By MICHELLE SCHMIDT for INLAND360.COM
Music has been a longstanding part of the Dogwood Festival, but this year the concert is moving off-campus to a downtown concert venue.
And if you like Three Dog Night, it’s safe to say you’ll enjoy the show.
“The Dogwood Festival committee wanted a finale, something really great,” said Jay Starnes, owner of Boomers’ Garden and event sponsor. In recent years, he’d been in contact with a Three Dog Night tribute band with a festival-type concert that he knew would appeal to the community. Shambala seemed a natural fit for the event.
The group will open the show with an hour long ’70s-style music set. After a short break, Shambala will launch into a longer set exclusively featuring Three Dog Night songs like, “Joy to the World,” “One,” “Never Been to Spain,” “Celebrate” and “Old Fashioned Love Song.”
“It’s professional from start to finish,” Starnes said. “A lot of people back off when it comes to tribute bands, but these guys travel all over the country. They’re world-class tenors.”
Besides putting on a great show, Starnes says it is an affordable event that will be a lot of fun. Fun that he anticipates will be helped by the mid-70’s temperatures forecast for Saturday.
As an outdoor venue, Boomers’ Garden features festival-style seating, so attendees can bring blankets and lawn chairs. A social area on a terrace overlooking the stage holds tables and chairs for VIP seating and is available for those 21 and older. Simple Eats, another downtown business, is catering food that will be available for purchase at the concert.
“Historically the festival has brought in some good performances,” said Debi Fitzgerald, director of the Dogwood Festival. But these concerts, she said, stayed on campus and would fluctuate from year to year. Bringing in a group of any significance requires a sponsor, so shows would vary, depending on who was able to sponsor the performance.
“Jay saw the value of partnering with the festival to bring something to the community,” said Fitzgerald. “We really appreciate his part in making this happen.”
Tickets are available in advance for $15 a ticket or $20 at the gate. Limited VIP seating is $25 a seat or $125 for a table of six. Tickets are available at GNC in the Lewiston Center Mall, on www.ticketfly.com (search for Boomers’ Garden) and at the Dogwood Festival office at 415 Main St. (second floor) in Lewiston.
if you go: WHAT: Dogwood Concert featuring Shambala, a Three Dog Night tribute band WHEN: Saturday, April 27 at 7 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m. WHERE: Boomer’s Garden in Lewiston ADMISSION: $15 in advance, $20 at the gate
