Time moves quickly and sometimes it’s hard to capture the moment. That’s the way it was two years when the Red Dirt Rangers came into our church and put on a show for the ages to close out the second season of our Cimarron Breeze Concert Series.
This was supposed to be a celebration of their 25th anniversary as a band, but it turns out by then they had already finished 26 incredible years together playing all over the world and “spreadin’ the dirt” that helps define our part of the planet.
In May, they came specifically to open for and play with Lloyd Maines and Terri Hendrix, to check off one item from their bucket lists — to play with the man who produced their first two recordings, Oklahoma Territory and Rangers’ Command. For those of us lucky enough to be there that night, their “unplugged” rendition of Bob Childers’ Restless Sprits — in front of the stage, not on it — with Terri and Lloyd is something we won’t soon forget.
The Red Dirt Rangers put on some of the best live shows on these American plains and around the end of this year, you’ll be able buy that experience when their first live recording is released. But for now you’ll just have to experience it first hand this Saturday, August 6th, at the Old Church Center in Perkins.
Our Annual BBQ Potluck Fundraiser Dinner will start next door at the Vassar Community Center around 5:30 p.m. and we also have some great items to auction off because it is after all a fundraiser. If you’re bringing a dish, try to get there around 5 p.m. so we can get everything set up. Then you’ll have time to tour the historic buildings at the Territorial Plaza with Lory Ferguson.
Rangers Ben Han, Brad Piccolo and John Cooper are dear friends of ours, but more importantly they’re family. One of the great things about the concerts we have here in Perkins is that the performers and audience know each other through the music and the personal connection that it brings.
But the Rangers have been around Payne County most of their adult lives so they’ll know most of the people who will be in the audience here Saturday. Think of this as a Red Dirt Rangers Family Reunion where we might even have strawberries and but will definitely have watermelon.
Opening will be Monica Taylor and her Red Dirt Ramblers — Gene Williams, Uncle Don Morris, and Rick Gomez. There’s a good chance most of us will also find our way onto the stage with the Rangers, if they’ll let us, because it is after all a family affair.
Tickets for the concert are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. If you give me a call at (405) 612-3183 to reserve tickets so you can pay the advance price at the door.
The potluck will feature BBQ from Bad Brad’s in Stillwater plus some of the special dishes our red dirt family will bring along. A donation of $20 is suggested. We’ll also be raffling off a pair of season tickets covering eight shows over the next six months for $5 a ticket or six tickets for $20 — a darned good deal!
But that’s not all. Our friends at Kicker have donated some of their top shelf audio gear, including bluetooth speakers for home, office and outdoors. We also have two nights at Saint Francis of the Woods — just five minutes away from the church — a Horseshoe Nail Star Candelabra made by Losco Hunter and more that we’ll be auctioning off or giving away for next to nothing in one form or another. It’s a FUNdraiser so prepare to have FUN.
