Christian Rock Stars Begin Week of Dayton Fair Music
Christian Rock Band Sidewalk Prophets will begin a week of musical entertainment at the Great Dayton Fair tonight. Admission is $10 daily (submitted photo - used by permission)
by Jonathan Weaver
Five consecutive days of evening musical entertainment at the Great Dayton Fair begin tonight at the Dayton Fairgrounds.
With the fair officially opening at 3PM today, and amusement rides operating at 5PM, the first musical group under the lights will be Christian contemporary rock artists “Sidewalk Prophets.”
The five band members, including founders Ben McDonald and David Frey, are getting ready to officially release their fourth studio album and sixth overall “Something Different” August 28.
“’Something Different’ is not just a collection of songs,” Frey said on the band’s website. “It is an album and a journey where all the songs come together to tell one unique story. That story is that there truly is something different about us. That something different is Jesus Christ.
I hope this album, through the gift of music God has given us, can give listeners the courage to live fervently and recklessly shine love in to the darkness.”
Following tonight’s performance at 7PM at the grandstand, “Sidewalk Prophets” next performs where the band originated – at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana – the night of the album release.
“Sidewalk Prophets” next plays in Pennsylvania at Grace Fellowship Church in York, Pa. this September before continuing their tour across the United States.
After Ford City-based classic rock band, “The Travelers” perform in their Dayton Fair debut Wednesday night at the new stage, classic country band “Black Horse” performs Thursday during a day that promotes free admission to all.
Band Founder and Lead Singer/Rhythm Guitarist John Natale said the Canonsburg (Washington County) based band started in 2012. He has known fellow Band Member Ken Homerosky since junior high in the Canon-McMillan School District.
“We’re finally doing the kind of music that we really like,” Natale said. “It was frustrating before “Black Horse” because we were doing types of music that neither one of us was comfortable with personally – we had to do modern country and some rock-n-roll, and that’s not my forte. We had always talked about getting a band together to do classic country, and we finally just decided to put it out there and see what happens– so far, so good.”
Natale, 58, said crowds should expect a classic country mix from the 1950’s, `60’s and `70’s.
“We want to do the older country – Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, George Jones, just to throw some names out there,” Natale said.
“We want to preserve traditional country music – there are a lot of good bands that play new country, but you will not hear Jason Aldean or whoever Luke Bryan is (from us),” Homerosky added. “We realize it’s a niche thing – it’s not a mass appeal. It’s working out – being members of the Wheeling Jamboree hold a little bit of weight.”
The band performs at various events during the summer in the tri-state region, but has never performed at the Dayton Fair, either, but has performed at events in Brookville (Jefferson County)
Homerosky, the bass player, e-mailed a promotional kit of materials to Great Dayton Fair board members, and the band is anxious for this week’s show.
“We tried to get something together last year and couldn’t, but we got a date worked out for (this week),” Homerosky said. “We’re looking forward to going up there.
The entertainment shifts back to `70s and `80s rock music Friday with “Thieves” – who have performed before in Ford City, Apollo and Parks Township – before country bands “Chris Higbee” and “Dan + Shay” close out the week.
Local News | jweaver August 17, 2015
By Just sayin, August 17, 2015 @ 8:43 AM
And remember to have a Dayton Fair King contest next year.
Break some legs, guys! It’s a great thing that you are doing — spreading the word through rock music which attracts the younger set (and older set, too). God bless you all!
By Just sayin, August 17, 2015 @ 8:48 AM
Remember the Doobie Brothers? “Jesus is Just Alright (with me)” That is a great song. And it was a hit of theirs.