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“ We need to have comedy, hip-hop, rock,” he maintains.“ We’ re going to continue to push the envelope.”
So far, the response has been tremendous, with locals and out-oftowners alike filling the 2,000-plus seats at Brown County Music Center reliably. Besides the roster of national performers— which has included Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Peppa Pig, and Weird Al Yankovic— audiences love the pristine sound system as well as the venue’ s layout. For Christian, that’ s confirmation that the Center’ s philosophy of providing a superior customer experience is a winning one.“ People don’ t have to spend their hard-earned income on concerts. This isn’ t putting gas in your car or feeding your children. We’ re making memories. This could be the only show somebody goes to this year. We had a couple get engaged here the other night. When people leave here, we want them to say‘ I will never forget this show.’”
Christian gives the credit for delivering those memories to his staff, and to the Center’ s volunteers in particular.“ We call them the red vest army,” he says.“ They do our ushering, ticket-taking, greeting, checking bags …. They’ re the backbone of how this all happens.”
All in all, Christian says, his first two years at the Center have exceeded expectations.“ I’ ve been able to meet incredible families and businesspeople in this community. The passion the people here have for this venue is why it will succeed. We will build a legacy.”
For more information on the Brown County Music Center, visit < browncountymusiccenter. com > or call 812-988-5323. •
Jeff Overby, Christian Webb, Andrea Swift-Hanlon, and Shea Briggs.
Volunteer coordinator Dave Jones gives a tour during the 2022 Volunteer Party.
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“ For some of our bands, it’ s been their dream to someday play on the stage at Bill Monroe Music Park,” she said.
Included in this year’ s lineup are Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Terry Baucom’ s Dukes of Drive, Southern Wind, Gavin & Ashton, The Johnson Brothers, The Cleverlys, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, 7 Mile Bluegrass, Caney Creek, Deeper Shade of Blue, Blue Flame, Hoosier Tradition, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Donna Ulisse, The Price Sisters, New Again, The Tim Shelton Syndicate, Stoney Creek Bluegrass, Kenny Stinson & The Perfect Tym’ n, Three Rivers Bluegrass Band, Appalachian Road Show, Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass, Kentucky Shine, Brayden Williamson & Friends, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Alan Bibey & Grasstowne, Open Highway, New Outlook, Ralph Stanley II, Tim Raybon, Jim & Lynna Woolsey, Kaintuck Band, The Grascals, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Nectar Valley, and Larry Efaw & The Bluegrass Mountaineers. •
34 Our Brown County • May / June 2022