The Fair Family

A team of celebrity judges awarded first place in CAM’s 4th Annual Gospel Sing Off to The Fair Family of Rogers, Arkansas, a talented group of singing and dancing siblings ranging in age from 14 to 22. Competing before an enthusiastic audience at Branson’s Sight & Sound Theater, the four brothers and one sister won a prize purse of $1,500 and three performance slots at Silver Dollar City’s Labor Day finale of the Country Gospel Picnic.

The Kings

Placing second by the narrowest of margins was another family, The Kings of Monticello, Illinois. The talented band of seven brothers and sisters won a $1,000 prize purse.

Rachel Parker

Taking home third place and $500 was a Branson High School junior, 16 year old Rachel Parker. The prize purse was sponsored by Key Business Sponsors: Branson Tourism Center and SIX.

Attendees raved about the level of talent in this year’s event, which was opened with some powerful gospel singing by the Voices of Glory, a top 5 finalist on America’s Got Talent. Last year’s winners, Southern, also made a guest appearance to close the show. The second half of the show was opened by local saxophonist Gary Dooms performed Amazing Grace to the delight of the crowd while a love offering was collected.

For the third straight year, Bob Hubbard of the Jordanaires and the Foggy River Boys kept things on pace as the host emcee. Aside from the opening invocation and introduction of the acts, Bob also traded a few quips with judge Ronnie Page, who sings with the Downing Street Boys and is the entertainment editor for the Independent. Ronnie began his career with the Oak Ridge Boys, later joining the Chuck Wagon Gang.

The other celebrity judges for the event included classically-trained tenor George Dyer, Jak Knudsen of SIX, Monte Schisler of Hometown Radio, Michael Cole of Voices of Glory, and Ben Dutton of The Duttons, a top 10 finalist on America’s Got Talent.

Pat Davis, CAM’s Executive Director, announced to the crowd that over 1,400 families were helped by CAM in August. “This is a record number for us and is indicative of the ever-increasing need. That’s why CAM needs your support as we begin to prepare for the winter months of traditionally greater need.”

CAM Board Chairman and producer of the event Jack Burke added, “We are particularly grateful to our wonderful and supportive community, along with Sight & Sound for providing this fantastic venue for our annual Sing-Off. We’re blessed to be living in an area where neighbors truly do help neighbors.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation to CAM can call 334-1157 or visit www.christianactionministries.org.

Be entertained this Labor Day Weekend with the music of Mary Ann Daversa on piano along with her husband, Jay on bass. They’ll entertain from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Mount Pleasant Winery. 3125 Green Mountain Dr. 417-336-9463. NO cover! Bring your friends and enjoy a “Pleasant” time! 10% discount for locals during this weekend – just show your ID!

The Bank of Missouri is pleased to announce they will bring big band dancing to the Branson Veterans Homecoming Week. Jerry Ford’s 14-piece orchestra from Cape Girardeau will have six performances during the Branson Veterans Homecoming Week in November. The dances are open to all Veterans and the public.

“This is the first time big band dancing has been available to our veterans in Branson,” stated David Cook, Community Bank President of The Bank of Missouri in Branson. “The Bank of Missouri’s mission is to give back to the communities we serve. We are all proud of our veterans and happy to bring this event to them and the public.”

Ford has been entertaining audiences throughout the Midwest for decades, has performed with many national performers, and has played for the past five Missouri Inaugural Balls in Jefferson City. “We are excited to bring our big band style of music to Branson,” Ford stated.

Dances will be held at Our Lady of the Lake Parish Hall during Veteran’s Week on November 6, 7 and 8. For tickets, call 1-800-689-3969.

The Bank of Missouri is an independent community bank located at 800 Highway 248 in Branson. Other locations include the Missouri towns of Perryville, Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Marble Hill, Columbia, Springfield, Republic and Ozark.

This week, Hooray for Hump Day on Wednesday will feature guitar and bass duo Dan McMasters and Steve Black. Their music is a mix of Latin, jazz and pop standards and creates the perfect mood for a beautiful setting like Mount Pleasant’s Napa inspired tasting room. By day, Dan and Steve perform on the Showboat Branson Belle.

