Perry’s music venues radiated with summer heat this weekend, starting with Friday night’s performance at the Hotel Pattee by award-winning country music singer-songwriter Hilary Scott. The Tennessee native performed a variety of songs from her three albums, including the 2011 “Own the Night.”
Scott’s concert, part of the hotel’s Lit by the Sun series, followed a three-course meal prepared by Hotel Pattee Executive Chef Ben Ferguson. Diners enjoyed a toasted ravioli appetizer followed by a butterhead salad with black beans. The main course was a grilled pork steak with corn and onions and a slice of gooey butter cake for dessert.
About 75 people attended the dinner-concert. The next Hotel Pattee Lit by the Sun concert is Aug. 7 featuring Rob Lumbard and Matt Woods. The hotel also offers free musical entertainment every Friday and Saturday night.
Other music lovers found their Friday evening pleasures at La Poste, Perry’s 100-year-old venue whose popularity is progressing with its restoration. Patrons found a relaxing evening performance by Blue Stem, a two-member band composed of Shannon Bryan and his wife, Cindy.
Missouri-native Mel Hughes also visited Perry this weekend to play at La Poste, meeting Bryan for the first time only an hour before the show. But it turned out to be long enough because they decided to perform together.
“How Mary Rose made this happen is beyond me,”said Jenny Eklund, co-owner of La Poste. “But being the sweet, gentle soul that we all know made it easy.”
“La Poste which is and always will be a social gathering space, ” said Mary Rose Nichols, co-owner of La Poste, “a space to celebrate art, music, food and community.”
Perry’s summer music continued through Saturday night at La Poste with a special performance by jazz and cabaret vocalist Max Wellman of Des Moines. A frequent figure at the Hotel Pattee as well, Wellman serenaded La Poste’s crowd in his Sinatra/Bublè style, covering crowd favorites such as “Just in Time” and “You Must Believe in Spring,” among many other selections.
“Talk about not planned. This is too fun,” said Eklund. “What a beautiful day. So happy.”
ThePerryNews.com photos by Mark Summerson
