Live music coming for Independence Day Weekend
First off, on a personal note, I am thankful for all the prayers on my recent “tune-up.” New steady timing is a blessing that I don’t deserve, BUT I will do my best to be of more service to Him and others. God is good.
On to Live Music as we approach Independence Day Weekend. I appreciate all the comments, good or bad, the phone calls, text messages and e-mails, and here it is, 3½ years of columns and still doing what I can to stay involved in the music of our area. I appreciate all the information from musicians and bands so I can stay current with their schedules ! BUT please, send me new input at the end of every month or send me all your upcoming dates. Also, please update your Facebook page for me and all your fans. It keeps me from the confusion — yes, even I can make a mistake and cause me getting an event date wrong in The Poteau Daily News. I need them before noon Sunday every week to meet my deadline, thanks.
As for upcoming live-music events, The Independence Day Celebration 2022 will kick off on Thursday with Randy Fennell and Larry Taylor. They are favorites at the Dawn’s Diner in Red Oak, but I suspect that they booked the job so they can play for their supper. Food is a hit at Dawn’s Diner. It sounds like a great plan to me.
Then Dawn’s Diner will have music by Scot Francis beginning at 7 p.m. Friday. THEN on Saturday, music by The Lonesome Fugitive will take place from 5-8 p.m. inside for the suppertime diners.
Red Oak’s fireworks display will start just after sundown Saturday, followed by a Street dance on Dawn’s Diner’s new cement parking lot. Big Marty and the Dirty Dogs will play their best country and rock songs for the dancers. There will be food, fireworks and music. It definitely will be family friendly, so bring the kids!
The Stagemasters will doing the music for the dancers up at the Interstate 40 Dance and Music Hall. This will take Saturday. There will be great country classic songs to two-step, waltz, twist or line dance with your favorite partner. The music will start at 7 p.m. This is a NS/ND venue, so put this on your calendar.
Just a short ride down to Tuskahoma, Chuck’s Classic Cycles and Grill will have a celebration on Saturday. There will be free camping, fireworks and food and well as games for the kids and several bands. The action will begin at 4 p.m. Dixie Misfits will play along with several more bands, and there will be karaoke, too.
MJ and the Geezers will be at the Choctaw Casino Pocola from 7-11 p.m. Saturday in the Atrium. The Casino’s Fireworks Show is on Friday. It’s one of the biggest in the county.
Rearview Mirror will be on stage on Saturday at La Huerta’s on Garrison Avenue in Fort Smith, Ark., on the outside stage beginning at 7 p.m. There will be awesome music and great food, so get there early for a good seat.
Grannie’s Nightmare will be rockin’ Perry’s Place, just a few blocks off Garrison Avenue, from 8 p.m. until midnight Friday, so make plans to be there.
Libby Starkes and the Stray Dawgs will be playing at the Cherokee Casino Roland on Thursday, Cherokee Casino Fort Gibson on Friday AND at the Cherokee Casino Tahlequah on Saturday! All three shows start at 8 p.m. Fireworks will be just a bonus to all the great music.
Bon Voyage to the guys in Even Keel! They start Saturday on their “Redneck Riviera Tour,” taking a vacation and booking several gigs in Mississippi, Alabama AND Florida. Y’all have a great trip. Enjoy the Gulf Coast seafood. They have gigs at Juana’s Pagodas in Navarre Beach, Fla., and The Land Shark Landing at Margaritaville Beach Hotel in Pensacola, Fla., and several more.
That’s all, folks. Keep me informed so that I can send you reminders on Facebook AND the Tuesday edition each week of The Poteau Daily News.
Enjoy America’s Fourth of July Weekend with family and friends. It is the most important holiday for America, so remember to teach the children!
Be Safe. Don’t hold a lit bottle rocket — just trust me on this.
For further information about live-music events or to let me know of any such venues upcoming, call or text message me at (918) 649-5736 or e-mail me at tj.wiles61@outlook.com.