Published: July 03, 2009 09:30 pm      

Concerts get toes tapping in two Virginias

BLUEFIELD — Friday night on the trail of two concerts, as the two Bluefields celebrated American independence on two different venues, but arrived at the same destination.

After the Bluestone Wildcats concluded their first exciting set of rock and blues music in Chicory Square, Stuart McGehee, Wildcats’ lead vocalist/guitarist, faced the flag and covered his heart with his right hand as the recorded voice of Dixon Jones singing the “National Anthem” echoed through the downtown. Following McGehee’s example, the crowd of 250-300 people stood and covered their hearts as well.

“It’s so rewarding to see so many people from so many walks of life enjoying themselves on such a beautiful evening,” Mary Jo Babbitt, chair of the Bluefield Fine Arts Commission said. “We have people representing so many different age groups here tonight. Our attendance has grown and the number of vendors we have grown. The Fine Arts Commission is just so pleased with First Fridays.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the state line, a crowd of 200 or more gathered in the First United Methodist Church on College Avenue in downtown Bluefield, Va., to hear a patriotic music program performed by the 20-voice strong Bluefield State College Community Singers, directed by Don Kensinger, assisted by Ellen Light. The program represented a special Independence Day eve installment of the Evening Shade Concert Series.

“Even though we’re in a church, this is not going to be a religious performance this evening,” Kensinger said before performing a patriotic solo prelude, “Materna” on the organ. “This is a patriotic program so when you want to applaud, applaud. No tomatoes and no boos.”

As she does at each week’s Evening Shade performance, Pat Jones welcomed the audience and noted that it was “not the usual Evening Shade.

“We’re paying tribute tonight to the birth of our nation and to our founding fathers,” Jones said.

“God is so very good and we are so very blessed,” the Reverend Raymond Amos, pastor of First United Methodist said prior to his prayer opening the concert. “We welcome you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” he said.

The community singers performed the intellectually challenging “Testament of Freedom” by Randall Thompson with words by Thomas Jefferson, and invited the audience to join in on the repeats of selections in the four selections of, “We Hear America Sing,” including “God Bless America,” featuring soprano Bonnie Hopkins, “This is My Country,” featuring Dr. W.D. Hasty, baritone, “You’re A Grand Old Flag,” and “I Like It Here.”

Meanwhile, back in West Virginia, Bob McGraw wailed on harmonica as the Wildcats played on. “Bob will be back at our next First Fridays show on July 31, as part of the Limehouse Quintet,” Babbitt said. “We’re holding our next concert in conjunction with the Downtown Bluefield Street Fair.”

Art Riley, president of the downtown Bluefield Merchants Association said the line-up of activities for this year’s street fair is nearing completion. “We should be able to release the complete line-up by the middle of next week,” Riley said.

People appeared to relax and enjoy themselves at each of the two very different, yet very unified in spirit concert sites. The sun came out and took the chill off a warm July 3, evening in the two Bluefields.

— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com