by orionontv | Jul 17, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers, Music
ORION TWP, Mich. – On Thursday, July 11, 2024, the tribute band Fifty Amp Fuse performed classic pop and rock hits at Orion Township’s Wildwood Amphitheatre. The set included classic songs such as “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl),” by Looking Glass, “How long” by Ace, “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor and “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls. The last two songs, were accompanied by one of the bands three lead vocalists, Barb “Barbie” Alent.
Alent’s vocal range is impressive for a cover band, there’s no doubt she is talented when she is slinging out beautiful melodies on rock-tinged covers of “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele and “One Way Or Another” by Blondie.
Alent is not the only talented vocalist in the six-person band, lead vocalist Ethan “Chef” Phoenix brings the heat as his soulful and impactful vocals kick off more pop-heavy cuts that the band played. Songs like Cee-lo Green’s “Forget You,” Bruno Mars’s “Locked Out of Heaven” and “Roxanne” by The Police, all demonstrate Phoenix’s unique vocal style and talent on the big stage.
Alent and Phoenix occasionally performed duets, like on the bands cover of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N Roses.
Other members of the band include band leader and guitarist, Remy Lambert, drummer Steve Cooley and bassist Chris Smith.
Lambert in particular was a joy to see on stage. His stage presence along with the audience interaction – always encouraging dancing and having fun – was a welcome feature of that night’s performance.
Alent and the other band members played “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC and closed off the set with everyone on stage – Alent, Phoenix and Lambert took charge with vocals – and played the decadent “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen.
All of the members played and performed their hearts out on stage, delivering quality covers to residents, families and music lovers of the Orion area.
The next Wildwood event will be a concert performance by Cast Iron Cornbread, covering pop, rock and blues Thursday, July 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Next week a free screening on the 2023 movie “Barbie” will be held at the Amphitheatre on Thursday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m.
For more information about free events like these put on by the township, visit orionparks.com.
by orionontv | Jul 17, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers, Music
LAKE ORION, Mich. – On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, residents of Lake Orion and the Orion area gathered inside the intimate concert venue, 20 Front Street, in order to not only get away from the rain caused by the remnants of Hurricane Beryl, but to listen to the first performance of the 2024 “LO Live” concert series by the Americana band, Adrian and Meredith.
The Nashville-based but Michigan-born duo of Adrian and Meredith have been touring all across the country for several years now, playing original music that fits the Americana genre.
The LO Live concert series is held Wednesdays in July and August, in the outdoor gazebo in Children’s park. However, due to the excess rain caused by Beryl on Wednesday, the concert was moved indoors. Nevertheless, the show goes on.
ONTV spoke with the duo about their music and what it is like to play such an intimate venue like 20 Front Street.
“The small towns and the small venues that’s our favorite place, the stories and the people and everyone that gathers – that’s why we love to be here,” Meredith said. “A lot of storytelling here tonight,” Adrian added.
20 Front Street has a seating capacity of around 100 people, so the venue was packed with folks looking to be taken away by soulful yet twangy instrumentation and lovely vocal performances.
“At the end of the day we call it, ‘American Roots’ music, we like to take the audience on a bit of a journey,” Meredith said.
ONTV’s Joe Johnson spoke with Lisa Sokol, a community outreach and events manager at 20 Front Street about the LO Live concert series.
“We’re really lucky that [20 Front Street] is available to us for rain-out days,” Sokol said. “It’s just this wonderful thing, this collaboration that happens that’s really unique to Lake Orion.”
Additionally, ONTV spoke to Janet Bloom, a member of the Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority about LO Live’s opening night.
“To be able to come to one of Michigan’s premiere listening rooms is really a great opportunity, first of all, to showcase a great band… but also for those that maybe haven’t had the opportunity to come to 20 Front Street,” Bloom said.
Despite the hardships faced due to inclement weather, the concert was a success, bringing light not only to a great band but to a wonderful music venue located in downtown Lake Orion.
The next concerts in the LO Live series will be taking place (weather-permitting) at Children’s park, Wednesdays at 6:30 until 8:00 p.m.
