Hometown bands will rock at BBQ, band and brew fest

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Hometown bands will get the crowd rocking with country and pop music Saturday night at the BBQ, Band and Brew Festival on the Schmick's Market parking lot in Westview Plaza.

Kaleidoscope Eyes and the Country Rebels, both from McCook, will join the Blue Collar musical group from North Platte as the featured bands at the first, but hopefully not last, Krazy Night entertainment event.

McCook's exciting weekend begins tonight when the Job, Peter & Chuck Band and the Prairie Statesmen barbershop chorus take center stage at the historic Fox Theatre in downtown McCook. Cal Siegfried and Fabulous Fannie Roe will be emceees for the event, which will begin at 8 p.m. Free will donations to the Fox Theatre renovation project will serve as the cost of admission.

There's also no charge for admission to the Saturday night BBQ, Band & Brew Fest, which will begin at 5 p.m. and last until midnight. Throughout the seven-hour show, band music will be playing continuously and food and drink will be available for purchase.

Providing the music for dancing and listening will be two bands with strong local ties. Kaleidoscope Eyes, formed 10 years ago, features Paul Carlon on lead guitar, Koby Blake on rhythm guitar, Aaron Paiz on bass, and Jared Bailey on drums. "We're crowd friendly," Koby said. "We just come out and have a good time. Come on out Saturday night. We would love to meet you all."

Kaleidoscope Eyes plays alternative and country rock. Their biggest hit is "Keep It Between the Ditches," a song which they wrote.

The Country Rebels, who also are a McCook-based group, have been together for four years, playing the oldies and classic and outlaw country music. Band members are Victor Giron on the upright bass, Dwight Wood on guitar and mandolin, Andre Lefebvre on guitar and fiddle, and Henry Guerrero and David Giron on drums. "We have two gigs Saturday night, so the drummers will be alternating between sites," Victor Giron said. With a growing fan base, the Country Rebels are well known for songs like "The Cover of the Rolling Stone."

Tyler Schmick, the new president of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, is one of the main backers of the Krazy Days & Krazy Nights concept. "McCook is becoming an around-the-clock place," he said. "The addition of Krazy Nights is the Chamber's way of showcasing the excitement which happens in Cookie Town in both the daytime and in the dark of night."

Merchants and media members throughout town have helped make Krazy Nights happen at the Fox and at Schmick's. Among the many sponsors are McCook National Bank, McCook Community College, McCook Daily Gazette, Hometown Family Radio, High Plains Radio, Country Floral, Sports Shoppe, VK Electronics, Crop Production Services, Schmick's Market, Knowlen & Yates, Frenchman Valley Co-op, Brown's Shoe Fit, Sehnert's Bakery and Bieroc Cafe and the Red Willow County Fair Board.