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On a rainy Thursday evening, instead of turning up for a Belgium beer festival or a stop on the Cooperstown Beverage Trail, 1,600 people came to Brewery Ommegang in Milford with lawn chairs and umbrellas for an outdoor concert by Grammy-award winning Lyle Lovett and his Large. The Aug. 12 concert drew crowds despite all-day drizzle and being scheduled on a weekday.
Around 6:30 p.m., while people in ponchos were sipping Ommegang beers and taking seats in front of the stage constructed for the concert, organizers were running around trying to fix a generator issue.
However, by 8 p.m. the technical glitch had been resolved, the rain had stopped and mist rested on the forests and hills of the brewery’s property. The first large-scale concert at the brewery since its 1997 groundbreaking was off to a good start after only a couple of minor issues.
After an opening act by Kat Edmonson, a petite young singer-songwriter with a rich jazz voice, Lovett took the stage with violin, cello and bass players, all in black suits. The first songs were quiet, and the audience sat respectfully in their seats.
Then the stage filled with the Large Band, which at full size consists of 35 musicians and back-up singers. Couples two-stepped in the lawn to upbeat songs such as “Cowboy Man.” People sang along to “If I Had a Boat” and “She’s No Lady,” and drank beer and chatted between songs.
“I think it went fantastic,” said Ommegang Events Director Tara Aitchison in a phone interview after the concert. “Lyle Lovett put on an incredible show, and everyone seemed to be having a good time.”
Taking a break from talking to the crowd at the concert, Ommegang President and CEO Simon Thorpe said he was thrilled to be able to bring Lyle Lovett and his large band to the brewery.
“We’re very proud to be able to do something like this,” he said. “I think we knew this band would be a memorable first band.”
Aitchison said she wanted to put on a large-scale concert to share with people the brewery’s natural setting while providing quality entertainment. “We want people to be able to come here, drink good beer and see a great show,” said Aitchison. “We have a beautiful setting and we want to share that experience with everyone. We’re also huge supporters of music, arts and culture.”
People from the area joined audience members from as far away as Texas, where Lovett is from, to see the show. Some people who were somewhat familiar with Lovett’s music but not huge fans came for the chance to see a national act in the country setting.
“It’s a beautiful evening with good music and good people,” said Chris Lott of Oneonta.
“You don’t get that many chances to see a performer of this caliber.”
Lott said he only knew one of Lovett’s albums, but was impressed with the performance and enjoyed the music.
A man in a denim shirt and blue jeans with an old brown fedora atop his long white ponytail was carrying around an artist portfolio at the concert.
He, artist Kevin Hanlon of Milford, pulled out an acrylic painting of The Band drummer Levon Healm, which the musician had signed. Then he took out one of Lyle Lovett holding a bottle of Rare Vos, a beer produced at Ommegang.
“I want him to sign it. It’s one artist to another,” said Hanlon, adding that he has 65 or 70 signed paintings of musicians he’s painted. “Art and music. It’s what we leave behind. Some do it in written form or through film. Art and music go together.”
Taking photographs of the crowd and the musicians was Eric Coan, who works in the marketing department at Ommegang.
“I was asked if I liked Lyle Lovett and I said ‘(heck) yeah,’” Coan said. “The scene seems to be picking up in Otsego County. It’s the best I’ve seen since I’ve lived here. I saw Steve Earle the other night and now I’m seeing Lyle Lovett. I’m really happy.”
Aitchison was equally enthusiastic about the increase in musicians coming to the area, as well as possibilities for more concerts at Ommegang.
“I think it’s great what’s happening in the Cooperstown and Oneonta are with all of the live music and national acts coming in. We’re happy to be a part of it,” she said. “We’ve already started to see who’s touring in 2011. If you book good music, people will come.”
