The library of the Barton County Historical Museum will be anything but quiet on Wednesday, when the musical group Jody Adams & the StringDudes performs. This toe-tapping mix of folk-string-gospel-grass-acoustic music starts at 7 p.m. and is presented by the Barton County Arts Council and the Barton County Historical Society. Seats are $10 and will be sold at the door.
Adams is an accomplished vocalist and plays multiple instruments, according to information provided by Arts Council Executive Director Karen Neuforth. He has also won songwriting contests throughout America, while sharing the stage with performers such as Alabama, Wade Hayes, the Osborne Brothers, Lonesome River Band, Lee Greenwood, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Carl Story and Ricky Skaggs. As part of The StringDudes, Adams and his partners, Verolen Kersey and Darin Black, are celebrating their 25th year of performing music and comedy together. Masters of acoustic twang, their eclectic style encompasses everything from acoustic to zydeco, Bob Dylan to Grateful Dead, Bill Monroe, traditional and contemporary gospel.
All of the musicians are veterans of the U.S. Air Force and have played at the White House for Presidential events since the Reagan administration. Adams’ credentials also include the Number 3 song on Sirius/XM Radio’s Bluegrass Junction and having his music featured on NBC’s “Friday Night Lights,” “The Gilmore Girls,” MTV’s “Real World,” CMT’s “Home Blitz” and the soundtrack for the movie “Open Season 3.”
The StringDudes’ last scheduled appearance at the Back Room of the Barton County Arts Council was canceled, so Wednesday’s concert is a make-up date, Neuforth said. The Back Room series, which began in the back of the Barton County Arts Center, has been discontinued and when live music is scheduled it’s usually in a different format. “The museum sees this as a way to get more people in and cooperate with another organization,” said Neuforth, who is also research coordinator for the historical society. One aspect from the old Back Room shows that remains is the informal and almost intimate nature of the venue. The Ray Schulz Research Library at the museum seat 80 people or fewer, Neuforth said.
“People can meet and greet the band at intermission and afterwards,” Neuforth said. Refreshments will also be served.
The Barton County Arts Council and the Barton County Historical Society are both non-profit charitable and educational organizations, supported by individuals, organizations and businesses. The museum is located just south of Great Bend’s Arkansas River Bridge on U.S. 281.