Friday Night Concert season comes to an end with potluck

The downtown music will fade out this weekend, at least for the season anyway.

The final show in the summer Friday Night Concert Series sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is set for 7 p.m. Friday at the Heritage Park Pavilion at the corner of First and Main streets. As it will be the last concert of the season, the event is scheduled to feature special performances as well as several of the series' regular performers, concert series organizer Ralph Carlson said.

In addition to the music, the event will also include a social hour and light snacks provided by guests.

"It will be the last concert of the season," Carlson said. "Everyone is bringing the food. It will be potluck light food."

The Friday show will feature Kinley Rice, Jason Richison, the Sekannaires Quartet and several other musicians who perform regularly at the pavilion, including Marilyn Adcock, Mike Lundeen, David Prickett, Floyd Feezell and others.

Carlson said he has been "pleased" with the musical season this year, the outcome of each weekly show and the support the events have drawn from community members and other volunteers.

"I've been pleased with the attendance," he said. "I never cease to be amazed by the town we have and the willingness of excellent musicians to share their talents and just for the love of music. The community spirit they have for Fort Scott, for our town is amazing.

"I am really pleased at the way the season went. We have received the help of numerous talented musicians who were willing to sing and play for us for the love and promotion of good music in our town. The community spirit of these outstanding musicians is to be commended and I would like to express on behalf of the chamber of commerce our deepest gratitude for their contributions."

A majority of the weekly Friday night concerts take place at the downtown pavilion between May and September each year. During inclement weather, some shows have taken place at nearby indoor venues. Carlson has been organizing the chamber-sponsored concerts since about 2004.

Carlson said he receives assistance from several regular performers and volunteers in organizing and setting up each show. He said he receives suggestions and other input from community members regarding ideas and booking of talent for the shows.

"It's not me doing it; it's a community effort," he said. "I sometimes have to keep my feet from dragging, they pull me along so much."

Carlson said he has received important input from students of local musical instructors Pat Harry and Carolyn Tucker, who have helped develop the musical talents of several local youth.

"I have received input from their students they have trained," Carlson said. "These people are the future of the talent we're going to have in Fort Scott."

Carlson said he also continues to receive support from Harry, a retired choir instructor, current USD 234 band director James Fox and retired orchestra instructor Jane Williams "and their successors."

Carlson said he was especially impressed with last week's Friday night concert, which featured performances by three groups from Fort Scott Community College; the FSCC Greyhound band led by director Michael Dzbenski, Fortté, the college's new a cappella group, and the cast of the FSCC fall musical production of "Addams Family."

"You couldn't buy that kind of talent," Carlson said. "They had about 60 students there doing various things."

After Friday, the downtown music will be over for the summer season, however, some wintertime music may be scheduled periodically at an indoor facility, Carlson said.