Dan McMasters and Steve Black will be joined by Pete Henderson this Friday & Saturday to present The New Acoustic Jazz Trio for Weekend Wine Down. Pete Henderson, formerly of the nationally known comedy duo Skyles and Henderson, will add his special “flare” to the group. The trio performs music from the 30’s and 40’s & is strongly influenced by gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. Pete currently performs with the well known 60’s group, The New Cristy Minstrels.

COMMUNITY CONCERT
At the Old Stone Church
FRIDAY, AUG. 3RD
7:00 PM
Featuring Pianist
NICK SUSI

Nick has just returned from Europe
where he spent time studying Beethoven’s works. He has extensive credentials as a concert pianist. Come and spend a wonderful evening listening to classical piano. Concerts are free of charge. The church is located on the corner of Pacific and 4th St. downtown Branson.
This program is sponsored by the Branson Arts Council and the First Presbyterian Church of Branson.

Let us help get you over your week day hump with Music and Wine specials at Mount Pleasant Winery. Join us this Wednesday, July 25th from 5 – 7 pm for HOORAY FOR HUMP DAY with the easy listening guitar music of Randy Leiter. Be sure and ask what the wine by the glass special is for this Wednesday.

Also, we welcome Dan McMasters and Steve Black for our Weekend Wine Down this Friday and Saturday from 5 – 7 pm. Get out of the heat, bring your friends and enjoy great music and wonderful wine!

Please join us every Wednesday for “Hooray for Hump Day”, as we help you “over the hump” of your work week. Starting July 18th from 5 – 7pm we are adding live music. This Wednesday please enjoy a glass of wine along with the easy listening guitar music of Randy Leiter. Ask us about your Drink Special of the Evening!

The Dark Knight Rises in Branson on the Largest IMAX Screen in the Midwest

Branson, MO – Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex will debut it’s first Hollywood IMAX DMR film presentation to a sold-out crowd at 11:59 pm on Thursday, July 19th, filling the largest IMAX screen in the Midwest, a whopping six stories tall and 83 feet wide.

The first Hollywood IMAX DMR film presented will be the highly-anticipated “The Dark Knight Rises” – an epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. In helming the film, Christopher Nolan employed IMAX cameras even more extensively than he did on “The Dark Knight,” which had marked the first time ever that a major feature film was partially shot with IMAX cameras.

“Having shot almost half the picture with large-format IMAX film cameras, it is very important to me that we show ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ in the IMAX film format wherever possible,” stated Christopher Nolan.

The Ozarks Discovery IMAX Theater inside Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex underwent an extensive upgrade process for days in preparation.

“It was a perfect time to offer IMAX DMR – The IMAX Experience – to our audiences,” said Randy Brashers, President of Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex. “The Dark Knight Rises will represent the best of what IMAX DMR can be, with nearly an hour of the movie filmed in IMAX’s native, superior 70mm format.”

IMAX’s proprietary DMR (Digital Media Remastering) process, allows conventional films to be upconverted into IMAX format. This special digital technology allows films shot on 35mm for conventional theaters to be shown in IMAX venues. In 2002, “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” and an IMAX-format re-release of the 1995 film “Apollo 13,” were the first official applications of the DMR process.

The Ozarks Discovery IMAX Theater is one of only a handful of IMAX Theaters in the country still opting to use actual 70mm film for Hollywood IMAX DMRs, instead of a smaller digital projection.

“What does this all mean” asked Brashers. “It means that our images for Hollywood IMAX DMR films have the potential to fill the entire screen, all six stories tall and 83 feet wide. It means that it’s the largest Hollywood IMAX DMR presentation in the Midwest. And it comes with all the trademarks of “The IMAX Experience” – exceptional quality, sound and clarity – it’s truly immersive.”

“The Dark Knight Rises,” after it’s midnight debut, will show daily at Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex at 1:50 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. For tickets or more information, call 800-419-4832 or visit www.bransonimax.com. Stay up to date on events, special promotions or announcements – Like Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex on Facebook!

Hooray for Hump Day! Beginning July 18th we will be adding live music every Wednesday evening from 5 – 7pm. This Wednesday we welcome Randy Leiter, who has been working for the last 7 years as a soloist for Carnival Cruise Lines. Prior to that Randy was a performer with Andy Williams at the Moon River Theatre. Before moving to Branson 11 years ago he worked several years touring the country performing his own show with his wife and 3 daughters. We hope you will be able to start enjoying “Hooray for Hump Day” at Mount Pleasant Winery!