ROLLIN' & ROCKIN' EVENTS FROM THE ROAD-----------OTHER ISSUES: Issue 4 - Issue 3 - Issue 2


2002 ROLLIN' & ROCKIN' FROM THE ROAD KICK-OFF----------------------Current weeks News

  • The MEONA FEST 2002 Road Trip season opened in the Balloons at New Years 1/1/2002Kenny Chesney "CITY OF MUSIC" , NASHVILLE, Tennessee, for New Year's at the KENNY CHESNEY'S New Year's Eve Party at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, formerly the Nashville Arena. The show kicked off a little earlier than most people expected. First up for a 40 minute set was JAMIE O'NEAL. She performed a high energy show with the a few new songs and a collaboration of her song "There is No Arizona" with classic rock song "Hotel California" that just seem to fit. PHIL VASSAR was up next with a powerful performance that got the crowd of about 15000 on their feet ready to celebrate the new year early. He was all over the stage climbing up on the piano and adjacent stage structure. His 55 minute set seemed very short. Commedian JAMES GREGORY was the MC for this concert and filled in between sets with some of his best. Then SARA EVANS took the stage for a super 60 minute set,This was my eighth concert of Sara, I have seen in the past year and she never fails to give it her best

    Then KENNY CHESNEY came on for an hour and ten minutes, featuring all his greatest hits over the past few years. The audience was on it's feet most of this portion of the show as Kenny is always a crowd pleaser. Near midnight, the concert turned into a video countdown for 2002 followed by fireworks, about a 1000 orange balloon, and red, white, and blue confetti drop from the upper reaches of the arena. Hopefully this show will return to the Gaylord Center again next year.


    Vaughn DeelDon Butcher 2002 KICK OFF OF THE LOCAL MUSIC EVENTS

  • The Local music events got off to a great start Friday, January 4th at the Boulevard Restaurant in Newport News.
    Performing was DON BUTCHER with the assistance of VAUGHN DEEL To add to the festivities, the 72nd birthday celebration for Boulevard regular George was enjoyed by all.
    Don and Vaughn played a wide variety of acoustic music that is always well received Don performs at the Boulevard every Friday from around 7 to 11pm
    A check out of R J's Sports Bar to catch part of the remaining set by RICHIE BEARD was next. He is a unique acoustic musician from the Dayton Ohio area that has a very broad range of music, whether it is classic rock, country or an original parody. He was first seen in the local area this summer at a few Open mic events which resulted in a few gig's on his return visits to this area


    Blues Xchange at Waterside FIRST BLUES OF 2002

  • Local blues group BLUES XCHANGE of Tidewater gathered a good crowd at Norfolk's Waterside Center Stage Saturday January 5th. Some fantastic music from this group in a fairly rare performance. Leading most of the vocals were TOMMY PARKER on lead guitar and JACKIE MERRITT on bass. Very good hamonica and keyboard work were also provided to give a very tight sound from the Waterside stage which has some of the worst acoustics in the area. Blues Xhange overcame that difficulty with a great sound. Jackie also plays in the band Fever which I hope to catch at Goodfellas in Hampton later in January.





    Gary WoolardBilly Breedon & Debbie Mann SLICK NICKEL SLICKER THAN EVER IN 2002

  • Local variety band SLICK NICKEL of Tidewater performed to a standing room only show at the Lake Wright Quality Inn Lounge Saturday January 5th. The dance floor remained very crowded throughout the night with the performance of great classic rock, oldies, and country dance favoriies. Slick Nickel is a collection of some of the best musicians and vocalist in the area. Vocals led by BILLY BREEDON, DEBBIE MANN, and GARY WOOLARD cover a wide range of styles and capabilities. Gary is one of the best lead guitarist in the area. Debbie has an incredibly powerful vocal range that draws on your emotions. A Slick Nickel show includes tributes to Buddy Holly, Elvis and Roy Orbison that are very good. After seeing them perform several times throughout 2001, it is has been determined that SLICK NICKEL is being named as the
    MEONA 2001 "ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR".
    TOP MEONA AWARD ANNOUNCMENT


    _________ SLICK NICKEL _________
    _______ 2001 Entertainer of the Year _________
    More announcements to Follow later
      = = M E O N A = =
          >>>>> T H I S _ W E E K S _ M U S I C _ N E W S _ & _ R U M O R S <<<<<

    * Tickets are on sale for February 9, 2002, JANET JACKSON
    concert at the Hampton Coliseum
    at all Ticketmaster locations.

    * Tickets go on sale for February 8, 2002, KENNY CHESNEY & SARA EVANS
    concert at the Bi-Lo Center,Greenville, SC
    Saturday January 12, 2002
    at all Ticketmaster locations.

    * Tickets for the BARRY MANILOW concert, March 10, 2002 at the Landmark Theatre
    in Richmond VA are on sale at all Ticketmaster locations.

    * Tickets are now on-sale for the Entertainment Arena at the
    FLORIDA STATE FAIR in Tampa
    for the February 7-18, 2002 events.
    Entertainment includes:
    TRAVIS TRITT,
    REO SPEEDWAGON,
    MERLE HAGGARD,
    BILL ANDERSON and others

    Steve 01/06/02