Community comes together at ‘Concert for a Cause’

By Bruce Karnick

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A concert that ended up being two years in the making due to COVID finally made its way to the shores of the Mississippi.

Sara Evans headlined the festival put on by the Hastings Area Rotary Club on the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attack in 2001. Three regional acts and three national acts performed at Levee Park in Hastings on Saturday, Jake Nelson, Shalo Lee and 32 Below, Chris Kroeze, Gabby Barrett and Evans.

Hastings class of 1985 graduate and 21-year Air Force vet-

See “RIVERTOWN LIVE,” Page 2 Great bands, great weather, great crowd make for a perfect night on the river!

RIVERTOWN LIVE!

From Page 1 eran-turned Hollywood actor, Todd Langenfeld, emceed the day and played hype man wandering around the grounds chatting with groups of fans.

Langenfeld was joined by 1999 HHS grad, former Golden Gopher and Super Bowl champion, Ben Utecht. Utecht was led on stage by the VFW color guard to perform the Star-Spangled banner as part of a 9/11 flyover at the 7 p.m. band switch to the main stage. Three World War II era fighter planes flew over a few minutes after Utecht finished singing.

The afternoon music started off in on the Rotary stage with the Jake Nelson Band. Nelson played a great mix of originals and covers, showing that a talented local band has what it takes to hang with national acts. Nelson performed a number of fan favorite originals including ‘Whiskey Burns’ and ‘Sip Sip’ along with covers like Johnny Cash’s ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ where keyboardist and local Hastings guy, Brian Schommer took lead vocals. Nelson covered Keith Urban’s ‘Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me’.’ Ash St. John played the Star-Spangled Banner on fiddle as the band’s 9/11 tribute. Jake Nelson is an act you want to hear so check their schedule out at www.jakenelsonmusic.com.

Once Nelson finished his set, Chris Kroeze took the main stage. Kroeze’s down to earth, fun-loving attitude and smooth voice made him a fan favorite on The Voice season 15 where he finished second. Like Nelson, Kroeze played a mix of originals and covers. Kroeze played his new single ‘Summer Song’ along with ‘Human’ and ‘Same Ole’. If you have never had a chance to listen to any of his music, do so, you won’t be disappointed. Check him out at www.chriskroezemusic.com.

Shalo Lee took the Rotary Pavilion stage next performing mostly covers. They had a clean sound and a fun upbeat atmosphere, the tough part for them was their spot in the lineup. They played right as many folks were sneaking away for dinner before Gabby Barrett took the main stage.

Gabby Barrett was an interesting ‘get’ for this concert. She was booked before she hit it big, before her multiple music award nominations, so, when you look at the line-up, there were really two headlining-caliber acts on the day. Barrett wowed the crowd with a series of originals and a few covers. Barrett played her hits ‘I Hope’ and ‘The Good Ones’ to rousing applause.

32 Below was the final act on the Rotary Pavilion Stage, another upbeat and fun cover band that had the crowd dancing for their entire set, as a perfect lead up to the headlining Evans. At 50, Evans continued her super star presence on stage singing her hits ‘Born to Fly’, ‘A Little Bit Stronger’, ‘Suds in the Bucket’, ‘Perfect’, ‘No Place That Far’, I Could Not Ask for More’ and more. She was engaging, often telling a brief story between songs to explain to fans what they were about to hear. She even joked about the train that interrupted her story.

“What is that? A train? Ya’ll are used to that right?” Evans quipped as she laughed.

Evans kept the 9/11 artist tribute going with an impromptu singing of ‘God Bless America’. Before she sang it, she joked about how she gets nervous going off script because she over thinks everything, it turned out beautiful. Her set went nearly an hour and a half before she retired to her bus to change before the final meet and greet of the night.

Overall, nearly 2,000 people came to the riverfront in Hastings for an awesome night of music. The feedback from fans on the way out the gates was nothing but positive as were the comments the next day on social media.

The Hastings Area Rotary Club is very thankful for not only the sponsors for this year’s concert, but also the 150 plus volunteers for Rivertown Live, without all of you, this event would not be possible. Until next year!

Before Gaby Barrett took the stage, (left) Hastings VFW Color Guard presented the colors and (above) Ben Utecht sang the Star Spangled banner followed up by a fly over of WWII fighter planes took place. Photos by Bruce Karnick

Above and at right, Sara Evans closed out Rivertown Live! with an hourand- a-half set that had the big crowd on its feet throughout. Below, Gabby Barrett entertained with big vocals on her hit songs. Below right, the Jake Nelson Band, featuring Hastings’ own Brian Schommer on keyboard. Below left, Todd Langenfeld served as emcee for the event. Below middle, Chris Kroeze, star of “The Voice,” put on an entertaining set. Below right, the band 32 Below played on the Rotary Pavillion Stage. A crowd estimated at about 2,000 attended the event. Photos by Bruce Karnick.