Tunes at Twilight takes a break

As the Tunes at Twilight concert series prepares to end the first half of its season today, organizers are overwhelmed at the response the concerts have garnered at the halfway point.

"The numbers are way up from last year and they were pretty good last year," said Larry Underberg, who helps book the talent for the shows.

So far 2005 has been a record year for the Tunes series, which started just five years ago with humble beginnings. They were held on the grounds of the First Presbyterian Church on Broadway at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.

Originally the concerts drew crowds sometimes as small as 10, said Marsha Toll, a member of Old Town Cape who was one of the early organizers.

This season attendance at the June 10 show featuring Kimberley Dahme topped 500, and nearly 2,000 have attended the five concerts held so far.

"We considered a couple of hundred to 250 to be a good audience," said Underberg.

Underberg cites multiple reasons for the success of the 2005 season. One reason is the quality of the shows has increased, with nationally touring acts now dominating the series.

"Once you get people who have had a good experience, they're likely to come back," Underberg said. People now expect there to be a good consistent level of quality at these shows."

And word about the concerts has traveled, said Underberg.

The atmosphere of the concerts has also changed.

"What we're noticing this year is a lot of people coming way early to have picnic lunches or visit with neighbors and even hanging out afterward to talk."

The concert series will close out the first half of its season today with Robert Hoyt, one of the first national touring acts that ever played Tunes. Underberg said it's appropriate to have Hoyt play at this show, completing the circle that started when the folk musician first played at Tunes.

"I thought it was really appropriate to have him at the closing of one of the seasons, because more than anybody he's one of the people responsible for getting us where we are now," said Underberg.

Hoyt has long been characterized as a political-activist folk singer in the classic tradition, but has tried to break that reputation and just play entertaining music. Those who come to the show today shouldn't expect to hear much political rhetoric, Hoyt said, just music the singer defines as "folk and roll," or folk with a rock edge.

"I tend to be more mainstream nowadays," said Hoyt.

The Indiana songwriter is a true traveling folk artist, having played in over 40 states, including several stops in Cape Girardeau.

Seeing the river town is always a pleasure, said Hoyt.

"I think it has a lot of soul, being an old river town. I always go take a walk on the river while I'm there."

Underberg and other organizers are expecting the second series, which starts on Aug. 12 with Kraig Kenning, to be as much of a hit. The lineup features a wide array of styles, including the classically influenced Philippe Bertaud on Sept. 9. bluegrass band Wild Carrot on Aug. 26 and local favorites Doug Rees, Bruce Zimmerman and Mike Renick on Sept. 2.

Shows for the second series start at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at the Common Pleas Courthouse, except for the last show, which will be at the Capaha Park Bandshell. Memphis-based musician Bryan Hayes will play the last concert, instead of the originally scheduled Cindy Kalmenson.

For more information call Old Town Cape at 334-8085.

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Want

to go?

• What: Tunes at Twilight
• When: today (June 24), 7 p.m.
• Where:

Common Pleas Courthouse gazebo

• Info: 334-8085