Grand Funk Railroad to jam before parade
Grand Funk Railroad will perform at the first pre-parade concert for the annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Bridge Street, according to Visit Hot Springs.
Grand Funk Railroad will perform on Friday, March 16, 2018, the night before the First Ever 15th Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Bridge Street.
“This will be the first time we have ever done a free concert the night before the parade,” Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, said in a news release.
“But since the 15th anniversary of the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade is on Saturday night we thought a Friday night free concert would be a good addition,” Arrison said.
Discussions about a pre-parade concert began virtually as the 14th annual edition of the parade ended this year. Visit Hot Springs officials said in April that, because
the parade will fall on the same day as the Rebel Stakes, holding a concert the day before could be a stand-alone attraction, potentially doubling attendance that weekend.
“It will be a great entertainment weekend for Hot Springs, with live thoroughbred racing at Oaklawn both Friday and Saturday and the Grand Funk Railroad concert Friday night after the races,” Arrison said.
The Grand Funk Railroad concert will start at 8 p.m. on March 16. There will be several opening acts that will be announced later, Arrison said. Admission to the concert will be free, but no chairs or umbrellas will be allowed.
The band will perform from the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade stage at east end of Bridge Street. Food and beverages will be sold.
Grand Funk Railroad originated in Flint, Mich., in 1969 and went on to become the top-selling American rock group of the 1970s, according to a biography provided by Visit Hot Springs.
Known as “The American Band,” Grand Funk Railroad includes original founding members bassist Mel Schacher and Don Brewer on vocals and drums. Brewer wrote and sang the multi million-selling hit “We’re An American Band.” They are joined in the band’s current incarnation by singer Max Carl, a veteran from 38 Special; lead guitarist Bruce Kulick, who spent 12 years with KISS; and keyboardist Tim Cashion, formerly of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, the release said.
Other Grand Funk hits include “I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home,” “Locomotion,” and “Some Kind Of Wonderful.” Over its lifetime, Grand Funk has had 19 charted singles, eight Top 40 hits and two No. 1 singles, “We’re An American Band” and “Locomotion.”
In addition to Grand Funk Railroad, John Heder of “Napoleon Dynamite” fame was recently announced as the official starter for the 2018 event.