Music coming to city park
• Martins Ferry Lions Club lining up acts for AugustBy MIKE HUGHES Times Leader Staff Writer
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Fact Box
Music in the Park
MARTINS FERRY - The Martins Ferry Lions Club has finally accomplished another of its major goals for the city park.
A few months prior, the members of the club held a day of service throughout the city and the beautification of the park was a major portion of that project.
After doing all that work, the Lions wanted to make sure the park received some usage and sought to bring in some entertainment.
That hard work and planning has paid off as the Lions Clubs' entertainment committee will present Music in the Park, starting Sunday, Aug. 8 from 7-9 p.m.
''That was our goal when we first started,''said Mary Beth Fitch, the chairman of the club's entertainment committee. ''We asked for suggestions from the public and overwhelmingly, they wanted events at the park.
''We tried to find some local musicians that wanted to showcase their talent and play for the community.
''It should be a fun event for everybody.''
The concerts will run from 7-9 p.m.at the stage and they will be free to the public.
The Lions' members will serve light refreshments near the stage and president Paul Riethmiller will provide light music starting at 6 p.m. while the entertainment is setting up on stage.
''Bring your lawn chairs, your tents, your blankets, come out and have a nice time in the park,'' Fitch said. ''It will be a community and family friendly event.''
The initial performer on Aug. 8 will be Martins Ferry native Tammy Craig Mehl.
The Christian Church has an outdoor event planned on Aug. 15, so the next group performing will be the band Take 2 out of Wheeling.
Jeff Tappe, known across the valley as Smoke Daddy, will take the stage on Aug. 29 - sans the Crawfish - for a solo, acoustic performance.
Riethmiller said the Lions are working on adding additional acts for September and then plan to fully develop the concert series for 2011.
- Craig will be bringing her guitar and soft, soulful voice to the stage, performing a variety of hits in Christian, folk and country genres.
A 1986 graduate of Martins Ferry, she has been singing since she was 15 years old, starting in churches around the valley.
This won't be Craig's first performance for the Lions either. She sang during the club's charter night last winter and penned an original number that nearly brought the house to tears according to Riethmiller.
She also sings with her husband and his band, Steve Mehl and Driver.
Attendees of the Martins Ferry Sky Show in recent years will remember both Craig and her husband's band.
- Take 2 is relatively new to the Ohio Valley music scene. The band consists of four friends from Wheeling: Nicco Catalano, 15, on rhythm guitar; Chance Siebieda, 15, on bass guitar and brothers Chas, 17, and John, 15, McFarland on lead guitar and drums, respectively. Chas handles the lead vocals, but all four members sing.
The group has been playing together for the last two years and has performed at The Italian Festival, Generations and Mr. Small's theater in Pittsburgh.
The members have a diverse taste in music and it shows when they play some of their seven original numbers. They also perform plenty of crowd pleasing covers, ranging from Bob Seger, Poison and Creedence Clearwater Revival although Chas McFarland feels their original numbers lean towards an alt-rock sound.
They are competing in a Battle of the Bands today at C.A. House Music in St. Clairsville. To learn more, go to their website at www.take2theband.com
- Smoke Daddy needs no introduction as he and his band, the Crawfish, are a staple in the Ohio Valley.
Tappe is a former member of the Pride of West Virginia, the West Virginia University marching band in his younger days.
He's played in practically every musical venue in the tri-state area. Tappe plays a variety of music, rock, classic rock, all covers. He does have one original tune, a reworking of Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere" that highlights local cities and towns.
He can currently be seen at River City the first Friday of every month as part of Wheeling's First Fridays. He also plays Oglebeyfest every year and frequents such locations as Wheeling Island Hotel, Racetrack and Casino, Oglebay Park, Garden Park in Warwood and Down on Main Street in Wheeling.
He's even been the musical entertainment on gameday during Steelers' tailgate parties.
Hughes may be reached at mhughes@timesleaderonline.com
