The Chester Community Association’s (CCA) Second Thursdays has been completed for the year, but due to an overwhelming turnout, the Southland Band will return to play a special pre-ChesterFest show on Thursday, Sept. 24 on the Village Green, 11801 Centre St. in Chester.
“We have had a very successful season so far,” said CCA President Elliott Fausz. “Howard Corey [CCA member] has worked hard to bring a variety of music to the Village.”
Southland Band has played at several venues throughout the region and has been a staple at the Chesterfield County Fair. Southland Band plays a range of music from the 50s, 60s and 70s, from southern rock and country to blues with a little pop. Southland has played Third Thursdays as well as ChesterFest in the past, but this will be a special kickoff concert for the Fest.
The CCA invites the public to bring their lawn chairs and join them for this free event on the Village Green.
Southland Band is one of the most, if not the most country-popular band in the entire area. The group plays at various venues at least three days a week.
They have been playing together for well over 30 years, and Linwood Gettings, the bandleader, who retired from the Chesterfield County Police Department as a Lieutenant, some years ago, said, “We have a great keyboardist Chris Spenser and drummer in Clyde Bell.”
Gettings said the band is a great dance band, and this is what draws at least 300 people to each show.
“There’s not much we don’t play and we can play pretty much anything people ask us to.” he said.
They have played backup for Jimmy Dean and the big Barn Dance, which Donna Dean Meade hosts each year.
In addition to Linwood on guitar and mandolin, Clyde and Chris, bass is covered by Paul Childress; Linwood’s wife of 30 years, Frieda covers vocals, “although her voice doesn’t quiver like Elvis’s did,” said Linwood.
ChesterFest will take place on Saturday, Sept. 26.
