There was an extra value meal at City Hotel Park yesterday.
“And today we’re even Super-sized.”
Those were the words of Allan Robison, executive director of Blair County Community Action and the head of a singing group known as Big Mac and Fries.
“We’re here to have a good time and give the good residents of Tyrone a show they won’t forget,” said Robison.
Big Mac and Fries played the final installment of the Tyrone Council of Arts “Afternoon Delights,” Summer Concert in the Park series, yesterday in City Hotel Park. Although rain threatened, the park was again full of lunchtime visitors wishing to hear an hour of entertainment.
The band includes members Bill Hunter, John McKelvey and Robison. But yesterday’s performance was of the “super-sized” variety with the addition of musicians Don Osborne and Jack Servello.
During the concert, the group played a wide-range of numbers, from classic country to contemporary rock-and-roll.
According to Robison, a few years ago, employees of BCCA decided to get a few people together and start playing music at different functions in Blair County. Robison said the reason was two-fold.
“Not only did we want to play music and have fun,” commented Robison, “but we also wanted to get out and meet the citizens of the county and pass out information about our agency. Although we’re based in Tyrone, we do serve all of Blair County.
“These kind of performances are perfect for us to get the word out.”
The Blair County Community Action Agency uses federal, state and local resources to address the multi-dimensional and dynamic influences which impact on the low-income and socially disadvantaged people living in Blair County.
BCCAA’s philosophy is one of commitment to personal empowerment. Simply stated, people are equal and people have talent, but not all people have equal talent.
BCCAA’s role is to encourage its constituents to develop their talents to better themselves, their family and their community. It assists its constituents in securing the tools and training necessary to meet their needs and to permit them to take a place in the mainstream of society.
To advance this principal, economically disadvantaged people and those more fortunate, work side by side in shared planning and policy development.
The five individuals that played yesterday afternoon were playing for the fifth time together. Robison said they recently played in Hollidaysburg and plan to play Duncansville Community Days later in August.
“We try to get out a few times over the summer and play for the people,” said Robison. “We do it as a labor of love so to speak. It’s truly a lot of fun for us.”
Robison said the band and BCCAA appreciate small communities inviting them into their towns to perform.
“We really believe strongly in the little community,” said Robison. “Were just happy to be a part of it.”
Steven Stoner, president of the Tyrone Regional Council of the Arts, said the second year of “summer concerts” have thus far gone extremely well.
“I think everything went really well this year in the park,” said Stoner. “For this only being the second year for the series, I like what we seen. As the weeks grew on and the weather got better, more and more people began showing up.
“We had some pretty good crowds and I think the people who attended really enjoyed themselves.”
Area music lovers can now look forward to the upcoming Sunday concert series and “Intown Tuesdays” at Epworth Manor.
Whether it is the side-slapping beat of honky-tonk, the toe-tapping rhythm of swing or the melodious tune of Ireland, the Rustic Quality String Band will give you an evening of music you can’t help but enjoy.
Celebrating its 26th anniversary, the Rustical Quality String band is one of State College’s oldest and most loved acoustic groups performing today. From its emergence out of old-time music jams, RSBQ has diversified musically to include a blend of honky-tonk, swing, Irish and country.
The band enjoys nothing more than delighting audiences with dance tunes and songs you won’t hear many other places. A mainstay at the Central PA Festival of the Arts, the band has played for numerous festivals and receptions throughout the East Coast region.
Band members include Timothy Craven, Karen Hirshon, Michael Rovine, Celia Millington-Wyckoff and Michael Smyer.
The Summer Sunday concert begins at 6 p.m. at the Reservoir park amphitheater and is free of charge. Audience members should bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating. In the event of rain, the concert will be held in St. Matthew Hall, located at the intersection of Cameron Avenue and 12th Street.
The music will then continue as the “Intown Tuesdays” series kicks off on July 15 with “Revel: Straight from Australia.”
Beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the air conditioned comfort of the Epworth Manor lobby, Revel Kemp will take his audience through a musical journey of popular tunes from the 60s to present.
Acoustic guitar and a beautiful voice is all Revel needs to pull you along, creating a large sing-a-long party. Revel recently moved to Tyrone from Australia, but his music reflects the songs we all grew up with in the states. The concert is free of charge.
The Summer Concert Series is made possible by a grant from the PA Council of Arts, a state agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and Tyrone Borough.
For additional information, call the Tyrone Arts Council’s ARTS Line Office at 684-ART2.
