Bringing the community together as one
Founders Park Lawn Chair Concert Series, Americana style, begins June 23
The Series, free of charge, will take place on Saturdays beginning at 6 p.m., June 23, July 14 and Aug. 25. “The last note must be hit by 9:30,” said Shandy Dixon, event co-founder.
Featuring Americana bands Carolina Story, Guy Marshall and Jubal, “We feel that inviting our core bands back each year allows the audience to develop a relationship with the artists and their music,” Dixon said. “We want LCCS to feel like a family reunion of sorts.”
As for typical reactions from patrons, Dixon gave one anonymous example: “’My 15-year-old son and I really enjoyed it We’ll be back. It was a great, family friendly environment. Music that stretches across the generations.’”
Moreover, “This season we have added some new names to the lineup, more food trucks and are developing a ‘market’ walk,” she added.
In addition to lawn chairs and blankets “some folks bring tables … and a family could come to the Concert Series and bring all of their own food and beverages,” Dixon said. “The Town of Farragut does not allow alcohol in the parks.
“Pets are welcome on leashes,” she added.
In attempting to make the entire experience as pleasant as possible, “This season we will pay special attention to parking needs, as well as keeping lines short, so that our Lawn Chair family can spend more time enjoying the show and each other,” Dixon said. “We strongly encourage feedback so that we can continue making things better.”
In addition to Founder’s Park, other recommended parking areas include Farragut Primary School, she said. “We encourage folks in the surrounding neighborhoods to walk.”
Dixon stated in an e-mail Monday, June 11, “We are working on acquiring a shuttle sponsorship” to take attendees to and from Farragut High School and Kroger parking lots.
Lawn Chair Concert Series T-shirts will be on sale, while refreshments include cups of lemonade and tea.
All profit from series merchandise sold “goes directly back into the Series to cover operation costs,” she said.
Typical attendance for each Series concern has been between 600 and 800, Dixon said. “We anticipate this year to be around 800 per show.
“Last season we were nearing 1,000 on the opening show and around 800 for the following.”
Looking back, “It all started on a whim,” Dixon said. “Amy (Boling) and I wanted to see a band downtown but did not want to make the drive to Market Square ... so we sat around her fire pit bouncing ideas,” finally deciding, “Let’s just bring the Square to us.
“The following Monday morning I called Sue (Stuhl, Parks & Leisure Services director) with the Town of Farragut. She patiently listened as I excitedly laid out our half-cocked plan, and when I finished she said, “’Well, you will need to fill out the request form,’” she added.
“We were expecting her to shut us down. Turns out, Farragut’s department of Parks (& Leisure Services) has been so cool.”
