DAYTON — The month of June heats up with hot, local musical talent as Rhea Heritage PreservationFoundation presents the fifth annual Nokian Tyres Summer Nights concerts each Friday night.
“Nokian Tyres makes a tremendous contribution to our community by its support of this annual concert series,” RHPF President Rick Dye said. “Area bands that have great followings locally mpresent evenings of family fun at the courthouse and give their fans an opportunity to enjoy themselves outdoors.”
Music begins at 7 p.m. each Friday and runs about two hours on the courthouse lawn. Bring yourown chairs or blankets for seating, although there are a few benches close to the stage. Food and refreshment vendors will be available.
The Sullivan Band takes the courthouse stage on June 7. Made up of family members from Dayton, Spring City and Chattanooga, the group blends influences of classic rock, southern rock, rockabilly, country, Motown and blues.
Members include: Matt Sullivan on vocals and lead guitar, Jeremiah Sullivan on vocals and bass guitar, Bobby Sullivan on vocals and keyboards, Gary Shelton on rhythm guitar, and Chris Gordon on drums.
June 14, Rhea Springs Revival will be in the spotlight. Covering ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s country and rock, the group mixes in some of their own music.
Band members include Adam Newport, drums, Earnie Robinson, bass guitar, Camden Fugate, lead guitar, Jeff Logsdon, lead vocals and acoustic guitar, and Tate Fugate, lead vocals and electric guitar.
Common Ground takes the stage on June 21. This group of close friends started playing music together about 15 years ago and created a blend of classic rock and roll and country music.
Band members include Keith Fults, vocals and guitar, Kevin McKenzie, vocals, bass and guitar, Stephanie McKenzie, vocals, guitar and bass, Steve Pettyjohn, lead guitar, and David “Zero” Zehrung, drums.
Wade Sims will close out the concert series on June 28.
Known to his fans as “Wade Henry,” he brings a “raspy country twang” to his shows that’s somewhere between Kenny Rogers and Travis Tritt, a sound refined in his years entertaining shipmates in the Navy and while performing with country legends like Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty. He began seriously chasing a music career after his military service, getting pointers from local musicians like Bobby Beard, George Thacker, Ed Walker, Jim Hallengren, and Gil and Anna Kile.
The Rhea County United Way Celebrity Band will also make its debut performance June 28 on the courthouse stage.
“Last year we had close to 300 people every Friday night, but we still have plenty of room,” Dye said. “We’re grateful to Nokian Tyres for their help in letting us spotlight local talent and give our community a family-friendly activity in the summer.”
“Nokian Tyres is proud to support the Summer Nights concert series for the fifth year,” said Wes Boling, Nokian Tyres senior manager of communications. “We value this opportunity to gather at the courthouse and celebrate talented local artists.”
Nokian Tyres employs approximately 475 team members at its award-winning production factory in Dayton. The company plans to grow production at the factory this year thanks in large part to contributions from Rhea County residents, who make up a majority of the factory’s workforce.
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