Heritage Park concert series kicks off

The public is invited to the kick-off of a series of free Friday night concerts starting at 7:30 p.m. at Heritage Park in downtown Fort Scott in which local musicians will perform old-time music.

A group of local musicians, each with an individual style, will perform at the park, located at the corner of First and Main streets.

The concert series is sponsored by the Downtown Division of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. The event is free to all ages. People are reminded to bring their own refreshments and lawn chairs.

Local musician Ralph Carlson is heavily involved in the concert series. He has booked three other bands, the Community Christian Church band, the Sekanaires, and Fuss and Feathers (a duo of Carlson and James "Red" Stradley), all which will perform at the park in upcoming concerts.

The band performing at the kick-off concert was loosely formed this week and played for the first time on Wednesday. Carlson will be busy playing the guitar and singing for the newly formed group. So will local shopkeeper Jim Shoemaker, his wife Darlene and Brendon Russell, all of whom will perform in the recently-formed group.

Carlton called the group "Jammin with Jim." That's because he'll be there just to back up Shoemaker, whose skills on the organ Carlson said are "really good."

"We have great talent in Fort Scott, and these concerts will help make the community aware of the talent," Carlson said. "We're going to have a good time in an old fashioned setting."

One such talent is Shoemaker, who demonstrated on his Yamaha electric organ Thursday in a room at the back of Darlene's Antiques and Collectibles, 16 Scott Ave.

Inspired by an evangelist in the 1950s, Jim has been playing the organ for 40 years. He played for church services for 25 years, so it's no wonder most of his material is gospel music.

Friday will be first time Jim has performed in front of a live audience since the 1990s. Russell will play the drums, and Darlene will play the piano.

"We'll be playing the old stuff," Jim said. "It's going to be a jam session with experienced musicians. Nothing is going to be planned. When we finish one song, one guy may say 'Hey, let's play this.' It's strictly a fun thing."

Carlton said he'll probably sing, "I'll Fly Away" as well as other old standard country songs during the concert.

The band will be playing 1950s-style gospel music and other popular tunes from that era. No rock and roll, Jim said.

Carlson first heard Jim play the organ Wednesday and asked if he'd be willing to play for the Friday night concert series.

"The other night, we did just super-well," Jim said.