Norris concert season begins; next event set for this Friday evening
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The Lonetones, a “mountain pop” band, performs during the first Norris Concert on the Commons of the year last Friday night. - Ricky Williams
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The lawn-chair audience watches as the Lonetones, a “mountain pop” band, perform on Friday evening, June 3, in the first of this season’s Concerts on the Commons in downtown Norris. The series continues this coming Friday night. Admission is free. - Ricky Williams
A crowd of people turned out Friday night as Norris kicked off its 13th season of Concerts on the Commons, and the free events are scheduled to continue through July 4.
The next in the series, beginning at 6:30 p.m. this coming Friday, will be the appearances of Norris’ own Clinch River Ramblers, led by Ethan Ferguson, followed by The Deltas, a 12-piece band playing vintage 1960s/early ’70s R&B and classic jazz/rock fusion.
For the opening concert, Norris real estate broker Loy Johnson introduced the band, the Lonetones, a five-piece ensemble group from Knoxville, using acoustic and electric instruments, performing what they called “mountain pop.”
Johnson is the widow of Jack Mitchell, the late real estate agent and editor and publisher of the Norris Bulletin, who is credited with starting the summer concert series in 2008. Mitchell died in 2020.
The open-air concerts are held on the grass in front of Norris Middle School, with the bands performing from a covered stage next to the Lions Club Pavilion.
No seating is provided, so those who plan to attend are advised to bring their own chairs.
The rest of the schedule is as follows:
• June 17 — 110 in the Shade (five-piece electric band
performing funk, soul, Motown and R&B).
• June 24 — Early Bird Special (three-piece acoustic band performing folk, oldies, bluegrass and gospel).
• July 4 — Clinch River Horns (nine-piece, electric rock band with five horns).
“Thanks to Powell Clinch Utility District for the 13th year of being the sole sponsor of these concerts,” Johnson said.
The concerts have been hosted by the Norris Community Development Board since they began, said city Councilman Will Grinder, who also serves on the Community Development Board.