The Road Crew, a Nashville-based music group that’s been strongly associated with Route 66 for years, will perform at the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, on Aug. 15-16 and release its new CD, “Under the Neon,” that weekend.
This video on The Road Crew’s YouTube channel is as good of an introduction as any:
The Road Crew will perform at the two outside stages in the downtown festival area that Saturday and Sunday.
A second concert on Saturday, Aug. 15, will feature Mark Bilyeu and Cindy Woolf with special guest appearances from members of Big Smith, the Baldknobbers Show at Branson, Missouri, and the Hosea Bilyeu Band. The $20-$25 tickets are on sale starting Saturday at www.gillioz.org.
The event’s opening day of Friday, Aug. 14, includes cruise-in party and parade, and a drive-in screening of the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated movie, “Cars.” The historic Gillioz Theater in downtown will host the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and special guest Pure Prairie League. Tickets for that show are sold out, unless you know of a scalper somewhere.
The festival has been expanded to a two-day car and motorcycle show with a vendor village, a Route 66 exhibit, food, displays and a 6.6-mile run. There will be a Harley Davidson Demo Truck on hand with 17 Harley Davidson motorcycles for folks to test drive, but you must have a motorcycle license to do so.
A special inside location at The Old Glass Place, 501 E. St. Louis St., within the festival show area is planned Saturday and Sunday for all Route 66 associations, authors, artists and collectors. Those interested in participating should contact Glenda and Tommy Pike at 417-865-1318 or email furyon66(at)earthlink(dot)net. Space is limited, so make contacts promptly
Vehicles participating in the car and motorcycle show are $20 if registered by Aug. 1 and $30 thereafter. Cars, trucks and motorcycles must be ready for judging by 11 a.m. Aug. 15. The first 300 participants receive a T-shirt and dash plaques. Vendors, food and live music will be available on and around Park Central Square Aug. 15-16. Vendors interested in participating in the festival should contact Tom Mast at tmast(at)ky3(dot)com.
Some of the proceeds of the festival’s activities will benefit Springfield’s Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park Fund, celebrating where the famed highway was named.