A big weekend is on the horizon in a few days as patriotism and tradition come together in grand fashion in Folsom as the Hometown Parade brings some 70 participants and thousands of spectators to the city’s Historic District on Saturday, June 29. The night before the Sutter Street event brings an event not to miss as well, it’s the third annual Hometown Country Radio Show, a free event on Friday June 28 in the Zittel Family Amphitheater.
Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, the Hometown Country Radio Show is a free concert featuring a number of talented performers, all coming together in a celebration of country music, which began as an experiment two years ago by local musicians and impresarios Billy J. Walsh and Ian Cornell, proved very popular and has been a hit ever since.
“It is a Grand Ole Opry-style show at the Zittel Family Amphitheater to celebrate the history of country music,” said Walsh, a Folsom resident who performs with his bands the Sky Kings and Rangers. “This is a multi-artist show featuring some of the best country musicians on the west coast, perfect for those who like to dance and sing along.”
The stage will be shared by up to 20 musicians, including Walsh; former “Voice” competitor Kristen Brown; locally-based Nashville recording artist Michael Gregory; Michael Curtis, Jr.;Flying Eugene Flowers; Kevin Jachetta ; Matt Twain; Ian Worley; Danielle Walsh Mata; Sunny Mitchell; Jerry Verseput;Mark Wheeler; Amy, Lizzy and Maddie Malekos; Joe Orlando, Geoffrey Miller; and Mitch Ballard. Cornell serves as guest emcee for the show.
“We will perform a chronology of songs from classic country artists such as Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams, through the country-pop era of Lady A, Lee Ann Womack, Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood; and into the country-rock era of The Eagles, Poco and Linda Ronstadt,” said Walsh. “Stellar musical performances combined with fantastic vocalists will provide an entertaining show unlike any other here in our hometown of Folsom.”
The event is free and family friendly. Walsh said guests are encouraged to arrive early, set-up low-back lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy dinner in the historic district before the show.Beer and wine will be available at the event.
The event will be the second of two nights of music this week in Historic Folsom, on Thursday, June 27, the weekly Summer Concert Twilight Series continues as well, featuring the Sugar High Band this week (see additional Folsom Times story.)
As previously reported in Folsom Times, those that attend Friday night’s should plan to come back for Saturday’s Hometown Parade will begin at 9:30 am sharp on Saturday. For information on any of the events in Folsom Historic District this week, visit https://www.historicfolsom.org/.
