Sleeper from ChickenFest returns…

By KEN WELBORN

Record Publisher

One of my favorite events each year is ChickenFest. 

The Record is proud to host the annual event at the park we built on the site of our old offices, which were lost to a fire four years ago. 

Each year, it seems as though there is a surprise act that just out of the blue becomes an instant crowd favorite, and often it is a group making its first-ever public appearance in this area. 

Last year it was a bunch of fresh faced kids called Full Throttle, who, when the emcee announced the next song would be their last one for the evening, told the crowd if they would whoop and holler enough, they might get to do two.

They did and they did.

This Memorial Day weekend, another new act making its premier showing at ChickenFest did the same thing.  Ironically enough, it was a group of old geezers reliving their misspent youth playing southern rock music, calling themselves Crusher Run. 

To be honest, Full Throttle slipped up on me.  Crusher Run, however, I knew about and was very skeptical. 

That is until I heard them belt out Lynard Skynard's popular honky tonk anthem Gimme Three Steps, and saw the crowd stand and cheer for what seemed life forever. 

This group, while somewhat younger than me, has still got plenty of overtine under their belts. 

Bill Ellis of Millers Creek plays lead guitar and is the lead singer for the group.  Richie Feimster of North Wilkesboro plays the drums, Andy Rhodes of Wilkesboro is on the bass guitar, and The Record’s own Jerry Lankford, also from Millers Creek, plays rhythm and lead, accompanied by his true pride and joy, a beautiful Gibson Les Paul guitar.                                                 

As their set at Chickenfest continued, they played such standbys as ZZ TOPS' Sharp Desssed Man, The Black Crowes' Hard to Handle , and Skynard’'s Simple Man to the continuing and growing pleasure of the crowd. 

Clearly, based on the reaction of the crowd at ChickenFest, Southern and Classic Rock groups like Crusher Run are a popular part of the Americana Brand of music for which Wilkes County is becoming famous. 

And there's more.

This Saturday night, The Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes is sponsoring a free rock and roll concert by Crusher Run at the Wilkes Playmakers' Benton Hall on D Street in North Wilkesboro.  They will be appearing in the second floor auditorium of that beautiful old schoolhouse--an auditorium that was home for countless school assemblies and later made famous as the home of Tom Dooley:  A Wilkes County Legend.  

Crusher Run will begin playing at 7 p.m. for about two hours.  The show opens at 6 p.m. with a performance by Anna's Deeper Roots, featuring Lankford's daughter Anna as the lead singer.

Come join us for an evening of good ole' classic and southern rock and roll entertainment this Saturday at Benton Hall in North Wilkesboro. 

Remember, this fun entertaining family event is sponsored by the Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes, and is free to the public.

See you there.