If You Book it, They Will Come

Written by John Face

Photos by John Face
September 11, 2023

Stealing the line from the movie Field of Dreams, where they say, “If you build it, they will come,” yesterday taught the Albion area one thing. Book groups that the masses want to see, and they will show up. Yesterday at the season-closing show for the summer concert series, “Swingin’ at the Shell,” we learned that the masses in Albion like what they saw this summer.

Simply Queen packed the place. Estimates of up to 1,500 people showed up, that number could be higher as the crowd was spread out wide and made counting difficult. This show was the most talked about event in Albion in a long time. After the show, this writer spoke with several people, and they all agreed that Albions’ summer concert series is doing it right.

Much of the credit goes to Stephanie Dobbins as M.C. Bill Dobbins introduced her to the audience as the force behind the shows. She knows what her audience wants: great music and a great venue.

Even though naysayers scoffed at “cover bands” playing concerts in Albion, the summer concert series was full of professional tribute bands, which the crowds wanted — and loved. Proof of that is thousands of people who came to the shows this summer. Thousands. Hard to scoff at that.

So, thank you to all the sponsors, event organizers, and those who work hard to make Albion a fun place to live. So, enjoy these pictures from yesterday: