By KALIN KROHE
Panhandle Post
On Feb. 18 ten bands from all over the Panhandle will come together for the "Sound System Fund Fest" in the basement of the Scottsbluff Elks Club. This all day concert will help raise funding for a new PA sound system in that venue.
The bands include: The Vellichors, The Greendales, Shon Townsend Band, Avid Dischord, Loaded Dice, GBR, Brindelmire, Roger Dodger, Kalin Krohe Reference and Kiss Pup.
The concert starts at 2 p.m. and will go until 12 midnight.
"The idea is to have a venue in Scottsbluff that allows for any band to put on a show at little to no cost to the audience; having a PA system at the venue allows the bands that don’t have access to a sound system...now do," Sound System Fund Fest event organizer, The Vellichors bassist and Elks Club member Mike McKnight said. "Also, having the PA available at no cost to bands allows that we can do no cover charge's, so everyone can enjoy the shows. We kicked around the idea of all the bands pitching in to pay for it, but this seemed like a lot more fun!"
Derek Johnson is a bassist that performs in multiple bands in western Nebraska including: Loaded Dice, Shon Townsend Band, Kalin Krohe Reference, and other bands that will not be at the event.
"I just love to play music; this gig is a jump start to something bigger. Playing with three different bands for this gig feels like I'm hogging all the fun," Johnson laughed. "No, but truthfully when I take the stage and play with multiple groups, a lot of people take notice and always comment and ask me questions about music and how I do it. It makes me feel like an inspiration, and that feels good. We need more musicians in the area. Hopefully I can inspire some young bass players to carry the torch, and then I won't have to hog all the gigs anymore."
McKnight said there will be a huge variety of music for people to enjoy.
"We will have a little of everything the Valley has to offer for bands," McKnight said. "We tried to get just about every band we could to this event because they all have something to gain from this. We will have a lot of rock bands, classic, original, cover, along with acoustic acts. All of these bands have something to gain from this venue and the hope is that everyone uses this as a place to build their audience and a place where all ages can enjoy it."
Local musician, Crossroads-Alliance Music Store Manager, Bands on the Bricks-Alliance FOH (front of house) sound engineer and guitar music teacher Shon Townsend said he is excited to perform at the concert.
"It’s awesome to be included on this bill with all these great bands," Townsend said.
He said a venue like this is important because, "it gives a place for bands to play live music."
McKnight said this venue will be great for original bands that create their own music as well.
"There really isn’t a place for original music or music that bars consider risqué in the Valley," McKnight said. "If you go to a bigger city, their are plenty of places that embrace original music. The hope is that we will have a place where all music is welcome and all groups, no matter the genre, are welcome."
