
Broncos Super Bowl Car Has Arrived At The Firehouse BBQ & Blues!

See It For Yourself…Inside The New Firehouse BBQ & Blues, Depot District

If you haven’t been inside the Firehouse BBQ & Blues yet, but you’ve heard about “the” mural…here is a sneak preview. The mural was painted by the well known artist, Pamela Bliss, who has been director of the Murals Project in Wayne County. She also painted the Single G mural in Cambridge City as well as many others in Wayne County. This mural is located behind the stage where live music is played every weekend, and depicts the old fire wagon and horses racing to put out a fire. The Firehouse BBQ & Blues is actually housed in what was the first firehouse in the area and has been remodeled with much of its historic value preserved, by two firefighters who took on this project over two years ago. It is a must -see destination!
8th Annual For the Love of Grapes Wine Festival

The 4th Floor Blues Club will be hosting the 8th Annual For the Love of Grapes Wine Festival. See event details below!
When: Friday, November 11, 2011
Where: 4th Floor Blues Club
Time: 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Advance Tickets: $20, can be purchased at: Maria Mitrione’s Italian Market, Little Sheba’s, Joe’s Pizza or from any HYPE committee member
Ticket Price Day of Event: $25
Entertainment: Garcia and Scott
Souvenir wine glass for every ticket purchase!
For more information, call the 4th Floor Blues Club at 966-5654
Presented by: Richmond Baking Company, HYPE, Wayne Bank & Trust, and VanVleet Insurance
Annual Prophet’s Fest Saturday August 27, 2011

Prophet’s Fest 2011
This annual event includes multi-genre music such as Reggae, Rock, Bluegrass & Dubstep. It is a full weekend of dancing, camping and family fun for people of all ages.
Live music is provided on a scenic farm 3 miles South of Richmond at 944 Woods Road. Camping is free with food vendors, crafts and environmental booths available. The music starts in the early afternoon and bands will play on through the night with The Big Lowowski shown on a big screen at midnight.
If you are planning to stay the night you will want to bring camping gear, party supplies, and “dancing pants and Cosby sweaters,” according to information from the website.
***Please do not bring dogs as there are dogs on the farm already, and no glass containers or fireworks.
The Schedule: Saturday, August 27, 2011
- 1pm : Gates Open
- 3pm-10pm: Multiple acts play on main stage. Bands will include: Nightflyer, Pressure Sound System, Otto and the Moaners, DeVille Soul Consortium with DJ Chozen, Natural Mystix and more.
- 10pm-midnight: Everyday Prophets
- Midnight: big-screen viewing of The Big Lebowski
Late night dance party in the VIP cabin featuring: Kaiten, Wise Cracka, Ariosa , Marky C, Bitflip - 10am Sunday : Time to head home!
Check in to the Prophets Fest website for any updates on this event. Cost for this event is 15.00 for adults. Children 12 and under are free.
Gennett Walk of Fame Music Festival Celebrates “Mo Blues”

For you blues lovers, that time of year is approaching. The Annual Starr-Gennett Walk of Fame Music Festival is coming next month. All the information you need is below. See you there!!
Where:
Whitewater Gorge Park
201 South First Street
Richmond, IN
When: September 10, 2011 11AM-10PM
Description:
Concerts by Randy Baker and the Jonny Hazard Band, The Groove Doctors, Governor Davis and the Blues Ambassadors, and Nashville’s Stacy Mitchhart; induction of Roosevelt Sykes and Bailey’s Lucky Seven into the Walk of Fame, and honoring Blind Lemon Jefferson; performance by the Starr-Gennett Youth Troupe; free kids games and activities; Battle of the Blues Bands; Gennett Mansion Bus Tour; Richmond Pride Art and Essay Contests; Rubber Duck Regatta; music and art vendors; food and beer garden.
Contact Information:
Terri Hardy
765-962-2860
thardy@starrgennett.org
Price:
Daytime events are free. Evening Gennett Legacy Concert tickets $15 at the door, $10 in advance. Blues Battle at 6:30 PM. Governor Davis and the Blues Ambassadors at 7 PM. Featured performer is Nashville’s Stacy Mitchhart at 8PM.
Website: http://www.starrgennett.org/
Ticket Information:
Tickets are available at Starr-Gennett Foundation, Wayne County Foundation, the Tourism Bureau, Richmond Furniture Gallery, Lamplight at the Leland Inn, and online at: http://starrgennett.eventbrite.com
Sponsors: Premier sponsor: Richmond Baking Co. Other sponsors: Earlham College, First Bank, Irmscher Construction, Lingle, Mosey Mfg., Richmond Casting Co., Reid Hosp., Rick and Beverly Garnet, Wayne Co. Fdn., Wayne Bank, Wayne Vincent, West End Bank.
See this year’s official poster below for show times:
Gennett Legacy Concert THIS Weekend!

