Prairie Fire Ignites June Full Moon Concert

Prairie Fire Isaac Ballinger

Prairie Fire will take the stage for their Full Moon Concert debut on Tuesday June 14th, in Tonkawa Centennial Park, 301 East Grand, Tonkawa. The talented musicians perform a blend of folk, bluegrass, country, and Newgrass, echoing the sounds of the past with a youthful vibrancy.

 Prairie Fire formed in 2008, comprised of siblings who grew up in the Ponca City area– Hannah, Luke, Amy, Ashley, and Abigail Ballinger, family friend, Josiah Colle, and, more recently, younger sibling, Isaac Ballinger. Prairie Fire released two albums in 2015, have won awards in Bluegrass Band contests and have also performed at venues in Missouri and Texas.

The Full Moon Concert will feature Hannah, violin; Amy, mandolin; Ashley, guitar; Abigail, bass; and Isaac, banjo. While the group dispersed as they grew into adulthood, members of Prairie Fire have enjoyed a recent resurgence of opportunities to share their music with the community, bringing old songs back to life in revived appreciation of faith, artistry, and heritage.

The family-friendly concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Heart in the Park Pavilion and is free to all. Since bench seating in the park is limited, the public is invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Pets on leashes are welcome and restroom facilities are located across the street in the Santa Fe Depot.   Throughout the evening, concert goers may walk the world’s only heart-shaped labyrinth, and the evening concludes with the traditional group howl at the full moon.

Hannah, Amy, Ashley, and Abigail Ballinger

North Central Oklahoma Arts Council and Heart in the Park Committee of the Tonkawa Historical Society sponsor the free monthly concerts from May to October on the night of the full moon. Next month’s Full Moon Concert scheduled for Wednesday, July 13 will feature the fresh pop-rock sounds of Five Year Gap. In case of inclement weather or for more information, check for Full Moon Concert updates at https://heartinthepark.org/ and on NCOAC Facebook: www.facebook.com/TonkawaArts/