Historical April–May 1999 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The West End Arts Council is sponsoring a special evening of song and togetherness at Four Corners (Kingsbury and DesPeres) on Saturday evening, April 17, from 6–10 p.m.
The opening act is The Little Foxes, featuring Mimi and Tina Renard along with Don Muckerman.
The Renards grew up in the neighborhood on 62xx McPherson. Certainly many friends and acquaintances will be interested in seeing the Renard daughters perform.
The headline act is from Chicago. Switchback is described as having ‘Celtic Rockabilly with Red-Hot Guitar.’ At their various gigs, their music is decidedly contemporary.
The group founders are Marty McCormack and Brian FitzGerald. McCormack and FitzGerald see themselves as having Celtic, jazz and blues roots. Their instruments are bass guitar and mandolin complementing an Irish tenor. Switchback has also shared its music with those not able to get to a concert.
They have brought music to those in nursing homes and have helped to raise funds for a hospice.
They adjust their music to their audience. Switchback appeared a few months ago at the City Museum’s “Beatnik Bob’s.” Bill Christman, the man behind the beatnik, was very impressed with their performance and was happy to be able to bring them to our neighborhood for a special evening.
The Arts Council makes this event possible with funding from the Regional Arts Commission and support from the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council.
In addition, the Playground Committee of the SDCC is putting on a barbecue and selling beverages to benefit the play lot they wish to see built adjacent to Four Corners. They’ll be selling some tasty items and some Schlafly.
The Committee has worked very hard this year to raise funds for the playground and the proceeds from the food and drink here will help them get closer to their goal As the final frosting on the cake, some. of the artists’ studios at Four Corners will be open the evening of the concert.
It will give people an unusual opportunity to see the calibre of art produced so close to home. Everyone is welcome—residents, friends, colleagues, acquaintances. Enjoy the food and drink, the very special music performed by old friends as well as a very special group from Chicago with its unique sound, and sample the art.
For questions about the event, call Laure Porterfield at 862-5122.
Original photograph caption
Switchback promotional artwork identifying Marty McCormack and Brian Fitzgerald. Image maker not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April–May 1999.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1999_04.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 3; PDF page(s) 1, 3.