“The Music and Spirit of Louis Armstrong,” a jazz concert starring trumpeter Byron Stripling backed by a jazz quintet, will be presented on Saturday July 23 at the historic Murray Theatre in Richmond, Indiana. A young Armstrong made some of his first recordings at Richmond’s Gennett Records in 1923 with the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band. In 1941, by then quite famous, he returned to perform on the Murray Theatre stage, and this concert celebrates the 70th anniversary of Armstrong’s Richmond appearance.
The Foundation and Theatre are interested in hearing from anyone who might have attended the 1941 Armstrong performance or knows of someone who was there. Please call Starr-Gennett if you have related stories to share.
For this concert, Stripling will re-create the style and songs of the legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong. Stripling is an outstanding musician with a national reputation who played the lead role in Broadway’s Stachmo. He has performed with over fifty different symphony and pops orchestras, including the Boston Pops, and also with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and at the Monterey Jazz Festival. He has toured with such major jazz acts as Lionel Hampton, Terry Clark, Woody Herman, and Count Basie. He is currently the artistic director of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra.
This Gennett Legacy concert is being co-sponsored as a special fund-raising event for both the Starr-Gennett Foundation and the Richmond Civic Theatre. Ticket price is $20 ($15 for RCT members, Starr-Gennett members, and students. Tickets may be purchased in advance from either of the sponsoring organizations. The July 23rd program will begin at 7:00 p.m., with the theatre doors opening at 6:00.
In connection with the July 23rd concert, Lamplight Inn at the Leland will host “Jam and Dance” sessions in the Leland Ballroom, located at 900 South A Street, one block from the Murray Theatre. The pre-concert music will play from 5:00 to 6:00, and post-concert music will begin at 9:30. The dance floor will be open, and J&J Winery will offer a cash bar and light snacks.
WHO: Byron Stripling
WHAT: “The Music and Spirit of Louis Armstrong”
WHEN: July 23, 2011
WHERE: Murray Theatre (Richmond Civic Theatre)
COST: $20 ($5 discount for SGF members, RCT members, or students with ID)
TICKETS: @ RCT, SGF, Wayne County Foundation, Welcome Center, and The Leland
Online at: starrgennett.eventbrite.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Terri Hardy, Starr-Gennett Foundation: 765-962-2860
Bill Strauss, Richmond Civic Theatre: 765-962-8011
or David Cobine: 765-962-5828
The Depot District “Cruise In” Live Music Under The Overpass
Last night the place to be was in the Depot District, to begin the long 4th of July weekend.
As the steam of the day started to leave issuing in a cool breeze, people gathered to enjoy the Cruise In.
Timeless music filled the air as the crowd milled about listening to the live band, eating, visiting with one another and taking a tour of the many classic cars surrounding the beer garden.
The parking lot and under the overpass was filled to capacity with vehicles of all eras from the 1920’s to the 60’s.
Next to the beer garden, Joe’s pizza was filled to capacity with people enjoying the amazing sounds of Carol Lou and friends. Decades of musical talent were there last night as the oldies were enjoyed over pizza and laughter.
Carol Lou is a regular at Joe’s pizza on Friday nights, and the Cruise –In at the Depot is a new regular – every first Friday of the month.
Coming Up…
Also on tap this weekend will be the Blast At The Overpass in the Depot District on Sunday. Gates will open at 3:00 with bands playing up to the arrival of the special guest band. (see article- what’s happening this weekend). Cost is 8.00/person and tickets can be purchased ahead at Mitriones and Joes Pizza.
The Blast At The Overpass is part of the InConcert series also sponsored by Warm Glow Candles. Rick Parker of Parker’s General Store, Mitrione’s and 4th Floor Blues is to be thanked for bringing this kind of “big city” entertainment to our town.
This was a great way to start the weekend with more to come. (For more pictures of this event go to the Go Wayne County Facebook site).
Calling All Blues Bands and Artists…
Attention All Blues Bands! You could be Starr-Gennett’s official “Blues Band (or Artist) of the Year”! First place wins the title, $500, and 8 hours of studio time.
Starr-Gennett Foundation is looking for the best regional blues bands or artist to battle for the title at this year’s “Mo’ Blues Festival”. Enter today by sending an email with either a link to your band’s demos or just send a few mp3s.
The contest will take place from 2-4:00 p.m. at the Walk of Fame Music Festival on September 10. The top two bands will battle for the victory at 6:00 p.m., just before the featured evening Concert. Deadline to enter is July 15, 2011.
Send submissions including contact name, band name, and music links or demos, to:
Terri Hardy ~ thardy@starrgennett.org
Or call (765) 962-2860 for more information
Richmond Laughs…Come Join The Fun!
Shakespeare’s Comedy Of Errors Moves Audience At Earlham

