Holly & the Guys will headline the Full Moon Concert on Sunday, August 22 in Tonkawa Centennial Park, 301 East Grand, Tonkawa, OK. The musically eclectic band features lead jazz vocalist Holly Peart with Brandon Haynes, John Shwayat, Hunter Vogele, Erik Willadsen, and Brody Farrow. Holly & the Guys performs a broad selection of pop-genre covers including jazz, pop, rock, and some good ol’ oldies including a set of moon-themed tunes just for the event! The free outdoor concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. under the Heart in the Park pavilion and is sponsored by North Central Oklahoma Arts Council (NCOAC) and Heart in the Park Committee

Born out of the live music scene at Tonkawa Oklahoma’s gourmet restaurant TS Fork where Holly sang each weekend, she was inspired to get a band together in 2015 to entertain at public events in the city. Along with Peart, original members included Haynes (piano/vocals), Palma (bass), Mike Ball (guitar), and Vogele (drums/vocals). Currently, the band has retained three of its five original members and has expanded, adding two guitarists, Farrow and Willadsen, and bassist Shwayat. The band’s growing popularity has led them to tour throughout Oklahoma and Kansas as well as playing larger venues such as Oktoberfest and the Lung Force Gala in Oklahoma City.

Holly Peart has always loved singing jazz and teaches music at Tonkawa Elementary School. Brandon Haynes teaches music and is the vocal director and musical arranger for the Roustabouts at Northern Oklahoma College, as well as the director of music and worship arts at First United Methodist Church in Tonkawa. Shwayat is a recent graduate from Northern Oklahoma College, and is continuing bass studies at the University of Central Oklahoma this fall. Vogele (aka Hunter Grant in the music realm) connected with Haynes through the Roustabouts at Northern Oklahoma College. Last year, he co-produced his debut solo album with Haynes entitled Hunter Grant: Pieces. Farrow is currently studying music business and production at ACM@ UCO. He has been drumming for local artist and sister Ciara Brooke and has started a new band called Five Year Gap. Willadsen is a NOC student and studies guitar with Joel Levine.

This family-friendly event is open to all and since seating in the park is limited, the public is invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets and snacks. Pets on leashes are welcome. Restroom facilities are located across the street in the Santa Fe Depot. Throughout the evening, concert goers may walk the world’s only heart-shaped labyrinth, and the evening concludes with the traditional group howl at the full moon. Next month’s season finale Full Moon Concert on Monday, September 20 will feature the high energy talent of Hayes Brothers Band.

Heart in the Park and NCOAC are not liable for any risks for Covid-19. All Heart in the Park and NCOAC events will abide by CDC Guidelines. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to the Art Center of Tonkawa at 202 East Grand. Check for Full Moon Concert updates at https://heartinthepark.org/ and on NCOAC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonkawaArts/