Open Mic, April 21, 2018
Last Open Mic of the Season
“Our last open mic of the season was very successful,” said Arts Center President Ron Hackett. “We had a really good audience, we had over $100 in donations, and we have new members. Thanks to John and Jean Woodall who joined the Arts Center as Bronze level members with a very generous check that will support arts in our community.” The Arts Center has several metallic membership levels for individuals, families, corporations, civic groups, fraternal organizations, and others that want to support the arts in our community. There were four performers for the last show of the season, so each performer got to do a 30-minute set rather than the usual 15-minute set. Host Robert Foster opened the show with Ronnie Dunn's “The Cost of Living.” He continued with Darrell Scott's “Never Leave Harlan Alive,” John Prine's “Paradise,” and Tim McGraw's “Already Home.” He finished with two more Prine tunes entitled “Grandpa was a Carpenter” and “Souvenirs.” Singer and songwriter Jon Rosenbum made the trip from Huntsville to perform a set of his original songs. He started with “Walked Right Into That” and “You're My Queen,” a song he wrote for his wife. He continued with “Only a Heart,” a song he wrote for his daughter entitled. His other selections included “The Thief, the Beggar, and the Liar,” “Three Story House,” “Love Doesn't Leave,” “It's not Her Memory that's Killing Me,” and “Stay.” Thunderbyrd Newman, and avant-gard songwriter got his start about 2 years ago. He donates any money he makes from his songs to the child advocacy center in Huntsville. His original songs incuded “Keep Moving,” “Hashtag Me Too,” and “Million Dollar Smile.” He did perform one cover song by Neil Sedaka entitled “To Know You is to Love,” before he finished with “Free.” Guitarist Ron Hackett closed the show with some of his instrumental guitar arrangements. His first song, “Black Orpheus” by luiz bonfa, is better known in the US as “A Day in the Life of a Fool,” that sung by Frank Sinatra. He continued with “Windy and Warm” by John D. Loudermilk. Next her performed a tune he calls “Swinging Over the Rainbow” that is based on Harold Arlen's theme for the Wizard of Oz that became Judy Garland's signature song. He also played Antonio Carlos Jobim's “Corcovado,” and an English aire from Londonderry that is commonly known as “Danny Boy.” He finished with a classical piece by Francisco Tárrega entitled Lagrima,” which translates to “the Teardrop.” “This was our last show of the season,” said Hackett. “Attendance drops significantly during the summer, and there is no air conditioning in the gallery, so the show goes on hiatus.” The performing arts and open mic shows will resume in the fall for another season. The first showof the next season will be Saturday, October 6th. The Arts Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable corporation that supports all types of art in our community. They host the twice monthly performing arts shows from October through April, art classes, and art camp for children, and the annual Southern Weekend of Art. They are located at 303 Main Avenue South in Fayetteville, just one block south of the square. “You don't have to be an artist to be a member of the Arts Center,” said president Ron Hackett. “If you love art and want to support art in our community, then you are eligible to join.”
Photos
Photos courtesy of Ron Hackett
Robert Foster
Jon Rosenblum entertains the audience
Jon Rosenblum
Thunderbyrd Newman
Ron Hackett