Black Oak Arkansas brings reunion tour to Monongahela
MONONGAHELA – The 1970s Southern rock hillbilly boogie band Black Oak Arkansas will bring its reunion tour this summer to Monongahela Aquatorium, which announced the lineup for its second annual summer concert season.
The band, with 10 charting albums and a new release of old and new songs, joins a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute group, Oh What a Night, as two nationally recognized acts to play this year on the riverfront stage, which itself was revived.
“It’s been a success,” said Claudia Williams, a local businesswoman and a member of the Aquatorium Innovations board of directors.
The nonprofit last year returned a concert schedule to the aquatorium for the first time since it was built four decades ago.
“We ended the first year with a surplus. What kind of business starts out and has money in the bank at the end of the year?” Williams said. “They are such nice Saturday nights.”
Black Oak Arkansas, fronted by Jim “Dandy” Mangrum, is promoting the October release of its album, “Back Thar N’ Over Yonder,” and will perform at the Monongahela stage July 5.
The Las Vegas act Oh What a Night features Ringgold High School graduate George Solomon and will perform at the aquatorium Aug. 16.
The Pittsburgh band Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers will perform July 18 in what will be this summer’s only Friday night gig at the stage.
The remaining 10 concerts will take place on Saturdays.
The aquatorium, which seats 3,700 people, mostly served as a destination to fish or feed ducks until city council refocused about four years ago on the park hugging the Monongahela River.
The city since has used nearly $2 million in local and state money coupled with casino proceeds to rebuild the seating and construct a comfort station with a kitchen and rest rooms, which is expected to be open this season.
Williams said a Charleroi group leased the stage for this Labor Day weekend to host an arts and music festival, the details of which have yet to be announced.
The aquatorium season will kick off June 14 with Jill West & Blues Attack. For a complete concert listing, visit www.monaquatorium.org.