MUSIC IN THE PARK 2008 LINE-UP ANNOUNCED:

Myrtle Creek’s Music in the Park, the longest running free concert series in Douglas County, Oregon, will open its’ 22nd consecutive season on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008. Thanks to continuing overall event sponsorship by Frontier Communications and donations from many local businesses and individuals Music in the Park is still a free community event. The concerts are held in Millsite Park beginning at 6:00 p.m. Thursday evenings during July and August {except July 24th, when the Myrtle Creek Summer Festival will present a full weekend of fun, food, music and other activities}. Donations may be sent to:  Music in the Park 2008, 865 S. Main St, #2, Myrtle Creek, OR  97457

We are pleased to announce the following confirmed the line-up for our Music in the Park 2008 concert series:

~ July 3rd:  The RCC Community Band will open this year’s concert series with a rousing program of patriotic music and songs that is sure to please all. This band, from Rogue Community College, with campuses in Grants Pass and Medford, OR is led by faculty member Jon Bennett, who also teaches at Coffenberry Middle School in Myrtle Creek. This opening performance is sponsored exclusively by the Nickel Bowl Bowling Center.

~ July 10th:  Returning by popular request is Mr. J. & Magic Mike Smith, from Grants Pass, OR. This very versatile trio of seasoned musicians passes out a “song menu” during each performance and lets the audience choose the songs they want to hear. This group is all about fun and plays lots of “get up & dance” music.

~ July 17th:  Broadway Phil & The Shouters, from Rogue River, OR, have been together since 1994. The Shouters have sharpened their bite through countless smoky nights, honing a groove that a band earns only over time. They have had stints with Huey Lewis, Dave Mason and Roomful of Blues, among others. Originals by this “roots rock” band are sure to catch the ear of “the working stiff”. They cover Chuck Berry, Wilson Pickett, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Otis Redding, The Black Crowes and even some Lynrd Skynrd.

~ July 24th through 26th:  Come out and enjoy music, food, games & fireworks at the Myrtle Creek Summer Festival!

~ July 31st:  Hot Gossip, from Grants Pass, has been reported to be the hottest band to hit Southern Oregon in many years. With a great following from all over Oregon, fans from as far away as Portland and Northern California come out just to hear them play. Their slogan is “Let’s Rock”. Randy Bollet’s Hot Gossip originated in the 1970’s in Los Angeles and Hollywood venues and now includes one “b-a-d” drummer, a “Funk Master” on the fretless bass and a two-time Master Guitarist with nearly 40 years of experience. You won’t want to miss this rockin’ quartet of musicians.

~ Aug 7th:  Julie Lee & Shades of Country, from Rogue River, OR, features the vocals of Julie Lee, who began singing publicly at shopping malls, rodeos and restaurants in the 1980’s. She wrote several original songs and recorded her first album, “Bound for the Promised Land”, in 1992. Julie has played and sung in various country, rock, rhythm and blues and bluegrass bands since her move to Southern Oregon in 1994. She has now joined forces with local country musicians to form the band, Shades of Country. They play a variety of modern and rocking country hits as well as some original material, including Julie’s former hit, “A Prayer for a Soldier”.

~ Aug 14th: The Mixers, from Grants Pass, OR, are another group returning to Music in the Park by popular request. If you saw this sextet last summer, you’ll surely want to come out and enjoy their special “boogie swing” music again. These six classy guys also play lots of jazz and West Coast jump blues. They offer the best of old school bands from the 1940’s & 50’s with a revved up attitude of today. It’s more than music…. it’s a show!

~ Aug 21st:  Jefferson, from Cave Junction, OR, plays what they call “folkedelik country zydeco blues with soul”, which makes their style hard to pin down, but interesting to listen to. Their range is wide and varied. From hard driving “groove” tunes like “Midnight Rider and “The Breeze” to haunting ballads like “Soldier’s Joy” and “Long Black Veil”, they have a unique ability to cover a tune and truly “make it their own”. Their performances have an infectious energy and it is clear that they enjoy what they do. But, through it all, the backbone, the soul, if you will, of Jefferson is their harmony. They collectively say: “It’s all about the harmony, man!”

~ Aug 28th:  The Coyote Ridge Band, from Eugene, OR, offers great hits by artists such as Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Patsy Cline and many more. Suki Hobbs sings lead vocals and is backed up by a seasoned group of professionals on lead guitar, bass and drums. They engage their audiences with wonderful tunes that appeal to a wide variety of listeners and dancers.Come out and enjoy this closing performance.