Stratford to host final IN THE PARK concert Sept. 17

The Stratford IN THE PARK team is excited to bring back local favorites, The Hayes Boys Orchestra, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, with their Bohemian style polkas – just in time for an early Octoberfest celebration.

Come to Klemme Park in downtown Stratford for free music and free food (sauerkraut with sausage in a bun and more). The Stratford Historical Society Museum opens at 5:30 p.m., which is when the food will start being served. Music starts at 6 p.m.

July and August were the tale of two Wednesdays weather-wise for the IN THE PARK music events, but a great time was had by all who attended for complimentary music and food and great community fellowship.

In July, The Gray Catz from the Stevens Point/Plover area thrilled those attending with fabulous rock from the 40s to the 2000s. The trio of musicians has entertained Central Wisconsin audiences for more than 13 years with their blend of originals, tight grooves, rich vocals and timeless rock.

For Stratford’s IN THE PARK, they added a fourth musician, former band member Scott Neubert, a steel guitar specialist who was visiting the area from his current home in Nashville.

Neubert, a Nashville recording and performing artist, has an impressive resume, having played lead guitar and been a bandleader for both Hal Ketchum and Trace Adkins. He has also played with Tanya Tucker, Larry Gatlin, and Crystal Gayle and has sang and played acoustic guitar for Alabama. He also owned and operated a Nashville studio.

The Gray Catz performed great rock through the ages.

Although the music was great, the weather wasn’t as thrilling. It was a chilly night with temps in the low to mid 60s after morning heat and afternoon rain. But all who attended enjoyed the great music and asked the IN THE PARK team to have the group return to the Klemme Park performance stage for a future IN THE PARK even.

Fun, summer-themed food, including grilled jumbo hot dogs in a bun donated by Stratford Family Foods, chips and root beer or orange floats, with soda donated by the Point Brewery, were a hit for those attending.

The roots of rock ‘n roll was also played to help attendees gain an appreciation of American- grown music styles. The post-WWII era brought a younger generation seeking to break free from the rules of the past and move to music that spoke to their emotions, experiences and new found independence. The Gray Catz certainly met the goal of providing great rock music for Stratford IN THE PARK.

August brought the combined hometown sound with the Nashville mixed decade country music to the Klemme Park performance stage with the Jerry Schmitt Band. A Stratford native who sang and played guitar through high school, Schmitt is now a Nashville recording artist. He and his band played a round of gigs in Central Wisconsin this summer, and Stratford was thrilled to accept their sponsorship through a private donor.

Nashville-themed food, including spiced (and plain) hot chicken tenders were enjoyed by over 400 attendees. Traditional dill pickles and chips accompanied the chicken, along with root beer and orange floats with the help of Point Brewery and Kwik Trip donations. The food servers volunteering were certainly kept busy all night with the large crowd.

The IN THE PARK team was thankful for the food service support of Stratford Police Chief Tom Koontz, Officer Sydney Nussbaum, Village of Stratford office staff Stephanie Betlinski and Samantha Hernandez, Chief Koontz’s wife and boys, former Stratford teacher (and current substitute) Sharon Theobald and members of the IN THE PARK team. Stratford Family Foods supplied the chicken tenders, and deli staff Emma Cveykus, graciously fried the chicken tenders throughout the event.

Kurt Spaeth of Next Home Realty and Chuck Gliniecki of Chuck’s Pest Control added excitement with gift basket drawings for a variety of great Wisconsin meats and beverages. The Stratford Area Historical Society also had open doors for anyone to visit the current exhibits.

Both events hosted great music, volunteers and, most importantly, music lovers from many local communities.