Sat, May 17 2008
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We admit it. We’re spoiled.
For the past 20 years we have come to expect Ashland’s Independence Day celebration to be wrapped around three nights of free Summer Motion concerts on the riverfront featuring outstanding entertainers.
This year — the 20th anniversary of Summer Motion — is no exception. The format is the same as in other years: One night featuring groups who first made it big in the 1960s and 1970s — this year it is The Ventures, the instrumental group that has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Kansas — and two nights of country acts. This year, rising star Sarah Johns of Pollard will open for Marty Stuart on July 3, followed by Tracy Lawrence and Lady Antebellum, a trio just finding success on the country charts, on July 4.
Oh, and don’t forget this area’s best fireworks show on July 4. That always attracts a huge crowd.
Then, when Summer Motion moves to Central Park on July 5, The Diamonds — a 1950s group best known for “Little Darlin’” — will perform.
Summer Motion has become so popular that it is easy to forget that the annual concert would not be possible without the generosity of the corporations, businesses and individuals who give so generously year after year to make the free annual concerts the envy of many, much larger cities. Chuck Charles, who has been president of Summer Motion for many years, works many hours throughout the year planning for the event, and hundreds of volunteers give of their time during the concerts.
That’s why local residents know they don’t have to consume many gallons of outrageously expensive gasoline driving somewhere to enjoy their Independence Day. All they have to do is go down to the riverfront, munch on the great food sold by vendors, sit back and enjoy some great music.
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