Attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating, to wear a face covering and follow state directives for social distancing.
Food trucks and a full-service bar will also be offered at each concert, or attendees have the option to bring their own food. The series was started to bring entertainment to the community after several series and events had been canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions for gatherings.
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“This is another opportunity to bring live music to a pretty setting where people can bring in their own food or buy food and enjoy a night of music,” said Adele Adkins, Clark State Performing Arts Center executive director.
Fox may be recognizable from area performances, including the annual Springfield Rotary Gourmet Food Truck Competition. He takes on several genres from blues to roots music and pop, often in fingerstyle guitar pieces from blues legend Robert Johnson to Lennon and McCartney and country great Chet Atkins.
Fox and the Flying Pepper food truck that will be set up are both donating their services for free for the first show, Adkins said.
Another familiar face will be at the July 8 show, DJ Diva, also known as Nettie Carter-Smith. Carter-Smith served more than 31 years with the Clark County Juvenile Court and currently works with Rocking Horse Community Health Center.
Rounding out the series on Aug. 5 is Kent Brooks, who has performed in several genres and worked with countless programs in the Springfield area, from Wittenberg University and Project Jericho to the Springfield Arts Council’s Youth Arts Ambassadors.
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Brooks is currently the director of music and worship at High Street United Methodist Church and leads its monthly Sanctuary Series of free programs and also directs Wittenberg’s IMANI Gospel Choir.
Tickets are not required to attend Close to Home concerts. For more information on the series and updates, go to www.facebook.com/clarkstatepac.
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