First Fort Ontario Festival of the Arts Features “The Whiskey River Band”

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On Saturday evening  August 9 at 7 p.m. Historic Old Fort Ontario will echo with the sound of music as The First Annual Fort Ontario Festival of the Arts presents a free concert featuring the “little bit country and the little bit rock and roll” stylings of the “Whiskey River Band”.

The band was formed in 2006  as the result of a group of veteran musicians getting together for a jam session then noticing how much they enjoyed playing together.

The group consists of Bernard’s Bay musician, Bill Fisher on Rhythm Guitar and lead vocals, Hannibal’s, Dick Hillman on Lead guitar, Phoenix’s Barry Newman on Drums, and Oswego’s own Jack Barlow on Keyboards, Lou Parsons on Bass Guitar, and Barb Donhue on Rhythm and Steel Guitar and  vocals.

All the members of The Whiskey River Band have logged many years of experience playing music which when added all up totals 272 years of tinkling the ivories; strumming the strings; and beating the skins.

The Whiskey River Band  plays an eclectic mix of old time Country and Rock and Roll sure to please audiences of all ages.
The Fort Ontario Festival of the Arts is a free family friendly event held on the grounds of Fort Ontario State Historic Site, in the City of Oswego,. on Saturday August 9 from noon till 7 p.m. and on Sunday, August 10 from noon till 5 p.m..  The event will feature a bazaar of Fine Arts and Craft vendors, a vintage softball game, and three separate stage venues geared towards different age groups.

The Festival  is a part of the statewide ‘Canal Splash’ celebration, and is made possible in part by a Decentralization Grant secured through the Cultural Resources Council from the New York State Council on the Arts, and is hosted by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Fort Ontario State Historic Site, The Art Association of Oswego, The Greater Oswego and Fulton Chamber of Commerce, The City of Oswego, The Oswego Players, The American Federation of Musicians and The Oswego Children’s Theater.

So, come one, come all and participate. Be able to say you were there at the beginning.

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