Bands on Bordeaux, Chadron’s new summer concert series running the next four Thursday evenings, kicks off this week in the 100 block of Bordeaux Street just south of the American Legion.
Although a band will be the centerpiece each week, there will also be games and activities for kids, vendor booths with food and crafts, and the Chamber of Commerce will have water, soft drinks, and a beer garden.
Performing tonight is the group In Aix, made up of performers from around the region and offering a wide range of music from covers of hits to its own original songs.
Chamber Director Collette Fernandez says the idea behind Bands on Bordeaux is to give area residents a reason to come downtown in the evening and hopefully have fun and learn more about what there is to see and do.
Annie Creek Events of Spearfish organized and is managing the series thanks to a $15,000 grant to the Chamber from the Dawes County Travel Board, with different firms sponsoring the bands.
Fernandez doesn’t know how many people to expect tonight, or for the three following weeks either, but thinks people will have fun and come back…with the Chamber bringing in enough money to eventually cover management costs.
Performing next week will be Phat Daddy with Under the Bus on the 14th and Tie Dye Volcano wrapping up Bands on Bordeaux on the 31st.
Here’s the publicity bios on In Aix
In Aix is the new kid on the block, but it’s not something to take lightly. A powerhouse of musicians, In Aix is designed to give you what you want. Everyone in the band is from the black hills area, including Chadron, Rapid City and Spearfish, and it shows. The music is tailored to the area and so is the attitude.
With Kaleb Britton playing drums, Johnny Hastings on bass, Luke Temple playing keyboard, Kevin Bradt on rhythm guitar/vocals and Max Temple playing lead guitar/vocals, every kind of music we all know and love is covered, and the original music doesn’t hesitate to kick you either.
Kaleb Britton is originally from Rapid City, SD and has been playing drums his whole life and you can tell, it’s not often that the drummer can grab your attention and keep in in a stranglehold. Kaleb is currently finishing his last courses at Chadron State for his degree.
Johnny Hastings is also from Rapid City, and is no shlub when it comes to playing. A lifelong guitar player (and one of the masters at SD’s 2014 Guitar Masters) Johnny knows his way around a fretboard, and knows how to work the bass and get the crowd dancing.
Luke Temple, from Spearfish, SD can’t be described as anything but a monster on the keys. Having studied organ and composition in college, playing a four part Bach fugue using both hands and feet is something he does in his sleep. And when it comes to laying down the law on Sweet Home Alabama, you’ll never hear anything better.
Kevin Bradt is a small town Nebraska boy, spending years in Chadron before moving to Rapid City. The long time frontman of the band 40 Minute Feelgood, Kevin is no stranger to the crowd, you’ll be hard pressed to ignore the life of the party, his blonde Mohawk made of dreads, or his monstrous vocals.
Max Temple, from Spearfish (and younger brother of Luke) is not a newbie in the music scene in these parts either. The long time frontman of the self-titled Max Temple Band has played many of the areas biggest events, and has since he was 15. From Summer Nights in Rapid City, to Downtown Friday Nights, in Spearfish, he’s played it all.
From Max’s thundering bass voice and seering lead guitar, the big party and voice that is Kevin, and blazing keys of Luke, to the Hard hitting drums from Kaleb and the smooth bass lines from Johnny, In Aix isn’t a band you see, it’s a band you experience.