Piney Woods Jamboree brings Branson-style leisure to Webster Parish

Mark Eubanks of the Piney Woods Jamboree is keen about music and producing nice reveals for audiences. “I’ve been taking part in for 53 years — 43 of these years professionally,” Eubanks stated. “My mother stated I began at two years outdated, beating on Folgers espresso cans with pencils. I don’t get bored with music.”

The Piney Woods Jamboree Band is chock stuffed with proficient musicians. “The band are all studio and road-quality musicians,” stated Eubanks. “All of them play three to 5 devices apiece. They will swap round in the event that they wish to.”

The Piney Woods Jamboree Band consists of Brett Traylor of Haughton, Louisiana, on piano; Gene Simmons of Dierks, Arkansas, on metal; Tommy Amason of Fordyce, Arkansas, on bass; Ronnie Hearnsberger of Springhill, Louisiana, on keyboards; Zane Glasscock of Magnolia, Arkansas, on lead guitar; David Mann of Warren, Arkansas, on lead guitar; Mike White of Shongaloo, Louisiana, on guitar and fiddle, and Mark Eubanks of Springhill, Louisiana, on drums. Along with the assist workers, they’ve created an avenue to deliver Branson-style reveals to Springhill, Louisiana, on the second Saturday of every month (besides in Might). 

This band does a powerful quantity of labor to arrange a brand new present with totally different headline performers every month. Eubanks described his a part of the method, saying:

“I get the music collectively, and speak to all those who’re going to be singing and say, ‘give me 4 songs, the artist and the model that you simply’re doing, and the important thing that you simply wish to do them in.’ I do this for every individual after which ship it out to all my musicians.”

The musicians then have about two to a few weeks to look over it and research it. 

“In the meantime, I’m placing the present collectively — the way it’s going to go, who’s entering into what order. I’ve obtained a comic who comes out of Scorching Springs every month — Mickey ‘Shinbone’ Shinn of Malvern, Arkansas — who was in Branson. When that’s all put collectively, I ship them out a replica of the set checklist to allow them to look and be acquainted with the circulate of the present. They roll in on the day of the present at midday and arrange, and from one o’clock to 5 o’clock we put wherever from 24 to 27 songs collectively and put the present collectively. Then at seven o’clock we do the present. That’s how good they’re.

“Subsequent weekend Brady Rhodes from Cale, Arkansas, goes to be on the present with us, and he simply obtained again from Radio Metropolis Music Corridor with Barry Manilow. Josie Hargis from Warren, Arkansas goes to be with us: it’s like her second time being with us, and folks simply beloved her. She’s obtained a track she wrote that, on Spotify, obtained over 2.3 million hits. She’s tremendous good,” stated Eubanks.

To maintain issues contemporary, Eubanks enjoys pondering of month-to-month themes.

“I are likely to attempt to theme reveals. For the February present, we’re seeking to theme it with nation love songs, as a result of that’s going to be Valentine’s. It doesn’t essentially should be per se a love track, perhaps like Rascal Flatts’ track ‘What Occurs When You Play a Nation Track Backwards’ — you get your spouse again, you get your canine again, you get your trailer again — it’s humorous. Or it may very well be like Willie Nelson’s ‘At all times on My Thoughts.’ The April present is likely to be an Easter theme — wanting extra towards nation gospel,” he stated.

The Piney Woods Jamboree is held on the Frank Anthony Group Exercise Heart (FACA) in Springhill. Every present will begin with a prayer and a rendition of the Nationwide Anthem, one thing that Eubanks feels strongly about. 

One other factor that Eubanks strives for is the consolation of his viewers. Whereas the FACA has a seating capability of about 900, they normally arrange sufficient for under 600-700 folks to present loads of room to stroll between rows of seats. Concessions can be found and fairly priced. And there may be even a 31-unit RV park subsequent to the FACA for individuals who wish to keep shut by. Admission is $10. The doorways open at 6 p.m., and the present begins at 7 p.m. 

For upcoming occasions, try the Piney Woods Jamboree Springhill Fb web page.