Too Much Fun
Article and Photos by Kathleen Walls |
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John Anderson |
The Second Old City Music Fest held at the St. Augustine Flea
Market was really prime time in St. Johns County, Florida. It
featured the best of the old with fine up-and-coming musicians.
The music was a blend also, some Rock mixed with great Country.
One of my all time favorite singers, John Anderson, was featured. I have loved his music ever since Swinging
steamrollered the County Music charts way back when. Midway
into his act, he looked out at all those screaming fans and
said, "I want to thank all of you for Swinging with me for the
past thirty years."
The crowd went wild when he sang
Swinging and
continued to be enraptured when he swung into the haunting
melody of Seminole Wind
.
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Morgan Fraiser |
By the time John Anderson reached the stage, the audience had
been well warmed up by a few newbies.
The opening act was Morgan Fraiser, who's
new hit, Hey Bully
will bring a tear to any eye and many
memories of not-so-fun school days for many of us including
Morgan. It's sure to be a big hit soon.
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Bush Hawg |
Then there was St. Augustine's own hometown boy wonder, Craig
Hand, lead singer for a hot new band, Bush Hawg. Their
More than Corn
is
high octane. All the
young St. Augustine girls–and some of the not-so-young– couldn't
get enough of him and his band. This is a home town boy made
good and the fans loved him for it.
My favorite among the newbies was
Angie Johnson, one of
Nashville's fastest rising stars and a really nice person to
boot. I got chance to speak with her and her husband. These two
are so down to earth and natural, you
feel like you are just
talking casually with a couple of new friends.
. |
Angie Johnson |
Angie's story is a combination of perseverance and that one
lucky break. The daughter of an air force serviceman father and
a Japanese mother, Angie is her own unique blend. She joined the
Air Force as she says "because I love my country and because my
brother said I wouldn't do it."
Angie has always loved music and tried
during her time in the Air Force and later while in the Air
National Guard to pursue a music career but things never quite
jelled for her. She decided to put aside her dream and go to
college. Then, while she was deployed on a tour of duty in
Southeast Asia, she sang to entertain the troops. One young
service person taped her and posted it on You Tube. Suddenly she
was in demand. Invited on The Voice, her unbelievably
powerful voice made Cee Lo turn his chair. (What were you
thinking, Blake Shelton?)
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Uncle Kracker |
She really warmed up the audience at Old City Music Festival
with her new single,
Swagger. As of this writing,
Swagger
had inched
its way to #25 on the Country Music charts. Angie is on her way.
Stardom is in her future for sure.
Uncle Kracker brought his own brand of
music to the stage and kept it down to just one bit of
profanity. His version of Big Bad Leroy Brown
had the
audience singing along. It's contagious. None of us could help
ourselves.
|
Richard Williams, lead guitarist
for Kansas |
The real old-timer of the lineup was Kansas
, the band not the
state. But they have credibly represented the Sunflower State
for the last 40 years. Their unique sound had held audiences
since Carry On Wayward Son
reached number 11 on the
charts giving them their first top forty hit in 1977.
This was almost
too much fun for one
night. The producers agree and next year, it's going to be a
three day event. Wow! Whoever
said Ya' caint never have too much fun
must have been
at this concert. Three days of that much fun might just kill me.
But what a way to go! The 2014 dates are November 7-9 at the St.
Augustine Flea Market. See ya' there
"The good Lord willing and the creek don't rise." �
For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/oldcitymusicfest
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