Jill Jack will be playing Wednesday, July 17 with a soulful singer-songwriter performance. Then country popstar Grace West will be swinging by Lake Orion July 24, then to round off the month, South For Winter, a folk-blues band from New Zealand will be performing at the park.
For more information about 20 Front Street and their upcoming events, visit 20frontstreet.com, and for more information about the Lake Orion DDA and their events, visit downtownlakeorion.org.
by orionontv | Jul 16, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers, Lake Orion Schools, Music
ORION TWP, Mich. – On Thursday, June 27, the Lake Orion High School Concert Band performed on the stage of the Wildwood Amphitheatre to a large crowd consisting of friends, family and music enthusiasts alike.
Band Director Michael Steele welcomed audience members to their “9th Annual ‘Starry Night’ Concert,” which took the listeners into fantastical yet familiar worlds.
Steele addressing the large crowd – Photo by ONTV
The band, which is comprised entirely of current Lake Orion High School students, played classics such as “Lawrence of Arabia” by Maurice Jarre and recognizable tunes like “Summer of ’69 (The Music of Woodstock),” arranged by Ted Rickets, “Eighties Flashback,” arranged by Paul Martha, and “A Tribute to Dave Brubeck,” arranged by Patrick Roszell.
The band opened the concert with “King Cotton March” by John Phillip Sousa, a playful and triumphant track that set the tone for the entire night.
After the first song, Steele took the microphone and gave his gratitude to the LOHS Concert Band members for their dedication to art and music.
“I’m indebted to these guys for giving up their time and for putting in their immense energy and their great talent and I think you’re really going to enjoy tonight’s performance,” Steele said.
The show was about an hour plus a brief intermission right before “Lawrence of Arabia,” which ended up being a good choice since it is such a long-winded, epic and taxing track to play.
Many different soloists were given their time to shine at Wildwood, Saxophone, Trumpet and Oboe (to name a few) were brought center stage to display their prowess.
Overall, the LOHS Concert Band’s Wildwood concert was a blast to hear and experience, you can find the full Wildwood video along with other free concerts on ONTV’s YouTube page: youtube.com/user/orionontv. As well as, orionontv.org/watch.
Trumpet soloist – Photo by ONTV
The next free Wildwood concert will be 50 Amp Fuse, playing pop hits July 11 at 7 p.m.
For more information on the LOHS Concert Band, visit their Facebook page or their website at lakeorionschools.org/high-school-home/departments/fine-and-performing-arts/band.
by orionontv | Jul 16, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
LAKE ORION, Mich. – On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the Lake Orion Horseshoe Club hosted a patriotic-themed “red, white, and blue” night at their grounds. Residents, club-member or not, were invited to join the club for a fun night of horseshoe pitching.
The Lake Orion Horseshoe Club has been operating for more than 60 years, taking care of the local horseshoe grounds since they were constructed in the early 1960s. According to their website, “The members began the task of preparing the grounds and constructing the 15 regulation horseshoe courts according to standards as set forth by the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA). For over 60 years our Club has acted as a sole caretaker for the courts making them available to the entire community. The Club promotes sportsmanship amongst its members while promoting the art of horseshoe pitching.”
Wide shot of club – Photo by Joe Johnson
On their “Red, White, and Blue” celebration night, over 40 participants who came were dressed in stars and stripes, as well as patriotic gear. Prizes were given out to the best dressed of the night.
ONTV’s Joe Johnson spoke to Lake Orion Horseshoe Club President, Ron Price about the event today and how he felt seeing a packed crowd at the grounds.
“It’s exciting, especially the new people, to participate in something like this and come down and dress up and celebrate the Fourth of July,” Price said.
The LOHC will be hosting a banquet two weeks after their 15-week long season ends, somewhere in mid-August. However, next big event for the LOHC will be hosting the state doubles tournament at the grounds in Lake Orion on August 3.
“Patriotic Ron Price” – Photo by Joe Johnson
If you or anyone you know is interested in participating in the LOHC activities, Price always welcomes new members.
“We have a Facebook page… we also have a website, lakeorionhorsehoe.com, you’ll see our website – we have all of the information on there. Again, we’re happy to take on new members,” Price said.
