It’s never too early to plan what you’re doing in April.
Just ask Steve Ellis who, with his wife Kay Ellis, run an annual concert series at their Mac David Road home, aptly named “The Barn.”
On Jan. 1, they opened up ticket sales for the first show of the series — local group Honeyboy and Boots opening for Paul Thorn on April 19. By midday, about half the tickets were sold. By Wednesday, only 11 were left.
Thorn’s management team and the Ellises worked together to increase the show’s capacity, so the Barn “will be able to allow a lot more of his fans to come on out,” Steve Ellis said.
A returning artist to the Barn, Thorn performed there in April 2021. According to concerthopper.com, his latest album, “Never Too Late to Call,” features an interplay between gospel, blues and balladry, and features Thorn’s “Dean Martin-esque ability to make you laugh and cry in just 40 minutes.”
The Barn hosted its first show in October 2019.
“Then our entire 2020 schedule was postponed due to COVID,” said Steve Ellis. “So this past year’s five shows are the only ones we’ve done besides that one in 2019.”
Most artists booked in the Barn’s concert series fall under the Americana music genre. Some acts include a bit of alt-country and blues in their sets, Ellis said.
“Usually our opener will play for a half hour, and then we’ll take another half hour break for people to refresh their food and beverages and then the headliner will play for an hour and a half,” he said.
The concerts, which are held in what audiences describe as “a relaxing and laid-back atmosphere,” will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. Tickets cost $30. The line-up includes:
■ Paul Thorn with guest Honeyboy and Boots, April 19. Ticket link: bpt.me/5299790
■ Andrew Duhon with guest Grace Pettis, May 19. Ticket link: bpt.me/5299805
■ Red Dirt Boys with guest Amanda Shaw, June 23. Ticket link: bpt.me/5299841
■ Bonnie Bishop with Anthony Peebles, Sept. 22. Ticket link: bpt.me/5299852
■ Ryan Culwell with co-headliner TBA, Oct. 13. Ticket link: bpt.me/5299861
Full concert season passes are available until April 1. They cost $135 and are available at bpt.me/5300551.
A free concert, only for season pass holders and sponsors, featuring Ordinary Elephant with Clay Parker & Jodi James will be held Oct. 7.
“We do the shows on weeknights so that we don’t compete with high school or college sports,” Ellis said of the Tuesday and Thursday night concerts. “They are also over early for people that have to work the next day. Our field is open for parking one hour before the music starts at 5:30.”
Ticket price pays for the artists and the Barn provides free dinner with finger foods, snacks, beer, soft drinks and bottled water, Ellis said.
“We put a donation jar on the food table for every show and all donations go to a different charity for each show,” he said. “Last year, we raised over $5,300 for five local charities.”
This year’s charities include YMCA Adaptive class for Parkinson’s and Stroke; Columbus Arts Council, in honor of Beverly Norris and Jan Swoope; Golden Triangle Youth Theatre; Lowndes County Spelling Bee; and Helping Hands.
“In 2021, we gave the money raised to Loaves and Fishes, Good Samaritan Medical Clinic, Last House on the Block, Camp Rising Sun and Columbus Boys and Girls Club,” Ellis said.
If you’re worried about seating, the venue has plenty of metal folding chairs, but Ellis said most of their typical audience usually brings lawn chairs.
“You can either sit in the metal chairs under the pavilion or in your lawn chair in the field,” he said. “People are also welcome to bring blankets, we have had a few do that.”
The audience is welcome to bring their children if they would like. “They just need to be cognizant of not having the children disturb other audience members,” Ellis said.
Ellis said they got the idea of hosting concerts from Jami Nettles who hosts house concerts at her home, Sunstroke House.
“What a great job she does putting on her shows. We are able to have them outside because of our barn/pavilion,” he said. “We love being able to bring in artists who might not normally be heard in this area. We also love the idea of being able to sponsor a number of local charities and helping them out.”
The couple thanks the many sponsors that help them put the Barn’s concert series together. “They include Bill Russell Ford, Clark beverage, Hyatt Place, Knight Environmental and Cadence Bank. We also have several music enthusiasts and people in the music business who have been very supportive as well in many different ways.”
For information about the concert series, visit its Facebook page.
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