The River City Radio Hour will return for its fourth season with the second annual outdoor performance and street dance on Friday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.
The 500 block of West Main will again be closed and the Radio Hour will perform in front of the Wayne Theatre marquee. The 7 p.m. Radio Hour will also highlight the Alliance’s “Count Down to Curtain Up,” the final phase of its capital campaign to bring the Wayne Theatre back to life.
The August Celebration will feature an array of musical talent. Heading the evening will be the Radio Hour’s own studio band, The Boogie Kings, under the direction of Richard Adams with William Hayes and J.T. Fauber. The Dreaded Blues Lady Lorie Strother and Dr. Stephen Levine will be joined by Kevin Chisnell with his blues harmonica. Country singer, LeAnna Armstrong will make a special trip from Nashville to bring her exceptional voice to the evening. Gwynne Wood and the Civilians will make their Radio Hour Debut. Completing the musical roster is Sound Direction with its tight a cappella styling.
Also gracing the Radio Hour will be the humor of The Queen of Comedy, Marsha Howard, and the River City Players with a selection of writing from the latest Cultural Commission publication, Wenonah Writes, a collection of pieces by Wenonah Elementary students.
The Dreaded Blues Lady Lorie Strother and Dr. Stephen Levine are favorite Radio Hour performers. Ms. Strother with her soulful voice and Dr. Levine with his expert blues guitar styles combine to give an authentic voice to American Blues. For the August show, they will incorporate Kevin Chisnell who has won the applause of the Radio Hour’s audiences with his blue harmonica. The August Radio Hour will be the debut of the new blues trio.
Gwynne Wood is a burgeoning artist blessed with pure vocal tone, and chops beyond her years. Her vocal credits include performances with Ash Lawn Opera, Shenanarts, Waynesboro Players, public festivals and charity events, as well as bouncing around the Staunton/Augusta/Nelson music scenes. Gwynne is backed by The Civilians featuring Ben Wood on guitar, and Hugh Scott on upright bass, both seasoned musicians in their own right.
Sound Direction first appeared on the Radio Hour in July, 2009, and established itself as a real crowd pleaser. heir combined voices produce an eclectic mixture of jazz, pop, folk, spirituals and novelty tunes. When asked to describe their style, it was said, “Imagine a sound with the tight harmonies of a jazz ensemble, the street corner appeal of American doo-wop and the vocal purity of a choir, and you’ve got Sound Direction.” The group features John and Bettie Tindall, Betsy and Keith Dishman, and Kim and David Tate.
LeAnna Armstrong is following her dream in Nashville where she performs and studies. A musician, singer and songwriter: LeAnna Armstrong is a native of Highland County, Her first performance was at the age of 12 in a blue ribbon performance at the local 4-H Share the Fun contest. She has gone on to be a Virginia FFA Talent winner allowing her to participate on a National level in Louisville, Kent., and Indianapolis, Ind. She has appeared on RFD TV for two consecutive years. She is also the winner of the 2007 West Virginia State Fair Young People’s Talent Contest. In 2008, LeAnna won the Colgate Country Showdown at Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton, and went on to participate in the state competition in Richmond.
The special extended August performance will take place in front of the Wayne theatre at 521 W. Main St. in Downtown Waynesboro. The Radio Hour is at 7 p.m. followed by a street dance. Audiences are asked to bring their own seating.
The River City Radio Hour is a production of the Wayne Theatre Alliance with support from Waynesboro Cultural Commission, the City of Waynesboro, and The Virginia Commission for the Arts.
For more information on River City Radio Hour, please call 540.943.9999 or e-mail [email protected].
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at [email protected].
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