The club grounds is located on 160 S Anderson St, north of the Orion Art Center. For more information about the club and their upcoming meetings and events, visit lakeorionhorseshoeclub.com.
by orionontv | Jul 2, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
ORION TWP, Mich. – On Thursday, June 27, 2024, car enthusiasts gathered on the grounds of Canterbury Village to show off their muscle cars, sports cars and hot rods to others. This event was put on by Shifter’s Auto Club of Southeastern Mich., a subset of the Michigan Hot Rod Association (MHRA.)
According to Shifter’s website, “The club joined Michigan Hot Rod Association 3 or 4 months after the Shifters were formed. By 1958, MHRA had grown to 35 clubs.”
Photo by Joe Johnson
ONTV’s Lexi McKinney spoke to Jeff Ratliff of Shifter’s Auto Club about the event going on that day.
“We’ve got older cars, newer cars, newer muscle – a little of everything. Just. trying to get something on Thursday night for the Oxford-Lake Orion area, for people to come and do,” Ratliff said.
Shifter’s and other auto club affiliated groups have been putting on these car meet-ups and shows for the month of June here at Canterbury, according to Ratliff this is only their second good Thursday night of the month, heat and rain stopped the members from gathering before. These particular “Canterbury Cruisin’” events will be running until the end of August.
Proceeds from these events will be matched in a fifty-fifty raffle to benefit the “Shop With A Cop” event at the end of the year.
Joe Hildebrand, owner of the Classic Street Signs and Neon business, who recently moved into a space in Canterbury Village, helped run this event as well.
ONTV also spoke with Hildebrand along with other members of the Lake Orion Lions Club about their future events on the property.
According to Hildebrand, he agreed that Canterbury needed a car show on Labor Day and it would be a good opportunity to raise funds to give back to the community.
Photo by Joe Johnson
“We’re hoping to fill the park here with cars, we’ll have our Lions Club out helping with different things…,” Hildebrand said. “There’s something to do for everybody.”
The Lake Orion Lions Club is set to have their own charity car show on September 1, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is available online and in-person at the event.
For more information about events like these visit lakeorionlions.org or visit mhraonline.org/shiftr.html for more information about Shifter’s Auto Club of SE Mich.
by orionontv | Jul 2, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
LAKE ORION, Mich. – On Thursday, June 27, 2024, Pushna Wellness had its official grand reopening after moving to a new location on Clarkston Road near the Polly Ann Trail. Members of the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce, family and friends of Pushna Wellness gathered at the new location for a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Photo by ONTV
Pushna Wellness has been offering fitness and wellness programs including yoga, massages, life-coaching and personal training since 2019. The fitness studio’s purpose is to help people relax not only physically but mentally as well. They offer a variety of customized programs, from adults to seniors, Pushna Wellness is a business dedicated to helping the community.
ONTV’s Lexi McKinney spoke to Jess Dues, the owner of Pushna Wellness about her experience today and how she is taking it all in.
“I am beyond grateful and just humbled by the community’s continual support over these past five years, all of our transitions, our moves and the evolution of our business…” Dues said. “I didn’t anticipate the amount of support I would have from everyone in the Chamber, Matt, Chris Barnett, Joyce, Jillian – all of our teachers and staff and a lot of our clients even have volunteered to help us move and help us paint. There’s been so much overwhelming help and support, and it’s been… I don’t know how to really describe it… grateful.”
One of the more interesting programs Pushna Wellness offers is Boxing-Yoga, or simply put, “Bo-Yo.” According to Dues it consists of thirty minutes of boxing and thirty minutes of yoga.
Photo by ONTV
“Everything has a place because you need to find balance inside and out,” Dues said.
ONTV also spoke to Carl Cyrowski, a current member of the Lake Orion Village Council about the senior fitness class he helps run at Pushna Wellness.
“Seniors – which I am – are afraid to work out, they think they are going to hurt themselves. So, I took this senior fitness class and it taught me how I can approach seniors, I have questionnaire, which they tell me what they’d like to do and they fill it out and then I work out a program for them,” Cyrowski said.
Pushna Wellness’s new location along with its comprehensive class and program list is sure to be a hit with old and new clients in the Lake Orion area and beyond.
For more information about Pushna Wellness or to see the class schedule, visit pushnawellness.com. You can also find them on Instagram and Facebook.
