The Rec Centers’ annual fall concert series returns this November with a great two-night lineup set to take over Beardsley Park!
This year’s series begins with a trip back in time on Nov. 5 to experience the music of “Chicago” and all their greatest hits. Fall Fest then wraps up on the next night, Nov. 6, with Shotgun Willie, who performs many of Willie Nelson’s hit songs. Learn more about the scheduled lineup down below.
Both shows begin at 7 p.m. with gates opening at 5 p.m.
Tickets for Fall Fest go on sale at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29. Individual show tickets will be available for $22 while a package deal for both shows can be purchased for $36. Purchases can be made online at suncitywest.com/tickets or in person at the R.H. Johnson Box Office.
We hope to see you out at Beardsley Park this November enjoying this year’s live music in the Arizona fall weather! Make sure to bring your lawn chairs for sitting at the park. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own food and drinks or take advantage of the available concessions prior to the start of each show.
Event Details
- Nov. 5 and 6
- 7 p.m. showtimes
- Gates open at 5 p.m.
- Beardsley Park
Ticket Details
- $22 Individual Show Tickets
- $36 Package
- Available beginning Sept. 29
- Online at suncitywest.com/tickets
- In person at the R.H. Johnson Box Office
If purchasing tickets online, enter your RCSCW rec card number when prompted for a promo code.
Scheduled to perform
From the music of “Chicago” to the music of Willie Nelson, this year’s Fall Fest is bringing two great nights of live music to Beardsley Park.
Both performances begin at 7 p.m. with gates opening at 5 p.m.
Chicago Tribute Experience
Performing Thursday, Nov. 5
Originally named “The Big Thing “The Chicago Transit Authority band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. After their first album they change the name to simply “Chicago”. The self-described “rock and roll band with horns” began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, generating several hit ballads. The group had a steady stream of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Since at least 2008, Billboard has shown Chicago to be the “greatest of all time” American band in singles chart success, and since 2015, the “greatest of all time” American band in album chart success as well. Chicago is one of the longest-running and most successful rock groups, and one of the world’s best-selling groups of all time, having sold more than 100 million records. According to Billboard, Chicago was the leading U.S. singles charting group during the 1970s. They have sold over 40 million units in the U.S., with 23 gold, 18 platinum, and 8 multi-platinum albums. Over the course of their
career they have had five number-one albums and 21 top-ten singles. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 8, 2016 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Original band members Peter Cetera, Robert Lamm, and James Pankow are among the 2017 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees for their songwriting efforts as members of the music group, Chicago.
Now, Chicago Tribute Experience brings you back to the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s with all of Chicago’s greatest hits performed live by some of the world’s finest musicians. This tremendous tribute to the writing, performance, style and sound of the original Chicago lineup has been carefully and thoughtfully re-created for the highest entertainment value. Most of these musicians grew up listening, learning, and passionately playing and singing along to what is now truly a phenomenon worth recreating. Enjoy the journey as they take you on the “Experience” … the “Chicago Tribute Experience”.
The band consists of Gregg Thompson on guitar and vocals, Dan Hill on bass and vocals, Dan Haley on keyboards and vocals, Joey Leon on drums and percussion, Taylor Covery on trombone and vocals, Nic Chaffee on trumpet, percussion and vocals, Robbie Covacevich on saxophone, flute and percussion and Frank Troiano on percussion and vocals.
Shotgun Willie
Performing Friday, Nov. 6
Don’t tell Terry Johnson that dreams don’t come true. Just a country boy from Tyler Texas, Terry spent his childhood in Texas and Arkansas, fishing, messing around on boats, and working hard at school. He earned an MBA from Texas A&M and went on to build a successful career in the technology industry.
In the summer of 1973, before his sophomore year at college, Terry was working as a carpenter’s assistant at a golf club outside Austin. One night after work one of the golfers knocked on his trailer door. It was Willie Nelson. The Red-Headed Stranger passed on a few tunes playing songs for Terry for almost two hours on one of his road guitars, an old National. Ever since that summer night, Terry has been Willie’s #1 fan. He would go on to sing those same songs thousands of times, practicing Willie’s signature soulful baritone for friends and family and, eventually, around dark and smoky karaoke bars in Northwest Arkansas. He would hold onto that National guitar for the rest of his life.
One winter night in 2022, at a spot outside Branson, Missouri, a Legends in Concert associate heard Terry sing, “Always on My Mind”, and walked over to his table. “Who are you?” He asked. “Nobody,” said Terry. “Man, I have never heard anyone who sounded exactly like Willie Nelson before. I am with Legends in Concert and you really need to come in and audition.
Things happened pretty fast after that, and the next thing Terry knew he was given the opportunity to perform at Legends in Concert in Branson as Willie. This marked an important new chapter in Terry’s life, fulfilling a lifelong goal of making people happy by singing their favorite Willie’s songs in front of a real audience. Here’s to the Legends in Concert team that believed in a 67-year-old retired businessman who just so happened to sing like Willie and had always wanted to perform in front of an audience just like you.
Concessions
The Rec Centers is excited to be partnering again with AZ Barbeque to provide concessions during this year’s Fall Fest!
A variety of BBQ food, hamburger, hotdogs, sausages, etc. for between $8-$15 per meal! A meal will consist of a main menu item, chips and a drink.
Concessions from AZ Barbeque will be available from the park’s ramada 3.
An additional concessions booth selling popcorn, ice cream, soda and water will also be located at Ramada 4.
Both concessions will be open until 7:30 p.m.
Beardsley Park
Beardsley Park is located at the Beardsley Recreation Center off of 128th Ave and Beardsley Rd.
Click here for the Google Maps page.
Parking is available through the rec center’s parking lots on the north and west sides of the park.
Attendees are advised to bring lawn chairs for these outdoor events.