Old Guys with Old Songs w/ Fred Luft, Rick Gilbertson & Friends

  • May 19, 2023 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • The Bend

    125 N. Main Street
    West Bend, Wisconsin 53095
Ticket Price $10.00 This event is now over
Description

Come support The Bend Theater with an evening of local, well-known community musicians:

Old Guys with Old Songs w/ Fred Luft, Rick Gilbertson & Friends

 

Fred Luft and Rick Gilbertson are well-know in the West Bend community for their passion for music.  They have been involved in a wide variety of musical activities including area choirs, church music in a number of local churches, and they have performed at numerous wedding ceremonies.  Rick has participated in 50+ Community Theater Productions since 1979, and Fred has been in approximately 30 Community Theater productions since 1970. More recently they play regularly at assisted living facilities in Washington and Ozaukee County. They have played with musical friends at the Kewaskum Arts Council In the Park Concert Series as “Eclectic Fred and Friends”, and periodically play at local clubs together.  Rick plays once per month with another musical friend as “Rick and Dave” and has even performed at the Schauer Center. Fred’s claim to fame is 30 Two Hour Concerts on Facebook Live from his basement music room during Covid for family and friends (called the “Thirsty Thursday Concert Series”). He learned and performed over 350 songs for the series including many original fun songs.  Fred and Rick are also members of WAUI (the West Bend Area Ukulele Initiative) where they play Banjo Uke and Baritone Uke while singing songs of many genres and periods of musical history.

 

This talented dynamic duo often play with a number of very talented local music friends who fill out their sound with wonderful harmonies, an extra guitar, keyboard, and bass. Playing alongside them at The Bend Theater will be talented singer/songwriter Cherie Zahn, singer and keyboard player/leader of the EcuMen Choir Dave Bertelson, Bassist for many area musical productions Bill Drimel, and the talented Gary Jansen on percussion.

 

Fred Luft, Rick Gilbertson & Friends are “Old Guys with Old Songs”, an Eclectic Collection of their favorite songs of many genres and periods of musical history from the 19th century through modern times and featuring the music of their youth (the songs they heard and sang in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s)”.

 

Musical coordinator, Fred Luft, has been part of the West Bend community since attending the UW Center Campus in 1969 -1971. He moved to West Bend permanently after graduating from college in 1974.  As a small child from Waubeka, Wisconsin (10 miles to the east of West Bend) he remembers his parents bringing the family to the theater in the 1950’s to see Bambi as well as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and others.  In 1969, he recalls coming to see The Graduate - so many classics in this beautiful theater over the years. Fred is happy to see the restoration of this beautiful historic theater. He has hoped since its completion that one day he would be able sing a song on its stage.  Fred, Rick & Friends are so excited to have this opportunity to support “The Bend” through this fundraiser.

 

Singer/Songwriter and retired West Bend music teacher, Cherie Zahn will be the opening act for “Old Guys with Old Songs”.  She will share some of her favorite original songs.


**All proceeds from this event support The Bend Theater and our nonprofit mission. Thank you for your continued support of our historic theater in the heart of Downtown West Bend.

Date & Time

Fri, May 19, 2023 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Venue Details

The Bend

125 N. Main Street
West Bend, Wisconsin 53095 The Bend
The Bend
The Bend is an experience venue in downtown West Bend, WI. Built in 1929 as a Vaudeville theatre building, The Bend was restored by the nonprofit organization Historic West Bend Theatre Inc in 2020. 

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