Maple Hill Band, Ben Parker Project play at gazebo concert

The Maple Hill Band and Ben Parker Project will share their unique sounds at the Madison Gazebo Concert on June 14.

Maple Hill Band

The Maple Hill Band organized in 2003 when former members of GoodFortune, a local Ceilidh (or Gaelic) group, and friends began meeting at Steve Whitmore’s home for informal sessions on Sunday evenings.

Their musical focus quickly focused on Celtic and American traditional music. This musical emphasis allowed the group to add members and expanded their repertoire.

Within a year, the Maple Hill Band was performing publicly. Since 2004, they have played at more than 50 engagements across North Alabama and South Tennessee.

They play driving Celtic jigs and reels, contra dance music from the northeastern and northwestern United States and ballads of Ireland and Appalachia (maplehillband.com).

Band members and their instruments are Jennifer Allen Sloan, fiddle and low D-whistle; Mike Belmont, bass; Neil Boyd, guitar; Babette Ford, recorder; Tim Miller, mandolin and vocals; Suzy Naumann, vocals and percussion; Andrea Rosler, flute and piccolo; Shawn Webster, percussion; Tony White, guitar and concertina; and Steve Whitmore, fiddle.

For more information about Maple Hill Band, send email to info@maplehillband.com or visit maplehillband.com.

Ben Parker

The Ben Parker Project will entertain the gazebo audience with sounds of country, classic rock and blues. As a young teenager, Benjamin Parker is working on his debut demo project. He will perform covers and some of his original compositions.

As a child, Parker learned to play mandolin, drums and guitar chords (benparkerproject.com). He first strummed “Oh, How I Love Jesus” and “Chew My Chewing Gum.”

At age nine, Parker started taking lessons from Heath Bain and learned ‘hot licks’ on guitar. Parker’s charts include “Alabama Summer Day,” “Don’t Ever Give In” and “Workin’ On Me.”

Band members are Ben Parker, lead guitar and vocals; Zach Lowery, acoustic guitar and vocals; Ryan Gilley, drums; Jacob Walker, keyboard and vocals; Kendra Parker, vocals; and Gaylon Parker, bass guitar and vocals.

Madison Arts Council sponsors the gazebo concerts. For more information, visit artsmadison.org or Facebook/Madison Arts Council.