Kinfolk To Open 2010 LA5 Series
April 4, 2010
By JOSEPH SITARZ
Index-Journal
Greenwood, SC - It is root, root for the home team as Uptown Greenwood prepares to open the 2010 Live After Five Concert Series Thursday with Kinfolk.
- The popular Greenwood band got back together late in 2009, released a CD and played to a sold-out crowd at Greenwood Community Theatre in November. More than 30 years ago, Kinfolk opened for the likes of Charlie Daniels and Dr. Hook, and was one of the hottest regional bands at the time.
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- "I think it's a strong a lineup as I've ever had," said Hack Bartley, who is in his third year as artistic director of Live After Five. "I'm using three local groups this year. People have been asking about more local groups."
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- Bartley delivers what people were asking for this year. After opening with Kinfolk, Greenwood's legendary Swingin' Medallions perform Sept. 9 and the Fabulous Expressions are on tap for Oct. 14.
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Kinfolk
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"This could almost be the year of the hometown boys," said Bartley, who is a performer himself. "Everybody needs to come out and support the local boys."
Kinfolk is Eddie Bailey, drums and vocals; Hazen Bannister, keyboard and vocals; Steve Eddy, guitar and vocals; Ronnie Goldman, guitar; Buck Jones, lead vocals; David Matthews, bass and vocals; and Dennis Patterson, keyboards.
The 10-song, "Back Porch Boogie" was the CD that was released by the Southern rockers.
Barley knows the band members very well.
"These guys are so excited," said Bartley, who still performs as Hack Bartley and Shuffle and Pride and Joy, with son Jake. "They're really good friends. I've been in groups with most every one of them, except Buck Jones. All the other guys and I have been in bands together. They're great musicians. I was really tickled when they told me they were recording, I really was excited."
The Swingin' Medallions, whose founding member John McElrath still performs with the band occasionally, have been a given on the schedule since the series started.
"It would be sacrilegious to have a Life After Five without having the Medallions," said Bartley, a former Medallion who sometimes gets on stage with today's members and performs. "The Fabulous Expressions always draw big crowds."
Bartley also filled other requests he's fielded since he took over and in doing so, he said he's put together perhaps the best schedule yet.
One of the most requested and most difficult to schedule has been The Root Doctors.
"I have been able to get them on the schedule," Bartley said.
For the annual South Carolina Festival of Flowers show, Natalie Stovall returns.
Last year Bartley had Stovall on the lineup for the Festival of Flowers, but it got rained out. Lander University President Dan Ball had made the request for Stovall.
"She's a smokin' hot fiddle player," Bartley said. "She agreed to come back."
Weather and requests factored into another act being on the schedule.
"The Men of Distinction," Bartley said. "They were here once before about three years ago. Everybody liked them. They did a really good job. They had bad weather that year. I wanted to get the back."
"They've got a new lead singer who is supposed to be incredible," Bartley said.
The Nov. 11 show with The Men of Distinction also features the annual Taste of Greenwood.
Bartley also fielded a request from one of the acts on the schedule.
Nantucket has been working with Bartley to find a date for about two years.
The band, which had hits with "Heartbreaker," "She's No Good," "Quite Like You," "Girl, You Blew a Good Thing," "Gimme Your Love," "Put Out or Get Out" and "Hiding From Love," will be in Greenwood on Aug. 15.
"They've been trying to get in touch with me," Bartley said. "They have been talking with me for two years. Again, with some groups, we're just not able to work things out. It all comes down to scheduling. The whole thing has to gel."
"I was able to swap things around and I was able to get them down here this year," Bartley said, adding having the ability to work around other performances in the area help land some of the bigger acts. "Routing these bands is important. Routing them is beneficial to them and that makes it beneficial to us."
Bartley also noted Nantucket has released, or is about to release a new CD.
"People are really going to enjoy them," Bartley said. They've got a real fine group."
One aspect that has worked well for Live After Five is the incorporation of school groups as opening acts. The move has given the students a chance to perform in front of a crowd and showcase their talent. It also brings people to Live After Five who might not otherwise attend.
"Every year the crowds have gotten bigger and bigger," Bartley said.
"Everyone really likes it. The city loves it. The people seem really happy with it. The schools open up the shows. That has exposed a lot of new people to Live After Five, people who wouldn't have been there otherwise. Using local school kids has been a big plus.
"The school kids love it," Bartley said. "Some of the kids have never performed in front anyone other than their classmates. This is a new experience for them."
The fact that the crowds and support has grown each year since he took over isn't something Bartley takes lightly.
"Last year was better than the year before," he said.
"I'm hoping this year will be better than ever. I'm expecting another big year."
Bartley said the support of the city and sponsors continues, even in the poor economic situation.
"We're managing to continue rolling with this thing," Bartley said. "I was really, really concerned. I had some second thoughts if it would really work last year. I was more worried this year."
Only one past sponsor did not commit to 2010, ad Bartley said he understood.
Bartley said the sponsor had some layoffs and was "reluctant to go out and spend sponsorship money."
Concern has not diminished Bartley's outlook.
"I'm concerned, but considering everything that's happened to date, I'm excited," Bartley said. "I think events like these are perfectly designed for difficult times. It always perplexes me. Why would you not come out when it's free?"
The Live After Five slate also includes several Saturday shows. Bartley does not arrange the Saturday shows.
The two Saturday shows are June 19 and Sept. 25. Jason Sikes, an Elvis impersonator, headlines the June 19 date that's part of the Festival of Flowers and Rock n Roll Cruisers Cruise-In. The Royal Scotsmen have the Sept. 25 show that's part of the Rock n Roll Cruisers Cruise-In.
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