Fling Barn host to Sweet Japonic Oct. 24

   The Barn at the Fling Family Farm will be hosting three blues-rock bands on Saturday, Oct. 24 during a nine-hour concert event. The Fling Barn, located six miles south of Hillsboro at Folsom, is a unique venue in a renovated livestock barn in the country.

   The barn has been owned by the family of Bill Fling for more than a century, and after the tremendous interest in the barn as a reception hall, the area has been transformed into a popular site for concerts, weddings, reunions, and numerous other events.

   According to Fling, The Barn developed into a reception hall by accident. "A bride came to me a little over a year ago and wanted to have her wedding reception in the Barn. I was very surprised," Fling said.

 "It went very well and the guests loved it. We decided to give it a try and held an open house Sept. 6, 2008. We had over 600 attendees. We have held over a dozen weddings since. We have an alcohol option on the ballot for Nov. 3. We lose about 38 percent of the weddings because we do not have a liquor license. Every time we lose a wedding, 24 people lose a job at The Barn."

   The Genuine Junk Band of Ashland, Ky. will open the Oct. 24 concert, performing from 4-6 p.m. They are currently working on a new album. Clips of their music and information on the band can be found at www.genuinejunkband.com.

   Cheryl Renee and Them Bones Blues Band will be on stage from 6-9 p.m. Nicknamed the "Goddess of the Blues," Renee, a native of Cincinnati, is a self-trained musician who sings blues music. For more information on Cheryl Renee and the Them Bones Blues Band, visit www.cherylrenee.com or www.thembonesband.com.

   Headlining the event is Sweet Japonic, a Grand Rapids, Mich., band that is currently gaining popularity across the country. Sweet Japonic, which performs blues/rock music, has appeared in concert with many popular bands, including Cold War Kids, Wilco, and Guster, and has performed at festivals with award-winning artists such as John Mayer and the Dave Matthews Band.

   Admission to the blues-rock show is $10 per person, which covers the three concerts and food. Campsites are available for an additional $10 per camper.

   The event is "BYOB." The Barn is located six miles south of Hillsboro on State Route 247; turn left onto Berrysville Road for one mile.

   For more information or for a map to the Barn, visit  www.FlingBarn.com or call (937) 393-8200.

   The Barn also will host a Business After Hours event with the Highland County Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 15 and an open house and tour from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.