Down on the farm: John D. Hale Band headlines Barn Party

John D. Hale grew up on a ranch outside of Jackson. The barn up on the hill has served as practice room and creative escape for the country musician for years.

Before he formed a band, John used to practice with friends in the barn and have concerts for friends and family. The first real concert at the ranch was the John D. Hale Band CD release party in 2004 for the debut "One of a Kind." In 2008, the barn doors opened to the public and 600 people showed up to see the John D. Hale Band, Doug and Mark Rees and other semilocal acts.

"We just wanted to kind of have a concert that was not in a bar," said Liz Hale, John's wife. The couple has three toddlers, and she said they wanted to do something that other people could take their children to.

"I was like, 'Let's just have a party at the barn,'" she said. "It went really, really well last year, so we thought we'd do it again."

The party starts earlier this year. The gates will open at 3 p.m. Aug. 29, and games are planned for the afternoon. Horseshoe and washer tournaments start at 3:30 p.m., and the bands will start to play at 4 p.m.

"It's like a mini festival," she said. The games "kind of ties into being out by a barn on a ranch."

If horseshoes and washers don't say barn party, the animals visitors pass to get out there will. The 5-H Ranch, named for the Hale family, has horses, camels, sheep and a zedonk among other animals.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. The money from the tickets pays for the tents, sound system and bands. The money from parking benefits the East County Rural Fire Protection District.

Liz Hale said giving back is a big part of the party. She's got plans for more charity concerts in the future.

"Hopefully in the fall or spring I want a Bands for Boobs [show]," she said.

Liz's mother diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago and "I'm just a huge supporter," she said.

The 2009 Barn Party features the John D. Hale Band with John at the mic and guitar, Cody Phillips on bass and vocals, Chris Brotherton on drums and vocals and Ryne Jackson on lead guitar, fiddle, harmonica and vocals. Also on the lineup are Matt Stell and the Crashers from Fayetteville, Ark., The Crop Dusters, and Trey Presson and the Bootheel Contingent.

John Hale said he puts an emphasis on originality.

"I just want people in the [Southeast Missouri] area to embrace original music," he said. "It don't have to come from the radio to be original."

Hale said he and his wife hope to grow the party to attract national acts but for now keep it fairly regional to help local bands get their music out.

"We try to push the original music thing," he said.

Playing the Barn Party also serves as a homecoming for Hale, who spends most of his time touring with the band to Illinois, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma.

"For us, our old drummer will come out and play a few tunes," he said. Hale said other former members of the band will probably show up and jam, too.

Plus, he said, "It's on our ranch. I wrote in the barn. It's just a little getaway-type deal."

Liz Hale said returning to his roots and the barn is good for John.

"It's just a big part of everything that he did," she said. "And John plays country music, this brings the country back into it."