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VERSAILLES--The Versailles Community Hall will once again open its doors to host a dance party with the music of American roots five-piece Uncle Ben's Remedy.
Built nearly 100 years ago, the structure has been host to countless dances, receptions, bazaars and meetings of many organizations. It is the hub of a community held tightly together by the common bonds of faith, family, and friends. It has become a rare gem in the wild where the threads of small communities seem to be tugged at by the forces of change. It is a time capsule of a simpler time, a social time when folks gathered to share stories, a few jokes, news of the area over a bit of food, beverage and entertainment.
For Friday's event, the entertainment-- Uncle Ben's Remedy--are no strangers to playing this venue. They consider this their headquarters and twice a year organize a concert for a predictably large crowd of family, friends, and visitors from all over. A large faction of the attendees, who only a few years ago had never heard of Versailles, are now dependable regulars at this show.
The sound of Uncle Ben's Remedy is rooted in the small towns of western New York, where community still matters and music is a part of every event. The boys learned to play and sing in this small town atmosphere, giving their music the honest, back porch feel of the country music they love. ?Uncle Ben's Remedy is Ben Westlund, Harmony Griffin, Shawn Huestis, Brendan O'Connor and Jimmy Royce, playing all sorts of traditional and rock n' roll instruments and stomping the floors; all while singing their hearts out in service to the song.
The band currently has four albums released of their own and one collaboration with Dunkirk native Sean Patrick McGraw. Uncle Ben's Remedy will also be showcasing some tracks from their upcoming fifth album, due out in the coming months.
Joining them for this event will be Northeastern folk-rockers Smilo & the Ghost. Fronted by Tyler Smilo, this outfit is comprised of Adam McPhillip, Jassen Wilber, and Dominick DeCecco on banjo.The band's songs share Americana country/rock DNA with Trampled by Turtles, Dawes, and Ryan Bingham, while maintaining a voice all their own.
Smilo's emotionally charged lyrics and vocals are backed up by the virtuosity of Wilber (who has toured the world with American blues guitarist Bernard Allison) and Mckillip. Their setlist moves between gritty, hard-luck foot stompers like "Nothing's Changed" and "Big Guns" to triumphant ballads like "Save Me" and "There's Nothing Left." All of which are highlights of Smilo & the Ghost live shows.
Aerialist Lily LeStrange will be performing a hoop routine during set breaks.
The Versailles Community Hall is located at 11703 Main St. on the banks of the mighty and murmuring Cattaraugus Creek.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase. $10 admission will be accepted at the door.
The proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the community at large through maintenance and repair projects throughout the area. For more information about the event, visit www.unclebensremedy.com.