Crossfire, Ragen Ivey take aim for Gazebo Concert

This week’s Madison Gazebo Concert will feature a classic rock band and a country crooner.

On June 7, Crossfire will open the concert at 6:30 p.m. in the gazebo on Front Street in downtown Madison. “Crossfire is a classic rock band,” Lisa Williams said about her troupe of area musicians. She performs lead/rhythm guitar and vocals.

Williams described Crossfire’s sound as “anything that rocks out. We love North Alabama and enjoy playing many different venues, festivals and private events.”

A few of Crossfire’s charts include “Smoke on the Water,” “Word Up,” “Rolling in the Deep,” “Dirty Laundry” and “Higher Ground.”

Lead singer Paula Whitney delivers her songs with high energy. Rita Bell plays acoustic guitar and “can sing like an angel,” Williams said. “Brian Decker on lead and rhythm guitar makes the guitar rock like no other.” Larry Johnson is nicknamed “Boomin’ Bassman.”

For more information on Crossfire, visit www.crossfirerockson.com or Facebook/Crossfire RockOn.

Ragen Ivey will be the second act for the June 7 concert. Ivey, a country artist, performs both the older and newer hits in the genre.

Ivey leans to the classic sound of George Strait, Merle Haggard, Brooks & Dunn and Conway Twitty charts. Speaking of Conway, Ivey was married to Twitty’s daughter Joanie for three years.

In 1984, Ivey and his band Renegade traveled “in the club scene. In 1989, we opened for Charlie Daniels. Charlie passed the word around, and we opened for several artists, like Billy Dean and Tammy Wynette.”

Ivey played at the Grand Ole Opry in 1992. He won Fox 54’s X Factor competition last year. To contact Ivey, call 256-348-2548 or send email to ragen.ivey@gmail.com or visit Facebook/Ragen Ivey.

Madison Gazebo Concerts are presented on Thursday evenings through August on the Village Green in historic downtown Madison. Madison Arts Council sponsors the concert series.

The concerts are free and offer family entertainment with face painting and balloons for the children. For more information, visit artsmadison.org.