Ludlow, VT – The Butties are returning to Okemo Mountain Resort for a free concert this Friday as part of the Vermont ski and snowboard resort’s Jackson Gore Outdoor Music Series and summertime food drive to benefit Black River Good Neighbor Services. When concert-goers donate at least three non-perishable food items, they will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win Okemo lift tickets, new skis, gift certificates donated by local businesses, and more.
Local favorites, The Butties are an all-Beatles cover band that first played together at Syracuse University in 1983. Since college, Sam, Paul, Mark and Robbo live in different cities across the USA, but they stay in touch — and, to the delight of their fans they get back together. When he’s not playing bass and singing with the Butties, the famous, yet down-to-earth Sam Lloyd is an actor on stage and screen, best known for playing Ted, the hapless, sweaty lawyer on the hit television sitcom Scrubs.
Black River Good Neighbor Services (BRGNS) is a 501(c)(3) charity that provides private assistance to people in need in Ludlow, Cavendish, Proctorsville, Mount Holly, Belmont and Plymouth, Vermont. Located in the newly renovated Ludlow Community Center Complex, BRGNS offers free, confidential help to financially distressed individuals and families to facilitate their navigation of the often intricate pathways to locate assistance. The organization’s primary focus is on distributing free food and providing rent, fuel and other aid for those who meet specific guidelines. Funding is received from individual and business donations, some grants and local public sources. BRGNS also operate a thrift store to cover some of the expenses of providing assistance.
On Friday nights throughout the summer season, the lawn in the courtyard at Okemo’s Jackson Gore Inn is transformed into an outdoor concert venue featuring popular local and regional entertainers. Admission to the Jackson Gore Outdoor Music Series is free and the grounds open at 5 p.m. Concerts are slated to run from 6 to 9 p.m. Families are welcome and all attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. In case of rain, the concerts will move indoors. Dining options include fresh-from-the-grill burgers and hot dogs, or full-service dining with an al fresco seating option at Jackson Gore’s Coleman Brook Tavern.
Okemo’s Adventure Zone is open Friday evenings for concert-goers to enjoy as well. The Adventure Zone made its debut last summer with its anchor attraction, The Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster, a roller-coaster-like ride that follows the natural contours of the mountain and allows riders to control their own speed. There’s also Lumberin’ Cal Mini Golf, The Stump Jumper Trampoline Bungee Jump, The Maples Disc Golf Course, Twiggy’s Snack Bar and The Ripper Arcade and Gift Shop. New additions this summer include a climbing pinnacle, the Amp Energy Big Air Bag, Segway Personal Transport tours, and debuting on July 14, Sawyer’s Sweep Zipline Tours.
Following The Butties on July 13, the summer lineup for the Jackson Gore Outdoor Music Series includes: Gypsy Reel, July 20; Medicine Warriors, July 27; The Joey Leone Band, August 3; Jamie Ward, August 10; The Chris Kleeman Band, August 17; The Sly Geralds Band, August 24; The Kind Buds, August 31.