INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Midwest Rockabilly Fest
Art AdamsRadio Radio, 1119 E. Prospect St.
Saturday, June 28, 8 p.m., $10 advance, 21+
Promoter David Loehr had things all set for what should have been the 16th annual installment of his Rockabilly Rebel Weekend this weekend: three nights of shows at Radio Radio, an entire hotel reserved, vintage and retro vendors invited. But if there were ever a year to put the kibosh on an automobile-centric event, it would be this one, with gas prices hitting record levels just when advance tickets needed to be sold. So Loehr called things off about six weeks ago, leaving Radio Radio with bands and disappointed fans enough to put together one big rockabilly show.
Some familiar names are on the bill. House band Bigger than Elvis couldn’t miss taking a spin, and Mandy Marie edges things into honky-tonk territory with her Cool Hand Lukes. After making his name with hit singles in the late ’50s, and disappearing for the next 30 years, Art Adams has returned to the local stage, playing about a gig a month with a backup band that includes Bigger than Elvis’ Danny Thompson. Bloomington-based rockabilly band The Swing Rays tried to break up last decade, but they’ve picked things up again for Sunday’s show. Cincinnati’s Jerry King & The Rivertown Ramblers are the lone out-of-towners.