Well, the Dozers won’t be playing this summer’s festival, either.
But times have changed — people now can just send Moore nasty e-mails.
“We just wanted to take a break for a while,” he said. “We just needed to freshen things up.”
So for only the second time since 1988, the monthlong free festival in Veterans Park will be without the popular oldies cover band from Columbus.
“People will say, ‘But you’re doing Griffin House again,’ ” Moore said. “Yes, but we haven’t done Griffin House for 15 years straight.”
Instead, the 45th annual fest will feature the likes of Dennis DeYoung, the voice on all those classic Styx hits of yore (everything from “Lady” to “Mr. Roboto”).
Also featured will be Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, the blond twins who had some big hits at the twilight of the late ’80s hair-metal boom with their band, Nelson.
However, they’ll be coming to town to sing the songs of their father, the late rock pioneer Ricky Nelson.
This year’s festival runs from June 16 to July 16.
2011 SCHEDULE
Domo arigato, Springfield Arts Council!
After 45 years, the council’s Summer Arts Festival remains one of the few free things around.
When the annual festival opens on June 16 in Veterans Park, the next month will be filled with plenty of favorites — along with some notable first-timers.
Former Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung will make his festival debut on July 2.
That’s right.
The voice of “Mr. Roboto” is headed this way.
Domo!
Below is the complete festival schedule.
Unless noted, all shows begin at 8 p.m. and go on rain or shine.
June 16-19: A community production of the musical “Annie Get Your Gun.” Auditions will be held at 9 a.m. April 9 in room 100 of Wittenberg University’s Krieg Hall, 832 Woodlawn Ave.
June 22: Dancing Wheels, a Cleveland-based company of wheelchair dancers.
June 23: The Christian music of the Collingsworth Family.
June 24: The circus performers of Circurious.
June 25: The Springfield Symphony Orchestra performs the music of Gilbert and Sullivan.
June 26: A World Music Fest features guitarist Neil Jacobs, Harmonia, Golden Gates, the Yiddish Cup Klezmer Band and more at a time to be announced.
June 29: The Cleveland baroque ensemble Apollo’s Fire will present a night of early American Appalachian music.
June 30: Verb Ballets, a contemporary dance company from Cleveland.
July 1: Matthew and Gunnar Nelson pay tribute to their father, the late Ricky Nelson.
The elder Nelson, killed 25 years ago in a plane crash, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 thanks to a career that included 1961’s “Hello Mary Lou” and the early ’70s country-rock of “Garden Party.”
And, yes, Matthew and Gunnar were the ones who did “Love and Affection” and “After the Rain” back in 1990.
July 2: Missoula Children’s Theatre presents “The Princess and the Pea” with the help of local kids at a time to be announced. Auditions will be held at 9:30 a.m. June 27 at the Heritage Center.
July 2: Come sail away with Dennis DeYoung of Styx.
July 3: A tribute to Simon and Garfunkel.
July 5: The U.S. Air Force Band of Flight Concert Band.
July 6: A surprise hit at the 2008 festival, the ABBA tribute group (straight from Sweden), Arrival, makes a return appearance.
July 7: An evening of rising stars will showcase the homegrown talent of Clark County’s Levi Massie and Wyatt McCubbin, and the Dayton blues guitarist Noah Wotherspoon.
July 8: Parrots of the Caribbean.
July 9: Singer-songwriter and Springfield native Griffin House with special guest Nate McDonough.
July 10: A night of Celtic music begins at 6 with Bob Ford and the Ragamuffins, then Cathie Ryan at 8.
July 13: The Dark Star Orchestra at 7 p.m.
July 14: The Beatles tribute band Revolution returns to the park.
July 15: Urban Jazz Coalition.
July 16: The contemporary jazz of The Rippingtons.
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