Cache County Event Center opens doors for first concert

In a new, red-brick building with only three small office spaces, there is plenty of room to rock — or in this case, country.

Local band Mile Marker 6 will open for Sawyer Brown at the Cache County Event Center in Logan on Thursday. The concert will be the first at the newly reopened center, which includes a 20,000 square foot auditorium complete with a jumbotron. It also marks the first collaboration between the center and the Cherry Peak Winter Concert Series.

Cassidy Nemelka, the assistant director of the center, said things have been busy since officially reopening in September.

"Other events like weddings, or receptions were booked by word of mouth," Nemelka said. "But Cherry Peak actually came to us with the idea about the concert. It was very spur-of-the-moment."

Nerves have also set in, but not in expected places.

"I'm most nervous about the set-up perspective," Nemelka said. "We recently lost a member of our staff, so setting things up has been a lot to deal with, but I think once we get more help everything should be fine."

Nemelka also said she hopes more concerts can come through the center.

"At this point, we just don't know what to expect with this first show," Nemelka said. "The hope is that this one goes really well, and we can house more concerts in the future."

Joaby Parker, the lead singer and guitarist for Mile Marker 6, isn't fazed by performing in a new building and said he is more grateful than nervous for the opportunity to perform.

 "For a first concert, not only do they have a great band like Sawyer Brown to perform," Parker said, "but I feel like it's such a privilege to be a part of a local-valley band and to open for such an influential act."

Parker was influenced by Sawyer Brown in the mid-1990s as a teenager working on a family farm. The opportunity to perform alongside his idols is one he doesn't take for granted.

"It is quite the honor to share the stage with Sawyer Brown," Parker said.

Wellsville Mountain Music Show to raise money for historic tabernacle

With its white brick facade, this 100 year old building still stands as a testimony of resilience, and it looks like it's not going anywhere soon.

The historic, pioneer-era Wellsville Tabernacle will receive money for interior renovation efforts from a benefit concert at The Cache Venue in Logan on Wednesday.

JD and The Brass Saddle Band will play at the Wellsville Mountain Music Show. A $5 entrance fee will go toward tabernacle renovations.

"Jeremy Devey, or JD, really coordinated the whole effort and is the reason we are having the benefit concert," said Kaylene Ames, the president of the Wellsville Foundation. "It was his way of giving back, and it really is a gift."

Ames said work has to be done on the trusses of the building which have twisted and deteriorated with age. She would have liked the building to be open by Founders Day but the lack of funding and volunteer hours delayed the project.

"Everyone in this organization is a volunteer," Ames said. "So we've been waiting for the weather to change to get interior work done in the building."

However, Ames said the music show will hopefully help renovation efforts by gathering enough funds to start repairs on the building.

Nic Renshaw, the bassist for JD and The Brass Saddle Band, is excited to perform for a good cause and recognizes this show will be unlike others meant to simply entertain.

"Anywhere we can play music, we're all for it," Renshaw said. "Different situations call for different things, but we do try to keep in the mind the situations that we're in and play to fit that mood." 

When complete, the tabernacle will reopen and serve as a community center with arts, music and entertainment.

Ashberry Jam to perform at reopening of Ogden bar

Ashberry Jam will be the first band to perform at the reopening of Pete's Tavern — formerly the Rockin' T Saloon — in Ogden on Saturday.

Mandy Stewart, a first-time bar owner and the current owner of Pete's Tavern, has high praise for the duo and knew she wanted them to participate in the reopening process. 

"They're really good," Stewart said. "I don't think I've ever heard a complaint and everyone seems to love them."

Ashberry Jam formed through an unlikely but welcomed friendship between Ashley Mayberry and Gar Ashby, as Ashby was a guitar instructor to Mayberry prior to them teaming up full-time.

"We truly are a mismatch made in heaven," Mayberry said. "Here we are a year and a half later after forming, and we have played almost 200 shows together." 

Mayberry said she looks forward to Saturday as well as future opportunities to perform. 

"We have demand out of state and are preparing for our first trip to Los Angeles in November," Mayberry said. "Also, we have started to record some of our original music we've written together." 

Stewart hopes Pete's Tavern can provide a positive experience for those who visit.

