By Audrey Roach
Thanksgiving Point is breaking in a new venue and kicking off its Winter Concert series with a performance by the local band Sunfall Festival this Saturday, Jan. 19.
The new Barn at Farm Country holds 1000 concertgoers, and can seat 650 people at a catered event, said Paul Eddington, Public Relations manager for Thanksgiving Point.
“One reason this is a unique location is because it only took four months to build,” Eddington said. “This is the only venue like this in the area.”
The new Barn at Farm Country is 22 thousand square feet, has a stage, dressing room and full kitchen, Eddington said. It is intended to be a multi-purpose indoor facility used for concerts, plays, company parties, dances and other entertainment events.
“Mary Kay used the barn last Saturday, and a lot of events are scheduled during the Olympics,” Eddington said.
Chris Peterson, drummer for Sunfall Festival, said Thanksgiving Point called them up and asked them to be the first to play there, which is a big honor.
Eddington said the Barn has been open for events since December, but Saturday is the first live band performance. The concert will be a new experience for the band as well.
“This is a different type of show for us because we usually play in smaller clubs,” said George Brunt, bassist for the band.
Patterson agreed the band usually plays for an average crowd of 50 to 200 people in local clubs and smaller bars.
Brunt said with the dwindling number of venues in the Provo area, it is becoming harder to find places to play.
The show at Thanksgiving Point is an opportunity for fans from Provo and Salt Lake to come see the band. Brunt said that he would call up his friends and relatives to come see this show.
“People that wouldn”t usually come to a show, should, because it”s a more cultural sort of thing,” Brunt said.
Hudson River School, from Salt Lake City is opening for Sunfall Festival.
“Hudson River School is a really solid band, and this show is a good opportunity to catch quality indie pop from Salt Lake City,” Patterson said.
The show begins at 7 p.m. at the Barn at Farm Country. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 325-SEAT or at the Thanksgiving Point box office.