Another amazing performance at Earlham College! Following a few hours at another event we were uncertain about being able to stay alert for Shakespeare—but awake we were and loved every minute of it.
It says a lot when a five and a half year old can watch Shakespeare and laugh, glued to every word for ninety minutes. The acting drew you into the moment even if you didn’t quite understand all the references within the Shakespearian language.
Playing to a packed house, the actors who brought Shakespeare’s The Comedy Of Errors were marvelous.
Kaitlin Brennan, a student at Earlham, commented after the show that they were reading Shakespeare in a class at Earlham and had covered this particular play. She said they all wondered how the staging would be done and said “It was amazing.” And the interpretation was “so good.”
Dick Holden, retired from Public Relations at Earlham shared that “you can really tell the difference with a professional group such as this one.”
The final revelation of the error of this farce brought cheers from the crowd, and a standing ovation as the curtain came down.
The Acting Company is a recipient of the Tony Honor For Excellence in Theater, and the artists advisory board includes actors such as: Robin Williams, Olympia Dukakis, Kevin Kline and many others. The high caliber of theatre is just amazing to witness at a small liberal arts college such as Earlham. And yet the events just keep coming and garner the same enthusiasm from the community.
As Mickey White, professor of theatre and stage crafting at Earlham said, “It is really amazing to see the touring company from Guthrie.”
With one more Artist and Lecture Series event to come to Earlham this year “Truth Serum Blues,” if you haven’t been you won’t want to miss this one. (You can see the reaction of the crowd at Comedy of Errors in the short video clip below).
Back to The 80′s!

This Saturday Go Wayne County is proud to sponsor “Monsters of Mock” at E Street Pub.
Get your spandex, parachute pants, big hair, and plenty of Aqua Net ready for a rockin’ night!
The Lineup:
- Ozzy Tribute Band: Speak of the Devil
- Van Halen Tribute Band
- Joan Jett Tribute Band
- And, of course, the one and only Lipstick will be the opener!
Richmond’s own Dire Skates roller derby team will be on hand. Great time to pick up a cool shirt and support our killer derby team! (Plus they are all kinda crazy and make the night 10x more fun.)
Costume Contest
Best dressed man and woman will win great prizes. The bigger the hair, the better. (That is if you still have hair.)
Come out and have a great time re-living great times!
Details
Event also sponsored by: DRAGONS DEN TATTOOING – CAP KUSTOM
Live Music, Good Food & Shops In The Depot District, Richmond IN
In the past when we ran through the checklist of locally owned restaurants that are open in the evening, we used to be frustrated with the few choices.
But last week we had three great experiences in the Depot District in Richmond. Earlier in the week we went to our old favorite, Joe’s Pizza, to have the pizza and salad buffet. The pizza is always fresh with a large variety on the bar (my favorites are the spinach and vegetable pizzas). They also carry specialty pizzas and sandwiches that you can order separate from the bar. We have enjoyed Friday nights there listening to pianist Carol Lou and friends, playing old time favorites.
After our meal at Joe’s we walked down to Parker’s General Store (Mitrione’s) and picked out some yummy desserts and also got some Christmas shopping done. Besides adding hot foods and a salad bar along with a new soda pop fountain with sodas, sundaes and other yummy treats, they also carry unique gift and food items. If you are in the market for old fashioned toys or special wines, they carry those and much more.
And on Friday night we went back to the Depot District to eat at Little Sheba’s, one of three restaurants in the Depot District open in the evenings. I enjoyed a veggie burger on flat bread and later we shared a slice of cheesecake. While we ate we listened to the live music of Randy Baker, his son Brian on guitar and professional bass guitar player Bill. Owner of Little Sheba’s, Steve Terzini, said that they incorporate live music on weekends and that Baker and friends are a regular there at least once a month. (see video below)
Shops open later for the holiday season…
Not only are there great places to eat, but there are shops open later for the holiday season. Across the street from Little Sheba’s you will find Richmond Furniture Gallery open and ready for business. Right next to Sheba’s is The Good Life Emporium has natural cotton t-shirts, jackets, mugs and more. One idea is to go early to shop at stores, like the Railroad Store and antique shops, that close at 6:00 and then have dinner after.
In the video below you can see and hear Randy Baker and friends. (Little Sheba’s was packed last Friday so you will also hear the background noise of people having a great time). Enjoy the video and remember the next time you are looking for a great food experience in the evening–check out one of the restaurants at the Depot District in Richmond IN.
Dire Skates, Kramus, and Food for the Holidays!

The Dire Skates of Richmond will be at E Street Pub hosting a food drive tonight! Just bring a can of food to the door and get $1 off the $3 cover! Support a great cause and help those in need this winter.
Special guests “No More Goodbyes.” Show starts at 10pm. Drink specials all night long. $3 cover. 21 and over.
Is E Street Pub Too Big For Richmond?

We often hear (as most people who aren’t in Chicago, LA, or New York do) that there isn’t enough to do in Richmond. And when we hear that we often laugh.
You might not be into all kinds of music. You might not be into going to smoky bars all the time. But never let it be said that Richmond doesn’t attract quality bands from all over the region across a broad range of musical styles.
And E Street Pub is right in the middle of the scene. Tonight you could have closed your eyes and imagined you were in a world-class venue in a major city. All the elements were present except for the kind of crowd such a show deserves.
Long gone are the terrible local garage bands with no skill, terrible sound, and junior high school talent. If that’s what you think of when you think live music in Wayne County, it’s time to change your thinking.
Tonight was a punk-themed night with 4 bands:
Safety Pin
A local band with Brian Wells on guitar and vocals, Jason Carter on bass, and Brian Elstro on drums. Pin played a crazy Marcy Playground cover tonight along with a tight, inspired punk set. Follow Safety Pin on Facebook.
Switchblade Syndicate
From Kentucky (yes, though people who live around Richmond might not want to make a drive all the way to E Street, the bands come from far away just to play here) this band rocked the stage with a lighter style when it comes to true punk music. But their presence and showman (woman) ship was spot on. Follow on Facebook.
Situation Red
This was true punk. These guys hail from Cincinnati and they came to play – HARD. Lots of original tunes and some covers. They had Richmond’s own “Joan Jett” out of her seat and into what can only be described as a tizzy. Much respect from true punk fans in attendance.
Misunderstood
From Richmond, this band does punk justice. Follow them on Facebook and support quality local musicians!
Bottom line: When it comes to live music, whether it is open mic, 80′s bands, tribute bands, originals, or cover bands, E Street Pub has something going on that rivals anything you’d see in places 100 times our size.
Richmond is still very much a music town. The popular genres have changed along with the times, but this area is set, once again, to be a major hub for musicians to showcase their talent from all over the Midwest. How many towns like ours get a second chance?
Whatever your favorite music is, Richmond and surrounding towns attract it.
The amount of revenue this town can generate from the music scene alone is revenue we desperately need. Buying local is sometimes just a matter of showing up and making entertainment choices beyond watching Dancing With The Stars.
There are no boring towns. Just boring people.
Bringing the life back to the communities of Wayne County is partly about us locals showing up when great events happen in our area (organized by people who work really hard to put together great entertainment experiences).
Special thanks to Brad Bales for attracting bands of all kinds to Richmond. And to Brian Elstro for his hard work to give traveling and local bands a top-notch sound experience.
Scene in Richmond…

Fangs and fake blood aren’t the only things you can use to be scary…

Mega Dorothy
How many “Mega-Dorothies” have you seen in your lifetime? And where exactly do you find ruby slippers for such Godzilla Dorothies? (Dorothy played by Ryan, lead singer and guitarist for Lipstick, and 80′s hair metal band that thinks every day is Halloween!)

Size 14 Women's Ruby Slippers
Those are only a couple of the questions you’d ask yourself at the Wheel’s Halloween bash with Lipstick and a standing-room only crowd full of zombies, vampires, and witches, Oh My!

Lipstick Goes Wizard of Oz!
The Wheel is known for having one of the craziest Halloween parties in the area every year. Brad Bales, the drummer for Lipstick, reported that the house was packed to the brim with ghouls having fun on his favorite holiday of the year.
The decorations and props were top-notch as well. While most would settle for a little spider web here and there, these guys brought out what appeared to be the entire product line from the Halloween store!
Next year, put the Wheel on your list of places to get down on Halloween. And don’t dare show up without a costume!
—
Pics courtesy of Brad Bales
View the entire Lipstick Halloween photo album on their Facebook page! (Album 1 – Album 2)
















