Sawyer Brown
McLEANSBORO, Ill. - One of my favorite yearly events I look forward to is the the three-day McLeansboro Fall Festival held the first full weekend in September.
Once again they have outdone themselves, bringing in top-notch entertainment and an hour-long parade Saturday evening, along with the yummiest food around.
Friday night was gospel night featuring The Isaacs and southern Illinois' own Phelps Brothers and Sisters. Unfortunately I missed seeing them this year. I know they have been around for at least 55 years. As a child it was always a treat to hear them play various churches for homecomings and gospel sings. I think I secretly had a crush on Mike since he was nearest my age.
Happy folks milling around downtown...? No, that's Mark Miller loosening up before the concert!
On Friday night Lee Greenwood took to the stage. And on Saturday (Sept. 8), Sawyer Brown took the stage at 7 p.m. Lead singer Mark Miller says he tells his kids they were the "original American Idol," winning the the TV show "Star Search," hosted by Ed McMahon, in 1984. Not long after, their first hit “Step That Step” hit the airwaves.
Soundcheck!
The name came from Sawyer Brown Road in Bellevue, Tennessee, where the band had gone for practice sessions. Mark's energy on stage was just as prevalent as it was when I first saw them in DuQuoin several years ago when they opened for REO Speedwagon.
Mark Miller, gettin down!
It was estimated over 8,000 people attended the Sawyer Brown concert, which is more in attendance than any concert held at DuQuoin State Fair this year (to contrast, McLeansboro has a total population of a little over 2,700 as of the last census...so that's a CROWD). The popular crossover band played several of their hits and even their rendition of Joe Walsh’s “Life's Been Good” and my favorite, their remake of the Michael Johnson 70s song “This Night Won’t Last Forever," and a song written by Mark entitled “Gypsies On Parade.”
An enthusiastic crowd; roughly three times the size of the city
At one point in time, Marion’s own Tom Murphy played with Sawyer Brown behind the curtain, playing the fancy guitar licks one of the former guitar players couldn’t play. Mark also discovered and produced the Christian group “Casting Crowns."
The tour bus
Officer Dave Filkins of the McLeansboro Police Department; plenty of police presence available on concert nights!
The concert was awesome - as usual. McLeansboro Fall Festival organizers, give yourselves a pat on the back; you have the best fest in southern Illinois!