Bluebird Collective, Blue Flame to close 31st Parkfest season

It will be one more time with feeling for the 2024 season Parkfest on Tuesday at Robe-Ann Park, as Bluebird Collective and Blue Flame play the final show of the year.

As the final show, Tuesday will also be Family Night, just like the opening night each season. That means arts and crafts activities for the kids in attendance.

Food will also be available from The Whisk, Lost Hollow and Kona Ice.

Presented by the Greencastle Civic League and Greencastle Parks and Recreation, the show will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Kicking off Parkfest festivities Tuesday will be Bluebird Collective. The Greencastle-based folk rock Americana band consists of (front, from left) Jake Trexler, Parker Black, Matt Owens, (back) Derek Chastain and Drew Cooper.

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Kicking off the show, Bluebird Collective is a folk rock Americana band from Greencastle. The band members are Derek Chastain (lead vocals and guitar), Matt Owens (keys and vocals), Drew Cooper (drums), Parker Black (lead guitar) and Jake Trexler (bass).

Starting out as friends jamming together, they have grown into a tight musical group focusing on an array of covers and original music. Their influences include Drew Holcomb, Ben Rector, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Weezer, Jon Foreman, Punch Brothers, U2, Lord Huron, the Jayhawks, James Taylor and old Celtic church hymns that blend into their unique sound.

Their modern take on Americana blends traditional folk with rock energy. Known for their authentic sound and lively performances, Bluebird Collective connects with audiences through themes of hope and understanding and the mysteries of love, purpose and longing.

Set to play Parkfest at Robe-Ann Park on Tuesday, Blue Flame is a fusion bluegrass trio composed of (from left) Ethan Batan, Savanna Batan and Luke Lovejoy.

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Picking up the second half of the show, Blue Flame is a fusion bluegrass trio that blends many different genres into their own sound. The trio uses bluegrass, swing, country and jazz in its songs and thrives on improvising and creating something new with each and every performance.

Blue Flame features Savanna Batan on fiddle/lead vocals, her brother and 2023 national mandolin champ Ethan Batan on mandolin/vocals and 2018 national flatpicking guitar champ Luke Lovejoy on guitar/vocals. With nationally-awarded musicians and plenty of jokes from Luke (free of charge), Blue Flame is a performance that you won’t want to miss.

Sound Sponsor for the 31st season of Parkfest has been Prime Real Estate, with Walmart as Platinum Sponsor and Furr Insurance Agency as Gold Sponsor.

Parkfest will be back in the summer of 2025 for its 32nd season.