"I just want a place where everyone can come and enjoy themselves," Stewart said. "An environment where people can come listen to music and feel safe."  

The duo will perform at Pete's Tavern again Nov. 30 and Dec. 15. 

Local Cache Valley guitarist to play first show in six months

Back surgery slowed him down; music has helped him up. Six months ago he couldn't even walk, but circumstances are different now.

Gary Delozier, a guitar player in Cache Valley, will perform for the first time in six months during Richmond's Harvest Market on Saturday. Delozier had back surgery in April, making it difficult to stand and perform for extended periods of time.

"Music has helped me recover," Delozier said. "I actually went on Amazon and bought several concert DVDs to watch during my recovery."

Though still recovering, Delozier is determined to perform again.

"I'd play a song every so often, and it was motivation to recover — even though I'm still technically in the recovery process," Delozier said. "If you love something, you always want to come back and do it again."

Sue McCormick, the music coordinator for the market, said the music in Cache Valley "has a life of its own."

"We have a nice little venue, and musicians just want to go out to the farm and play," McCormick said. "They can practice to their heart's content, and the cows love them."

Although the environment may be different than a regular venue, Delozier's passion for performing will look to steal the spotlight. 

Pete Schropp, a manager over the market, said nothing can stop Delozier from playing.

"It sounds like Gary is coming regardless of weather, or lack of crowds," Schropp said.

Delozier has always had a passion for music, but it's never been about money.

"It's really a hobby," Delozier said. "I never imagined I'd be playing anywhere, and I never intended to make a lot of money doing it."

Delozier is hoping to try new things musically during his performance.

"I've had a setlist prepared for the last six weeks, and it's changed every single week," Delozier said. "I'm looking forward to seeing how I hold up physically, and trying new stuff I haven't played before."

Regardless of how many people show up, Delozier said he hopes to make someone's day with his music.

"I'm looking forward to playing in front of people again," Delozier said. "I still get extremely nervous, but it is a thrill for me to share music with people."

Delozier will be performing a collection of original songs, as well as covers from Neil Young, Tom Petty and Johnny Cash.

Cache Valley Oktoberfest entertains for a good cause

Most high schools maintain a quiet atmosphere after school is done for the day. At Logan High School however, those quiet hours recently were disrupted by the sound of brass instruments and traditional Bavarian folk-songs.

Study abroad opportunities for local high school students are expanding due to the eighth annual Cache Valley Oktoberfest fundraiser that took place at 4 p.m. Thursday. The event offered food, games and an oompah band to a diverse audience at Logan High School.

The exchange programs are valley-wide through a network of other high schools in Logan and Cache County.

Mike Mudrow, a German teacher at Logan High School and an organizer for the event, is planning a trip to Germany this summer.

"The students typically spend three to four weeks living in Germany with German families," Mudrow said. "They often come back from the experience with a greater understanding for American culture and values."

Each school provides different opportunities for students interested in an exchange program.

"Each exchange is very unique to the schools involved and the teachers and families personalize the experience every year," Mudrow said.

Locations can vary depending on school budget and interest.

Julie Done, the German and Chinese instructor at Green Canyon High School, is planning a trip for China with her students in the future.

"We're thinking of doing something similar to the Oktoberfest fundraiser, but with Chinese New Year," Done said. "It isn't set in stone, but we'll need to do something."

Nicholas Redmon, a foreign language and social studies instructor at Ridgeline High School, has more elaborate plans for his students in 2020.

"We start off at our sister school in Berlin for about five days, and then take a weekend trip down to Prague before flying to Rome," Redmon said. "We're probably a little more ambitious than some of the other schools, but I feel like the trip we do is really culturally important."

Support for that goal comes in the form of money from the purchase of food, shirts and hats at the event. Redmon said anywhere between $100 and $200 will come back to the schools for the exchange program from the 2018 Cache Valley Oktoberfest.

"That's why we'd like as many people to show up and support these fundraisers as possible," Redmon said.

Mudrow also said a traditional Oktoberfest celebrates drinking culture, but the Cache Valley Oktoberfest focuses on German and Bavarian culture.

"We substitute apple beer for regular beer," Mudrow said. "We don't want to celebrate drunk culture here, just German culture."