Saturday, Oct. 5
11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Downtown Silverton
Free
By Dixon Bledsoe
A shindig, according to the dictionary, is “A party, usually one that’s big, loud, and noisy.”
That’s a perfect description of what visitors to Silverton can expect at the second annual Silverton Sidewalk Shindig on Oct. 5, said one of the event’s organizers Gregg Sheesley.
This year’s musical get-together will feature 40 musicians in a whopping 34 locations around town.
“The Shindig is an organic, chaotic thing that was created to extend our town’s great success with festivals, following Homer Davenport and the Silverton Fine Arts Festival. We wanted to get one more event in to go with the others as we extend into what is hopefully an Indian summer,” Sheesley said.
The idea for the shindig germinated from the minds of four retired men – Lawrence Stone, Ron Nelson, Greg Hart and Sheesley.
“The goal was to create an at ease network with others, celebrate in the artistic realm, where music certain fits, and showcase Silverton’s uniqueness and historical significance and flavor,” Stone added.
The early motivation for a downtown celebration? All Silverton’s major festivals were centered elsewhere – the Coolidge-McClaine Park to be precise.
“We touched on two dynamics – the Jazz Festival which centered in the downtown area, and Stacey Palmer’s (Chamber of Commerce Executive Director) idea of holding a variation of a flash mob, called “Cash Mobs,” where by design scores of people go to a single retailer at one time to buy the retailer’s wares.
“Both events got people downtown, seeing our cute and eclectic shops, and spending money,” Sheesley said.
Drummer Brad Hirsch will play the steel drum in a way most people have never heard.
“It is almost another dimension and transcends a beat,” Stone said. “His version of Take the A Train and Danny Boy sound like six people are playing instruments and his steel drum is carrying the melody.”
Godfrey Kouha will have Reggae at Silver Creek Coffee House from 1-2 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. His Central African Republic music is like world roots music.
The organizers promise that regardless of your musical tastes, there will be something to suit you during the Sidewalk Shindig.
Enjoy the oldies and goldies? Try Fester and Friends at Hinsdale Wine Cellar from 3-4:30 p.m. or come back for more of Fester and Bill, doing banjo and guitar from 7-9 p.m.
The Red Bench will have a little Blues/Soul/Funk played by Norman Sylvester.
The free festival runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. or later, kicking off in front of the Palace Theater with the Silverton High Jazz Band. Musicians come from all over Oregon.
“Everyone but one business who did music last year are participating again, and most proclaim the event helped them have one of their best days ever,” Stone said.
A music schedule and venue maps are available at Silver Creek Coffee House, NW Oregon Realty Group, A&I Jewelers, Howard Hinsdale Cellars, Larsen Flynn Insurance, The Palace Theater, Creekside Grill, Petcetera, Whimsey Etc., Books & Time, Spoonful and O’Brien’s Café.
