Fort Scott Country Music Show to feature local acts

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

A local musician will join other regular performers of the Fort Scott Country Music Show on stage for a concert at 2 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Hall, 1 E. Third St.

Guitarist and songwriter Bob Campbell will be the special guest during the show, which will feature guitarist and vocalist Dewayne Bowman and the Swingin' West Band, including vocalist Ginelle Esry, vocalist and steel guitarist Scotty Henderson, keyboardist and vocalist Gale Richey, drummer Ronnie Blecher, Ernie Reed on fiddle, bass guitarist and vocalist Gary Hill, and guitarist and vocalist Jason Richison.

Show organizer Steve Cliffman said Campbell used to play with a band at several dances around the Lubbock, Texas, area. Campbell attended a country show at Memorial Hall last year and talked to Cliffman about performing there sometime.

"He sent us a CD and we listened to it," Cliffman said. "We had just started having some special guests ... then we called him and asked if he was interested in playing. The CD sounded good."

The other musicians who will perform have appeared regularly at the country show since Cliffman and his wife, Nancy, began organizing it last year. All of the performers have played for professional musicians and in the former Fort Scott Jubilee and Jamboree, Steve said.

Bowman was a regular performer the last seven years of the Fort Scott Jubilee, with other musicians playing periodically during its 14-year run. Esry began singing at the Jubilee when she was 12.

The Cliffmans' first show took place in February 2011 at Buck Run Community Center in front of more than 300 people. The success of that concert and popular demand led to the Cliffmans' decision to begin organizing regular shows to be held at Memorial Hall.

"We weren't planning on doing any more shows," he said. "We filled Buck Run up with that first show. So many people had asked us about doing regular shows."

Their first show at Memorial Hall took place in June 2011 after the former Classic Country Show folded halfway through its six-month contract.

Steve said while he doesn't perform, Nancy sings "once in awhile."

"We organize it and try to keep it going," he said. "The crowd is mainly older people who are retired and on a fixed income who love the old country music. We're not doing it for the money."

Cliffman said much of the regular crowd at the twice-monthly performances come from nearby communities.

"It's kind of surprising, but there are more out-of-town people who come than in-town people," he said.

Turnouts at the shows have been solid, Steve said.

"We average between 150 and 160 people per show," he said. "Sometimes, the attendance is close to 200. Sometimes, it's more like 125."

The Cliffmans have a contract with the city to use Memorial Hall for the Fort Scott Country Music Show performances.

Most of the proceeds from the shows go to pay the band and periodic special guests. Money is also used to rent the facility.

Admission to the show is $10. Youth 15 and younger will be admitted free of charge.