Fireworks Festival celebrates America’s birthday

by Elysia Conner
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 1:05 PM MDT

“It’s a good festival atmosphere,” said John Ramirez of The Eli Manor Band, explaining why people love Casper’s yearly fireworks festival. The band has played at the event before and will return this year.

Attendees can listen to music, eat festive foods like funnel cakes, meet up with friends and enjoy front row seating to the fireworks show.

This year, Tabor Dame headlines the varied musical lineup. Joining the Nashville songwriting and performing duo is acoustic indi-rocker John Hampson of Nine Days fame and Casper’s own Seeds-n-Stems and The Eli Manor Band.

A beer garden and vendor booths will offer jewelry, games, collectibles, BBQ food, burgers and pizza and more.

Among the more interesting dining options is “food wrapped in bacon” from Fired Up! Classics like sno-cones, cotton candy and fresh popped kettle corn will delight children and bring smiles of nostalgia to adults.

Glow sticks for sale will amuse the little ones while bigger toys like motor scooters will light up big kids’ faces.

If that isn’t enough, artists will give temporary henna or airbrush tattoos while Poverty Resistance will paint faces.

Folks also can enjoy a Wyoming Cavalry game against the Ogden Knights. Besides a good game of football, the event includes an entertaining half-time show, greetings from mascot Custer the Coyote and a great time for all ages. Tickets to the game also include free admission to the festival.

GAPWest broadcasting will provide a six-station simulcast of music choreographed to the fireworks bursting through the air.

It’s good, old-fashioned American fun at its best to celebrate the birthday of the United States of America and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Besides celebrating where we are now, it is a time for reflecting on our history and sharing hope for the future as the nation enters its 233rd year.

The tradition of Fourth of July celebrations dates back to 1777.

Once in the morning and once in the evening, 13 guns were fired on July 4 in Bristol, R.I.

Philadelphia celebrated in a way we would find familiar: an official dinner of the Continental Congress, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white and blue bunting.

Music celebrates Independence Day

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.: Seeds-n-Stems

5:45 - 6:45 p.m.: The Eli Manor Band

7 - 8:15 p.m.: John Hampson

8:30 - 10 p.m.: Tabor-Dame

Tabor Dame

Matt Dame and Rusty Tabor met while singing demos for Nashville’s songwriting community. The two are writing and recording their first project together with record producers Paul Worley, known for working with Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride and Big & Rich, and Mickey Jack Cones, who has worked with Trace Adkins, Reba McEntire, and Motley Crue.

The two vocalists and successful songwriters have penned songs recorded by Billy Ray Cyrus, Heartland and Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply, among others.

Besides recording and songwriting, Tabor Dame has a reputation for non-stop, high-energy live shows.

For more about Tabor Dame, visit www.myspace.com/tabordame.

John Hampson

John Hampson is the guitarist and vocalist for the band Nine Days and has embarked on a solo career.

Nine Days is known for the hit "Absolutely (Story of a Girl).” In 2003, Hampson released the EP “Seventeen Minutes and Thirty Eight Seconds in the Dark” and released the full-length “Shiny New Album.”

For more about John Hampson, visit www.myspace.com/johnhampson.

The Eli Manor Band

The Eli Manor Band has been together for so long that the three band and family members sometimes make up songs on the spot, even onstage.

They call their original music “power blues,” with songs that come from life experiences.

They have many local fans and a growing regional following.

Vocalist John Ramirez and guitarist/vocalist Julian Ramirez are brothers who have been playing music for most of their lives.

Both have metal-band history. Julian’s son, Drew Ramirez, showed early interest by knowing the names of famous metal bands as a toddler. He also played bass all through high school and received numerous honors and traveled the country for music. He now also plays in the local band Judekka.

The three live for playing music onstage, feeding off the energy of the crowd, Julian said.

Finishing their second CD and several gigs mean a busy summer for the trio, but there isn’t anything else they would rather be doing, except maybe riding motorcycles.

All three are enjoying the recent good weather for riding and playing both indoor and outdoor shows. They also recently played at NIC Fest.

The Eli Manor Band is known for putting on a good show and having fun with the crowd, according to music promoter Travis “Tee Roy” Royce.

According to Drew, the band looks forward to trying out favorites and new songs, and they are completing their second CD.

For more about The Eli Manor Band, visit www.myspace.com/theelimanorband

Seeds-n-Stems

Seeds-n-Stems is a crowd-drawing Casper band that plays a mix of Hawaiian, reggae, rap and rock music.

Ukelele player/vocalist Brennan Capellas, emcee Dfctv, guitarist Robbie Loveall, bass player Atom Bomb and Jarrad “The Drum Machine” Campos make up the band.

The five have been touring the Midwest and are working on a follow-up album to "Life Is Poetry Music is Love.”

For more about Seeds-n-Stems, visit www.myspace.com/seedsstems.

If you go …

Fireworks Festival 2009

Saturday, July 4, on the grounds of the Casper Events Center

The big show in the sky will start at approximately 10 p.m.

The Official Fireworks Festival soundtrack will be broadcast on 104.7 KISS-FM, 107.9 The River, K2 Radio, Rock 96.7, My Country 95.5 and Real Talk/Real People - AM 1400.

Admission is on a cash only basis at $10 per vehicle, $5 per motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian. Entrance is free with Wyoming Cavalry Tickets in hand.

Wyoming Cavalry vs. Ogden Knights begins at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.

The Casper Events Center Box Office will be open on Friday, July 3, from noon to 6 p.m. Cavalry tickets may be purchased at the Box Office until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 4th.

For more information and tickets, call 577-3030 or visit www.caspereventscenter.com.

3-D glasses giveaways will take place during live radio remotes at Safeway on Wyoming Blvd. from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, and at Smith's Grocery from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, July 2.

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