Sounds & Cinema concert series supports 4th Street Theatre rennovations

Several Russellville organizations have banded together in support of the 4th Street Theatre by offering a winter concert series to raise funds to begin the next phase of rennovations.  Main Street Russellville is the driving force behind many downtown Russellville projects, including the theatre revitalization.  The Russellville Blues Society and the Logan County Arts Council have also offered their expertise and support in planning the concert series.

According to Main Street Russellville’s Director, Darlene Gooch, “In reality work began in 1999 but after only about 1 1/2 years work was halted due to the funding running out.  I came on in August 2005 as the director of Main Street Russellville and began working on this project immediately. The side-entryway and restrooms were completed the summer of 2007.  Then through a line-item grant in the State Budget of Gov. Fletcher we were given $100,000.  These monies were used to complete the lobby, a fully equipped caterers kitchen and the Main Street office.”

Gooch further explained that about $715,000 is needed to complete the auditorium, backstage area and the theater facade.  However, they hope through local fundraising efforts like the Sounds & Cinema series that enough work can be accomplished to make the space usable and show people the possibilities for future use.

Samra Smith, a founding member of the Russellville Blues Society is among those who can see the possibilities.  The organization has had great success with their outdoor summer concert series at the African American Museum, but lack an ideal location for indoor events.

A retired teacher from Stevenson Elementary, Smith has been active in presenting arts programming for years.  Thanks to the DeGraffenried funds, money left by a New York Attorney for education in Russellville, Smith and others have received grants to create residencies for  a wide variety of artists including musicians, visual artists and writers.

The artists in the Sounds & Cinema series are part of the school programs. By coordinating the concerts with the school programs,  Smith was able to arrange internationally touring artists for the series with very little overhead, so that the vast majority of income from tickets can go directly to the 4th Street Theatre project.

Tickets for the concerts are $10 for a single show or just $25 for the entire series and are available at the door or at the Chamber of Commerce office.  The concerts will take place at 164 East 4th Street, Russellville KY and begin this Friday.

Darlene Gooch, expressed the importance of the project, saying “I feel that the theater is one of the keystones of our downtown area and with its completion, as well as the completion of the upcoming restaurant that will go into the old Duncan’s Drugstore it will give beautiful Downtown Historic Russellville the ability to become a ‘Destination’ not just a place to pass through on the way to Bowling Green or Hopkinsville.”

Sounds & Cinema Winter Concert Series Lineup:

  • Feb. 19:  Danny Salazar and Damien Horne, Boundary-obliterating singer/songwriters whose artistry unites Latin, R&B melodies, catchy pop hooks, distinctive elements of hip-hop, soul, and rock to change the atmosphere of contemporary music with a uniquely uplifting message.  www.damienhorne.com,  www.myspace.com/dannysalazarytrovaurbana
  • March 12:  Corey Harris,  More than just a blues musician, Corey Harris is a seeker.  Recipient of the prestigious McArthur Fellowship, the “Genus Award”, Corey explores blues, roots, reggae, and gospel music and the cultures that produce them.  www.myspace.com/coreyharrismusic
  • April 16:  Will Barrow, A truly talented Grammy Award winning musician with a career spanning 25 years, Will has recorded with a wide array of artists including Suzy Bogguss and Crystal Gayle.  His eclectic taste and influences from Brazilian/world music, R&B/soul, country, blues, New Orleans, rock & roll, jazz, and classical music are showcased on his CD “Find a Way”.  www.myspace.com/willbarrowmusic  

Other artist presented in Russellville schools through DeGraffenried grants include:

2010 artists: