stage at Bands of Brothers II!
Sons and Brothers
For the past five years the Sons and Brothers have been captivating audiences around the country with their fusion of bluegrass, gospel, and western music. Dave Higgs of Bluegrass Now magazine says this about Sons and Brothers: “The quartet, based in Westcliffe, Colorado, can also sing—not only with the power, passion and conviction expected of a group on top of its game, but with exuberance, enthusiasm and unbridled joy as well—like the fate of the free world is riding on their collective vocal cords.” The band won the championship of the 2004 National Bluegrass Playoffs and has toured extensively in the United States and the United Kingdom. Sons and Brothers are creating a new sound in acoustic music; don’t miss it. Sons and Brothers are: dad Frank Wolking on guitar and vocals; sons Mike Wolking on guitar, Dobro, banjo and vocals; Aaron Wolking on bass and vocals; and Joe Wolking on mandolin and fiddle.
Deja Bluz
The third set of brothers will be in the great blues band, Deja Bluz. Deja Bluz features the McCarter brothers, Glen and Dan, along with guitar whiz Rick Kamerzell. This great group from the Canon City region will light up the dance floor with an exhilarating mixture of classic rock and great blues.
The Johnny Watson Blues Band
We are really excited to have the Johnny Watson Blues Band with us this year. Two of the core elements of the group, brothers Larry and Dennis Heid, have been pillars of the community for decades. Both are elementary school teachers and have been involved different bands in the area for years. Larry and Dennis are also two of the original members of Sons and Brothers; they were part of the inspiration that caused the younger Wolking brothers to want to play music. In this band, Larry plays guitar and keyboards and Dennis is the foundation of the band, playing the bass guitar. In addition to the Heid brothers, the band is made up by lead singer/front man/percussionist Johnny Watson, drummer Rusty Disanti, tenor sax whiz Matt Kouba, and guitar master Russ Spaeth. This group plays the blues the way the blues are supposed to be played: hard core, razor edged, and rock solid. Don’t miss this exciting show!
The Ackermans
1946 saw the birth of bluegrass, a new musical genre that generated as much excitement as the creation of rock and roll would just a few years later. Today, led by Aaron Ackerman, The Ackermans carry that same musical thrill forward into a new century. At a time when most top bluegrass bands are smooth, tight and virtuosic, The Ackermans retain some of the rugged, roughhewn dynamism, and emotional impact of traditional bluegrass to new audiences. The Ackermans have had the opportunity to play many festivals in the Colorado, Nebraska, Utah region, including Pueblo Bluegrass on the River, Mid-Winter Bluegrass festival in Denver and High Mountain Hay Fever in Westcliffe, Colorado. The Ackermans have also had the honor of being selecting as one of 12 bands to compete in the national Youth in Bluegrass competition taking place at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. From the moment they hit the stage until the moment they leave, the audience is going to be entertained!
High Atmosphere Bluegrass Band
High Atmosphere is an exciting band from the Colorado high country. Bluegrass and traditional music steeped in the gospel tradition including hymns, songs, and spirituals; this is the focus of this group. The band specializes in the uplifting and positive music style featuring close vocal harmonies. Performances may also include bluegrass standards and original material. Band members are: Stan Campbell, Dave Gleason, Paul Danley, Shannon Palmer and Fred Martin. Audiences experience the warmth and join in on the fun these guys have on stage.
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