Published: May 19, 2009 04:16 pm      

Different, but ...

Summer Motion still is a great way to celebrate the holiday

With a new location and less operating revenue, Summer Motion certainly will be different in 2009, but one thing will not be different: It will remain an excellent free concert series and an excellent reason to spend the Independence Day holiday right here in Ashland.

The biggest change this year will be the location. Because of construction work on Ashland’s riverfront, the concerts will be in Central Park instead of on the city’s boat dock.

Summer Motion President Chuck Charles and his team of volunteers have worked many hour on the logistics of the park concerts — including notifying residents who live adjacent to the park — and are convinced they can accomodate large crowds for the free concerts. Of course, Summer Motion concerts in the park are not new. In previous years, performers like Billy Joe Royal, Gary Puckett and the Lovin’ Spoonful have performed in the park bandstand prior to the concerts on the river.

The recession also has impacted Summer Motion. Sponsorships are down by about $77,000 this year, which required planners to “beat the bushes for value,” Charles said. As a result, Ashland’s most popular annual event could not afford to book as many big name performers as in past years. While this year’s performers may lack the string of hits that past Summer Motion performers have had, they are still quite good.

Rising country stars Savannah Jack and Jake Jones will kick off the park concerts on July 1, followed by the Atlanta Rhythm Section and the Spencer Davis Group on July 2.

Micky Dolenz, one of the original Monkees, will be the featured performer on July 3. Dolenz — whose 53-year career in show business dates back to 1956 when he starred in the children’s TV show as “Circus Boy” — did not even know how to play the drums when he was cast as the Monkees’ drummer in 1965, but he learned quickly and went on the be the featured singer on such hits as “Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m a Believer.” According to his Web site, he now is primarily a country singer but is certain to sing his Monkees hits for the Ashland crowd.

The Reflections will perform in the park on July 4, followed by a fireworks display on the river. Summer Motion always has one of he region’s best fireworks shows. There also will be live concerts in the park on July 5, including a semifinal round of the Colgate Country Showdown from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“If you haven’t heard of them, you need to come anyway,” said Charles of this year’s lineup of entertainers. “They’re going to be great showmen.”

And you still can’t beat the price. We know of no other community of this size that offers the quality of free entertainment that Summer Motion does year after year. While the tough economic times have impacted this year’s festival, it remains among the best holiday events in the entire region. The park is not nearly as good a venue for the concerts as the riverfront, but it is the next best thing. Next year it will be back to a the riverfront.