Archive for July 2021
Live music returns to The Pastime Theatre in July!
July 31st at 7pm, the Pastime Theatre will begin its come back with local talent favorites and Walker County-based country rock band Backdraft. Original band members were all firemen or the wife of a fireman, hence the name Backdraft. Backdraft has now spanned over 2 decades and continues to offer a variety of music styles from Oldies to Country to Rock & Pop. Backdraft has performed all over Alabama and neighboring states. Recently two of Backdraft’s members, Vickie Cosby and Jeff Parnell, were featured in 78 Magazine. Now let’s meet the band….
Vickie Cosby, the lead singer for Backdraft, grew up with a love for music and singing in church. Singing has always been a passion for her and she was instrumental in forming the band Backdraft.
Tony Long is one of the original members of Backdraft. Tony played a short while in the 80’s with the group Shenandoah.
Terry Merchant, also a longtime member of Backdraft, is the drummer and band manager and has had a long career in entertainment. He also plays drums for his gospel group.
Jeff Parnell has entertained audiences all over the southeast. Now a member of Backdraft, he plays both bass and acoustic guitar and also adds his vocal talent.
Unfortunately, band member Barry Key will be unable to perform due to illness, but the following friends of Backdraft will be performing:
Danny Long, an amazing bass guitarist, started playing as a teenager and has played in many bands throughout his musical career.
J J Hadder is an awesome vocalist that grew up with a love for music and has been entertaining all his life. He sang with the well-known gospel group Gold City and today continues to entertain crowds with his heartfelt harmony and vocals.
Wayne Walker is a well-known keyboard talent and soulful harmony singer. He has played music all over the southeast with various bands. Backdraft welcomes his unique style of music along with other friends of Backdraft to offer the audience a memorable night!
“The Pastime Theatre sends well wishes to Barry Key and appreciates the guest band members. We are looking forward to a great comeback after Covid show”, stated Pastime Theatre chairman Mary Hyche.
This concert is not part of the original concert series that now been rescheduled. Tickets for this performance are $10.Tickets are available , cash or check only, at the Pastime Theatre office, Winfield City Hall, Gold Connection and The Kemp Foundation. For more information call 205-487-3002
Renovation complete!!
Winfield Main Street Program purchased the dilapidated empty building located at 136 Bankhead Highway, across the street from City Hall in downtown Winfield in late 2019. The building had sat vacant for over twenty years. According to local historian Yank Burgess, the property was at one time the location of a furniture store and shoe repair shop owned by Claude Young and John Sullivan, the post office was there for a time, and later was home to Western Auto (Albert Holt and John Berry). Mrs. Edril Hubbert McCaleb owned the property for many years. Main Street Program purchased this property from the family of William Vaughn McCaleb, Jr. Main Street renovated the area and donated the property to the City of Winfield. It has now become The Patio which is an open-air area with various colorful business facades including a restaurant (Café 136), Hometown Bakery, a Barber Shop, Friends Coffee – N – Books, Happiness Unlimited Pets, a theater,and a Chinese Restaurant, Chef Foo Linn Yoo. “Ideally, we wish these were actual, thriving businesses, but if that were not possible, our goal was to make this an attractive, useful addition to our downtown,” said Don Studdard, president of Main Street.
The Patio has a gazebo, tables, chairs and benches, and offers free Wi-Fi and covered plugs for charging electronics. It is a very safe, inviting atmosphere with decorative lighting, beautiful flowers, herbs, and various plants. There are two photo op areas which feature a butterfly and a balloon bouquet.
Contractor for the renovation was J & M Construction. “Mike Pridmore was wonderful to work with. He was meticulous with the little details and provided many useful ideas and suggestions,” said Studdard.
Main Street would like to thank RC&D who provided a grant in the amount of $4,000.00 to be used in this project. The grant was used to purchase tables and chairs.
“We do appreciate all those who stepped up and helped us with this project. Special thanks to Casey Coats, Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, Turkey Creek Sand and Gravel, Derek Green of Green’s Mills, Winfield Police Chief Brett Burleson, Rob Bolton and Winfield Street Department, Melissa Pate, Main Street director Tammy Brashier and Main Street secretary Jeana Estes,” added Mary Hyche, treasurer of Main Street. “Of course, I’m not sure we could have ever completed this project without Don Studdard. As he has been for so many projects over theyears, he was there from the planning stages to completion making sure everything was done to perfection.”
Main Street had wanted to do this project since being organized in 1996. Hyche and Studdard agreed this has been an incredibly special, fun project and are overjoyed to see it completed. “We love seeing people gathering outside, bringing lunch to The Patio, taking pictures or using the internet there. We hope our citizens will enjoy The Patio,” said Studdard.
Pastime Theatre Concert Series Starts Up Again – July 31st!!
The Pastime Theatre is welcoming the month of July with its first concert since the pandemic.
Like many other venues, The Pastime Theatre has been at a standstill since the Coronavirus Pandemic hit in spring of 2020. The last concert held was March of 2020 featuring Jazz legend, Eric Essix. Although the theatre office remained open during the mandatoryshutdown, the music was silenced. But after 16 months that changes this month!
July 31st at 7pm, the Pastime Theatre will begin its comeback with local talent favorites and Walker County-based country rock band Backdraft. Original band members were all firemen or the wife of a fireman, hence the name Backdraft. Backdraft has now spanned over 2 decades and continues to offer a variety of music styles from Oldies to Country to Rock & Pop. Backdraft has performed all over Alabama and neighboring states. Recently two of Backdraft’s members, Vickie Cosby and Jeff Parnell, were featured in 78 Magazine.
This concert is not part of the original concert series that had been postponed. Tickets for this performance will be $10 per person. Tickets are available at the Pastime Theatre office, Gold Connection, City Hall andThe Nelson and Charlene Kemp Foundation. Ticketsare also available via postal service. No credit card purchases for this performance. For more information contact 205-487-3002
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