Young rockers wow the crowd at AmherstPalooza

AmherstPalooza was last Saturday at the clock tower at Richmond St. and Dalhousie St.

Nick certainly lived up to his reputation  - bringing you back in time.

The 16-year-old may be a novice when it comes to performing, but he certainly wowed an enthusiastic crowd Saturday afternoon at AmherstPalooza.

Donned in a pink jumpsuit and sporting Elvis-style sideburns, he was one of more than a dozen acts that performed on the stage in front of the clock in downtown Amherstburg. It was part of Open Air Weekends and supported by Musicland in Amherstburg.

“Getting out here and doing this really drives me,” Nick said to the audience.

AmherstPalooza began at noon with vocalist Rebecca Mickle and went well into the night. Some of the entertainers such as Norm Gemus are seasoned veterans while others, like Nick were just getting their musical feet wet.

“ I started performing about two years ago and have been playing the piano for three months,” said Nick.

That might be hard for a lot of people to believe as his opening numbers had his fingers jumping off the keyboards as he performed some classic 50’s hits by Jerry Lee Lewis including “Great Balls of Fire.”

What the young performer lacks in experience, he certainly made up for in enthusiasm. His personality was genuine and his charismatic style had everyone who listened in wanting more. Perhaps most unique about Nick is his individual style.

“Having the energy of the crowd really gets me going.”

When speaking with the River Town Times after his 30-minute set, which included playing the guitar and doing a couple of Elvis covers, he said that he is a big fan of such artists as Elvis Presley and Prince and any others who bring a strong stage presence.

“People who have good careers are doing something different,” said Nick.

Nick said he was a bit nervous coming to perform in Amherstburg but he was supported by his mother who is an artist and his father who is a musician.

Saturday’s music spectacular drew crowds throughout the day and night and brought a wide-range of talent including Mickle who performed in front of some of her hometown fans.

“I have always had a big love for musicals and Disney movies,” said Mickle.

She is professionally trained as a singer and has a degree from the University of Windsor in classical music and her master’s degree from Wayne State University. Her voice had an operatic tone to it.

“I’ve never sang opera here but if they asked me to, I would.”

One of the toughest things for any singer to do is not to get caught up in the words, a dry-throat is not something they want to experience when up on stage.

“It has happened. I just keep going and make sure I am hydrated between songs.”

This year’s AmherstPalooza also gave many a chance to hear a new emerging group, Compass Rose. Based in Amherstburg and including members of Harbouring Illusions, their style is a mixture of folk, rock and country.

Young rockers wows the crowd at AmherstPalooza

By Fred Groves