Concerts to take place on four Thursdays in Town Center Park
Curtis Salgado, Hit Machine, Rockit Radio and Johnny Limbo & the Lugnuts will be the performers for the four weeks of the 2024 Wilsonville Rotary Summer Concerts, the Rotary Club of Wilsonville announced.
Salgado will be making his return to the series after a 10-year absence, last performing at the Rotary Concerts in 2014. It will be his sixth performance at the series overall. Meanwhile, Johnny Limbo & the Lugnuts will be making their 18th appearance on the Wilsonville Rotary stage. Hit Machine will be making their fifth appearance, and Rockit Radio — fresh off of playing the Champagne Ball in Portland this past New Year’s Eve — will be making their Rotary Concerts debut. Full details on the concerts can be found at WilsonvilleConcerts.com.
“This is the highest-octane lineup we’ve had,” said Rotarian Mike Bishop, club president-elect, who will serve as emcee for the concerts. “These bands are all proven draws who deliver exhilarating music performances, because we want to get people out to enjoy the music and the vibe at the Rotary Concerts. The Wilsonville crowd is a dancing crowd that really enjoys the summertime and sense of community at these shows. This is where you make new friends and rediscover old ones while having a great time.”
The Rotary Concerts began in 2002 as a thanks to the Wilsonville community for supporting the club and its projects. The series is produced by the Wilsonville Rotary Foundation and supported by numerous sponsors, including premier sponsor Wilsonville Carpet and Tile. It’s also made possible in part by a grant from the City of Wilsonville.
More on the lineup and the bands:
- July 18 — Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts — This legendary band, members of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, started as a party gag in 1978 and performs classic rock n’ roll hits from the 1950s and 1960s. The band rose to regional and then national fame, performing across the United States, opening for Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker, the Righteous Brothers, Three Dog Night, Rick Nelson, the Ventures and many others. “They have consistently been our largest draw,” series co-chair Curt Kipp said. “The public demands that we bring them back every year. We’ve had a running joke that they are Wilsonville Rotary’s House Band, but it’s the truth and they always deliver.”
- July 25 — Rockit Radio — This five-piece party band has been drawing larger and larger crowds, including the headlining slot at the most recent New Year’s Eve Champagne Ball in Portland. They play a set list that spans the decades from the 1980s to the present day. “This is a tight and compelling band that will generate enthusiasm on the stage, and we’re excited to have them play at our series for the first time,” Kipp said.
- August 1 — Curtis Salgado — The Portland-based blues and soul vocalist has amassed a national audience since starting his career in the 1970s and is a longtime member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. He continues to release exciting new material, including his latest album, Damage Control, and tour the nation to appreciative audiences. He started his career in his hometown of Eugene, where actor/comedian John Belushi saw him play while he was there filming National Lampoon’s Animal House. Belushi engaged Salgado further on the topic of blues music, inspiring the Blues Brothers skits on Saturday Night Live, which then turned into a successful album and movie. “Curtis is a legend and not much more needs to be said — he does the talking with his music,” Kipp said. “You will witness a masterclass of grit, soul and expression anytime you can hear him sing. We are so thrilled to have him back at the series this year.”
- August 8 — Hit Machine — Led by bandleader and vocalist Bart Hafeman, the seven-piece band is a local favorite with their mix of Top 40, variety and dance music. The band plays hits from all eras, as it’s not uncommon to hear “Stayin’ Alive” (Bee Gees), “Kiss” (Prince), “Dynamite” (Taio Cruz), and “You Shook Me All Night Long” (AC/DC) all in the same set. The highly charismatic Hafeman and his band are known for engaging the crowd and getting them involved in the performance. “Hit Machine drew our biggest crowd last year and it’s easy to see why,” Kipp said. “The excitement that they generate is unparalleled. Bart just has a great way of winning over any audience and making it fun for everyone. You will leave their show reluctantly, but you will leave knowing you had a great time.”
All headliner acts will perform starting at 6:30 p.m. Opening acts for these shows will perform starting at 5:30 p.m. Local singer-songwriter Rob Rainwater will open for Curtis Salgado on August 1. Other opening acts will be announced at a later date.
As an added bonus, one member from each band will be the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Wilsonville luncheon on that same day. They will tell stories from their musical careers and share some of their most interesting experiences. The speakers will include Jerry Hofmann, bandleader for Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts on July 18; Nicole Carlon, bassist for Rockit Radio on July 25; Curtis Salgado himself on August 1; and Bart Hafeman, bandleader for Hit Machine, on August 8. Details on these presentations will be posted soon at WilsonvilleRotary.com/calendar. The club meets every Thursday at 11:45 a.m. at Black Bear Diner in Wilsonville. Lunch is available off the menu. Guests are welcome to attend.
As announced separately, the concerts this year will include the opportunity to visit the Wilsonville Farmers Market right in the same park. Market vendors will set up at the south end of the park, away from the concert stage, so people can visit one or the other or both.
Think you know the history of Wilsonviille Rotary Summer Concerts? Take our quiz and see who’s played the series from 2002 to the present day: https://www.sporcle.com/games/curtek/wilsonville-concerts
For more information about the Wilsonville Rotary Summer Concerts, produced by the Rotary Club of Wilsonville, visit https://www.WilsonvilleConcerts.com.
About Rotary
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 36,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. Through Rotary’s disease treatment and prevention programs, members educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. For more information, visit Rotary.org
About the Rotary Club of Wilsonville
The Rotary Club of Wilsonville was founded in 1975 and is dedicated to friendship and service projects. The club carries out several signature service projects throughout the year, including the innovative Through A Child’s Eyes program at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, the annual Wilsonville Rotary Summer Concerts, several Good Eggs omelet and pancake breakfasts throughout the year, the Wilsonville First Citizen awards program, and much more. The club meets weekly, Thursdays at 11:45 a.m. at Black Bear Diner, and has 40 members. Log on to WilsonvilleRotary.com for more information.