After a day of sunshine and local acts at Summerseat Farm, national recording artist Charlie Daniels was into his third song when the deluge came. When it came, there was no place for the outdoor crowd to hide.
Nature’s fury was something to watch, but it was a crying shame. For all the effort and preparation put into the historic property’s large fundraiser, to have it washed out in one fell swoop was a tremendous disappointment.
Hiccups arose early when the featured act required a two-hour sound check before the show could begin and then was an hour late on top of that. That pushed everything back schedule-wise, which in the end proved to be the factor in the unfortunate ending.
Music fans found a shady spot from the intense sun and waited. When things finally got rolling, the schedule was altered altogether.
The Sam Grow Band, obligated to perform at a wedding later in the day, ended up opening following a three-song set by Kelly Sowers from Pennsylvania who was performing for Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed present for the concert..
Grow’s energy and presence continues to impress and garner a growing number of fans. His band is as solid as ever. Opening with a cover of Gregg Allman’s “Midnight Rider,” he surged into a nice mix of originals and cover tunes.
His popularity among fans young and old is evident by the number of fans waiting to have their photos taken with him after his set was finished.
Dave Norris’ following set was a strong mix of country embellished by Sue Tice on fiddle, Charlie Bass on lead guitar, Troy Jones on bass and Joe Parson on drums.. Norris’ songs have been recorded by The Seldom Scene, IIIrd Tyme Out, Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers and Blue Highway. Saturday the crowd responded to the originals, including “Timberline,” the song that won the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlfest in 1996.
The Justin Myles Experience followed, another homegrown talent whose music always brings the crowd up with its funky sound and erupted with an energy all its own. Myles showed off some great footwork when he tap danced his way through one number, not something you see much of these days, but the crowd was delighted.
Jason Michael Carroll brought his own Nashville sound to Summerseat with a great band, a young up and coming artist who signed with Arista Records in 2006. His songwriting skills were evident and the throng responded.
That set the stage for Charlie Daniels and as much as fans wanted to hear “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” that debil had other ideas. Even as the storm threatened, people were flocking in to see the show.
“We estimate we had between 1,200 and 1,400 people,” said organizer Jimmy Dicus. “We had an Act of God clause in the contract, but with the lightning and wind, we had to get people to safety.”
The storm forced organizers to shut down the main generator powering sound, then a lightning strike nearby put the lights out in the farm. All while one member of The Charlie Daniels Band” suffered low blood pressure and dehydration and had to receive medical treatment.
Dicus said except for that incident, there were no disorderly patrons among the crowd.
“Everyone said they had a great time,” Dicus added. “You can’t do anything about the weather.”
And the rain fell hard for a very long time.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com