Submitted photo The Woomblies Rock Orchestra will headline the Our Hospice of South Central Indiana concert.
The 38th Annual Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Labor Day Weekend concert will hit the stage Aug. 31 with three significant changes in the spotlight: a new venue, a slightly tweaked approach to the concert lineup, and limited, $10 tickets.
The venue will be the Circle K Fieldhouse at NexusPark, 2224 25th St. in Columbus, which will prevent concerns over rainouts, such as those that occurred in 2022 for the nonprofit’s biggest fundraiser of the year. That change will require attendees to have a purchased ticket because of limited space.
And the performers this year have a much more local/regional connection with a long-established statewide following rather than a nationally touring band from the past.
Soul-blues singer Jennie DeVoe who has played a range of local events for the past 15 years, will open the show. She is perhaps best known f0r her hit single “Don’t Forget to Breathe,” and has shared the bill with such national names as Bonnie Raitt. In this area, she most recently played the Brown County Playhouse.
Next up will be “The Rock Show: The Ultimate Tribute to Journey.” And headlining will be another seasoned act well known to local residents: The normally 11-member Woomblies Rock Orchestra, which opened the hospice concert in 2017 and 2019. A smaller segment of that group also has appeared multiple times at events in the past such as JCB Neighborfest and at Columbus Regional Health’s VIMCare Reverse Raffle.
That explains why hospice leaders called the band “a crowd favorite” a few years ago with a classic rock cover selection that ranges from Electric Light Orchestra to The Four Tops.
Band leader Phil Pierle talked with The Republic in 20202 about general concert highlights at most shows.
“For me personally, the biggest thrill still is doing ‘Kashmir’ by Led Zeppelin,” he said.
Or The Beatles’ classic “The Long and Winding Road.”
The formerly outdoor concert has been among the city’s largest single-day events, sometimes attracting an estimated 7,000 people or more.
The event provides funding for hospice’s care via everything from sponsorships, raffle ticket sales, T-shirt sales, cookie sales and other items. The local hospice’s mission revolves around a theme of Make Every Moment Count while providing care for nearly 300 patients with end-of-life illnesses. Those patients are located across 22 counties.
“We are so excited about the new era of Our Hospice summer concert,” said Steph Cain, Our Hospice president, in a news release. “We will be the first concert at NexusPark, an indoor weather-proof venue with three fantastic performances for our community. The changes to this year’s venue and musical lineup will ensure that we make every moment count with memories that will last a lifetime.”
Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased beginning Monday, July 1 at ourhospice.org/concert.
“We expect this to be a sold-out event, so we encourage you to get online to get your tickets as soon as they are available,” said Julie Davis, Our Hospice’s volunteer services manager, in a news release.
The traditional $10,000 raffle drawing will take place immediately following the last band (you do not need to be present to win). Raffle tickets are available from Our Hospice or Palliative Care team members, at our pre-concert events, and will also be sold at the concert.
The organization’s annual drive-through baked cookies, raffle ticket, and T-shirt sale will take place a few weeks prior to the concert at the hospice center. Details will be announced at ourhospice.org/concert, and also on Our Hospice’s Facebook and Instagram feeds.
To get tickets
$10 tickets to the concert will be available July 1 at https://ourhospice.org/concert
To be a sponsor: [email protected], or go to ourhospice.org/concert
Submitted photo Jennie DeVoe will open the Our Hospice of South Central Indiana concert.
