43
Salem gears up for First Night
People will be able to find almost every type of music.
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM — The fourth year of First Night Salem offers events that are closer together, jug music by a band named the Smokin’ Fez Monkeys, and an effort to save lives in Africa.
“It’s a celebration of the arts,” said Bill Schilling, a volunteer and spokesman for the committee. He will also be performing.
All the venues will be within about a 31⁄2-block area along East State Street in the heart of the city, he said.
In the past, some venues were some distance away. The main events and the finale this year will be based at the Kent City Center located on North Lincoln Avenue just north of East State Street.
People will be able to find almost every type of music from big band to religious to what Schilling describes as “strangeness.”
The Smokin’ Fez Monkeys, a Cleveland group whose music is similar to national recording artist Leon Redbone, will perform at the Memorial Building.
Schilling said the group offers both traditional and contemporary jug music.
The group’s Web site says the band performs acoustic, folk and jazz tunes and describes its music as “cartoons for your ears.”
Schilling said, “It’s good, original jug music.”
People can also listen to music that includes spiritual songs from The Ascensions and the Stockdale Family Band, polka from The Del Rezek Orchestra, steel drum music from Salem’s Sugartree Alley, and ’60s pop music from Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band.
And, the beads are back. First Night included a touch of Mardi Gras last Dec. 31 by offering beads at the various venues. Schilling said a number of people collected them.
But some people who stayed at one venue all night grumbled they did not get the beads. He pointed out the idea is that people should to go to the various sites in order to collect the trinkets — and see the performances.
A variety of food will be available, including catered cabbage rolls and sauerkraut at the First United Methodist Church in Salem from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
All proceeds will go to Nothing But Nets, a program to buy netting to protect African children from mosquitoes that spread malaria.
Pastor Mac Kelly, the senior pastor at the church, said that $10 buys a net that can be used to protect an entire family.
The nets are being distributed throughout Africa, he said.
Widespread use of the nets, the pastor said, “could cut the infant mortality rate in half.”
The Community Action Rural Transit System will offer rides throughout the area for those with a First Night badge that will also get people into venues. Horse and buggy rides will be available for hire at the Salem Public Library.
First Night last year sold about 1,000 badges despite heavy rains that hit the city during the evening.
Schilling said he hopes to sell more than 1,000 badges this year.
wilkinson@vindy.com