Altona's first Rainbow Concert features Country Rock tributes

ALTONA | A concert venue set against forest and fields in Altona is emerging in open space beside the Rainbow Banquet Hall. The property has been expanding as an event and versatile venue for parties, weddings and community gatherings. But a cool, calm space in between the barn and banquet hall wrapped in a forest, is about to become an outdoor concert venue. Brannoin Sample took up the family reins to grow Rainbow Banquet venue options several years ago, carrying on a tradition of food and hospitality that enjoins his grandmother's recipes. Lawns, nature paths and a picturesque covered bridge invite both leisure and adventure. And there is some room to make music. "I've been walking around the back lot for the past seven to eight years. It just seemed like a really cool space at a venue my parents started. I see adding concerts as a way to expand the business and benefit community at the same time," Sample said in a recent conversation with The Sun. "People are always saying we need more things to do in the North Country, and concerts seem like a good addition." Last summer, Sample invited an audio engineer to the Altona property for a location assessment given access for both travel and connectivity. "He said, 'you're kind of unique, you sort of have the best of both worlds here'," Sample said. With a better understanding of production needs, he launched Rainbow Concerts this summer. He bought a stage that was previously used for Higher Ground shows. Their first concert on Aug. 14 steers toward Country Rock with two tribute bands, Outlaw State of Mind performing in the style of Chris Stapleton, and Uncaged, musicians who play tribute to the Zac Brown Band. "We're just getting our feet wet with this first show," Sample said. But tickets are moving at $35 plus a $10 on-site parking fee, a value for an evening of live, outdoor concert entertainment and dancing. Rainbow Concert ticket prices at the gate will be $40. Most shows at outdoor venues range in the hundreds of dollars for lawn seats to $1,000. At boutique venues, they run around $70 to $300 each. "The fact that nowadays concerts have gotten so expensive, and you always have to drive a minimum of an hour-and-a-half, if not more, to get someplace for quality music, that's the niche we're trying to fill," Sample said. "We want to create shows with a great environment at a fair price right in our own backyard." RAINBOW LOGISTICS Rainbow Concert staff have strategically planned amenities around the concert grounds with an area for people who want to dance and an area for people to sit back in their lawn chairs and watch it all. Vendor and dining areas will be situated with a view of the stage, so concert goers don't have to miss a beat. The first 200 concertgoers through the gate get a surprise gift in this first time event. Food options on the concert menu include burgers, hot dogs, fries, street corn and sweet Rainbow Banquet catering specialties (like smothered donuts). Diners have their own Rhythm and Chew Dining Tent with kiosks for beer and lemonade. "We have a mechanical bull coming, we thought it kind of fit the theme," Sample said. "Then we'll have some fireworks to go off with a bang. Once we get one show under our belt, we'll take some notes, get some feedback and plan the next." The Rainbow Concert will be staffed with parking support crews, and EMTs will be on site along with security personnel and a handicapped accessible parking area and parking for motorcycles. Sites for porta-johns are arranged around the outdoor venue. On-site parking in the Rainbow Banquet Hall's new lot is designed in part to keep traffic flow coordinated at the Irona Road entrance. "If we end up with a shortage of parking, there is a back-up plan on land we purchased just down the road," Sample said. "I hope people don't wait until the last minute to buy their tickets, so we can plan ahead for parking and not have to execute the backup plan on the fly." The Rainbow Concert crew has worked immediate feedback into the first show. No pets are allowed in the venue, even though the staff loves pets. And it's a cashless event, requiring use of digital payment or bank cards. But cash tips are welcome for vendors. (Cashless transactions enhance security and help keep lines short.) BENEFIT FOR JANE'S FIGHT FUND A portion of the Aug. 14 Rainbow Concert proceeds will support Jane's Fight Fund, a family-run charity connected to the CVPH Foundation. The charity was established in 2019 to honor the memory of Brannoin's late mom, Jane Sample, who succumbed to cancer. To date, Jane's Fight Fund has provided $202,000 to help ease financial burdens of area families who need help with medical resources and support during cancer treatment. "We're asking people to bring their own chairs, but if somebody wants to rent a chair for $5 from the Jane's Fight Fund booth, that will be a way to contribute, too," Sample said. CONCERTS IN ALTONA Looking forward, Sample hopes to expand the concert series. "I not only want to grow the business, but also to develop it to benefit the community," he said. "We're looking at producing two concerts next year, the first on Father's Day weekend, with a show on that Saturday, June 20. We may stick with the second Thursday in August or push it to the third Thursday to offer options for local college students." The first ever Rainbow Concert is family friendly, with gates open at 5 p.m. for a show start at 6 p.m. "The Chris Stapleton tribute show begins at 8 p.m., and fireworks will go off after their encore. It will put people home by 11 p.m. "I hope people have a great time," Sample said. "We've got a great team, and I think we've been doing a good job planning. Will there be hiccups? Maybe. But we will get some feedback and do some troubleshooting for the future and grow. We really want people to enjoy the experience." FIND OUT MORE Tickets for the Rainbow Concerts are available online via the Rainbow Banquet Hall website: rainbowbanquethall.ticketspice.com/rainbowconcerts For information and updates, check the Rainbow Banquet Hall Facebook page: facebook.com/rainbow.b.hall To learn more about Jane's Fight Fund, either for support or to contribute: cvph.org/foundation/janes-fight-fund ................. TEE TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE The Jane's Fight Fund annual golf tournament in Rouses Point is a heartwarming tradition aimed at supporting families bravely facing the challenges of cancer, easing financial burdens and lifting their spirits. This event is known as more than just a day on the greens, it's a chance to make a real difference. Annual Jane's Fight Fund golf tourney play is this coming weekend, July 27, at the North Country Golf Club in Rouses Point. All proceeds from play will benefit cancer patients, with registration at 10 a.m. for an 11 a.m. shotgun start. To enter a team call the North Country Golf Course: 518-297-2582 Or sign up online: Rainbow Banquet Hall https://www.rainbowbanquethall.com/rainbowevents

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Altona's first Rainbow Concert features Country Rock tributes

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