By Staff
DOWAGIAC – If boot-scootin' to your favorite country music is something you like doing, you're sure to enjoy performances by The Outta Towners and Due Process at the upcoming Dowagiac Fun Fest and its Sizzlin' Hot Sidewalk Days coming soon.
The three-day festival, which returns to downtown Dowagiac July 24-26, is hosted by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce.
Dowagiac's longest-running summertime event has been underwritten this year by a $10,000 fine arts grant the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) received from St. Denys Foundation and a $6,000 grant the Chamber of Commerce received from The Pokagon Fund.
"While The Outta Towners will make its first appearance at Fun Fest, local residents are sure to recognize city employee Dennis Ferrier, who is best known for his dazzling hot guitar performances, as he balances his instrument above and behind his head, while still managing to play it," said Vickie Phillipson, program director for the Chamber of Commerce and DDA, who is overseeing the 2008 event.
The Outta Towners kick off the festival's vocal and instrumental entertainment at Beckwith Park on Thursday, July 24, beginning at 11 a.m., as they play through the afternoon.
Country music fans will also recognize The Outta Towners' vocalist and guitarist Ron Miller of Goshen, Ind., and keyboard player Paul Rose, who are two of the five musicians who also comprise one of the festival's veteran groups, Due Process, which takes center stage on Saturday, July 26, at 10 a.m. for their day-long performance.
"Their extensive backgrounds allow members of The Outta Towners and Due Process to play to the likes of just about any audience, which is why they're such great musicians to work with," said Phillipson, who first brought Due Process to Dowagiac more than 10 years ago, after seeing its performance at Amish Acres in Nappanee, Ind.
Phillipson said "rockin' twang" is how members of The Outta Towners describe their brand of music. "Festivalgoers can count on boot-scootin' to their favorite country hits or dancing to select rock and roll classics from the 1950s and '60s, on up to modern standards.
Ferrier said the music of Due Process is similar to The Outta Towners, with some bluegrass thrown in.
Whether it's country or soft rock, music critics have said the vocal harmonies of The Outta Towners and Due Process are rich, full and second to none, with rhythm sections among the tightest in Michiana.
The 23rd annual summertime event features approximately 50 hours of entertainment