Many special events on tap for 2012 Greene Countrie Towne Festival

By ANNETTE WELLER
Greenfield Rotary Club

Following are a few snapshots of some of this year's entertainment lineup for the Greene Countrie Towne Festival, July 19-22.

SIRENS & SONNETS

• Local artists Matt Shonkwiler and Chris Dudley will be on stage during the Greene Countrie Towne Festival at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 21.

Sirens & Sonnets is the two-person writing vehicle of Shonkwiler and Dudley, both of Greenfield. They aim to deliver strong lyrical messages embedded into various sounds, styles, and instruments, all supported by an acoustic backbone.

The Lewis Brothers

• The Lewis Brothers are looking forward to their first performance in Greenfield.

This popular and entertaining group from Chillicothe will grace the festival stage on Friday, July 20 beginning at 8 p.m.

The Lewis Brothers bring a unique approach to their Americana music roots, with whimsical lyrics to complement the bluegrass and folk oriented sounds of their instruments.

Last year, the band was happy to report that its album “Bollocks” had sold out (fear not, more have been printed and the band’s offerings can also be purchased at major online musical outlets).

The year 2012 has seen the Lewis Brothers’ second full-length album, “Folk & Camp Fire Songs,” released to critical acclaim as well.

“This is the kind of group that festival goers always seem to enjoy,” said Rotary President Blain Bergstrom. “The Lewis Brothers don’t take themselves too seriously and their music will add an enjoyable touch to the Greene Countrie Towne Festival. Plan to be on hand for the Lewis Brothers on July 20.”

For more information on the Lewis Brothers, go to www.lewisbrothersband.com.

Caleb Mootispaw

• Local musician Caleb Mootispaw will start off the entertainment for the Greene Countrie Towne Festival.

A local guitarist, singer/songwriter and cross country runner extraordinaire, Mootispaw will lend his musical talents to the Greene Countrie Towne Festival, just after opening ceremonies on Friday evening.

This gifted young man has performed at local churches, telethons and other venues, another example of the fine musical talent to be found in and around Greenfield.

Asked to describe himself and his musical goals, Mootispaw provided the following: “I am a Christian musician with a heart for community service, mainly in the form of praise and worship. Through an acoustic performance, I hope to share the message of God’s grace and healing in my life with others.”

Soul Purpose

• Kicking off the Sunday portion of the Greene Countrie Towne Festival will be a concert by Soul Purpose, a popular gospel quartet based in Grove City, with a locally based lead singer, Jim Barrett.

Soul Purpose features a traditional southern gospel sound.

Their ministry began in 1972 under the name The Sounds of Joy and in 1995 they began a fresh start under their current name. The name just seemed to fit as the group is committed to reaching souls for Christ. “Your Soul is our Purpose!”

Their recent project “Heaven Is Mine” has been a big hit among their fans as have their other projects. Their albums incorporate those good old gospel songs as well as more current releases making a great collection of gospel music for all ages.

With more than 30 years experience in gospel music, this group knows how to get a crowd excited about the Lord! Likewise, they know how to bring the crowd to a time of worship and reflection.

Concert-goers continue to comment that this group has something “special” in that they consistently present a program that couples immense talent with a “ministry” message.

It’s more than just entertainment to them – it’s a ministry. With a unique and powerful vocal sound and a committed desire to reaching the lost, this high energy group is a must see!

Filo Beddoe Band

• The Filo Beddoe Band is a dangerous combination of rock and blues. The popular five-man wrecking machine takes pleasure in steamrolling audiences across southern Ohio with a live set guaranteed to make you shout for mercy. Matt Hutchinson ignites the fire with the electric guitar echoing riffs from legends like Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Jason Vesey grinds out the grove with “Killer” keys. Steve (Max) Bailey drops an atomic back beat on the skins and Mikey Chavez gets it all dirty with some low-down bass funk.

Add frontman Hutchinson’s searing lead vocals and the heat goes from hot to nuclear.

Covering everything from Creedence to Crowes, Allman Brothers to ZZ Top, and serving up some home-grown originals too, Filo Beddoe is a rock and blues juggernaut sure to satisfy all your musical desires!

For more on the band, go to www.filobeddoe.com.