Basin Summer Sounds music festival this weekend

EPHRATA — A country band with a sound as big as Little Texas will headline the 11th annual Basin Summer Sounds music festival. This year’s event is Friday and Saturday, July 18-19.

With hits like “God Blessed Texas,” “Kick A Little,” “What Might Have Been” and “Some Guys Have All the Love,” Little Texas was one of the most popular country bands of the 1990s. The group was founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1988, and topped the charts in 1993 with “My Love.”

Little Texas closes out the 2014 Basin Summer Sounds festival with a 9 p.m. performance on Saturday, July 19.

After four straight years playing second fiddle to the Saturday headliner, Ephrata’s adopted southern son Hamilton Loomis will anchor the 9 p.m. Friday slot.

The Galveston, Texas native calls North Central Washington “one of our favorite places to play,” and it’s obvious festival-goers feel the same. Loomis is one of the artists at the forefront of bringing blues-based American music into the 21st century and redefining it for a contemporary audience. His latest album, “Give It Back,” showcases a pay it forward philosophy of sharing the knowledge and information that was given to Loomis as a young musician.

Kicking off the 2014 festival is Basin Summer Sounds veteran Ian McFeron (Friday at 5 p.m.). McFeron broke into the northwest music scene when he was discovered by a Seattle radio station in 2003. The prolific songwriter released his seventh full-length album, “Time Will Take You,” in April 2013.

Tayla Lynn, featured as the Saturday headliner at 7 p.m. carries on her grandmother’s tradition – Loretta Lynn – who started her career in Bellingham, Wash. Loretta lived there 15 years and she wrote “Honky Tonk Girl” while living there. So it was fitting that Tayla Lynn start her singing career with “Honky Tonk Girl”.

Rounding out the Basin Summer Sounds 2014 lineup are Cody Beebe and the Crooks (Friday at 7 p.m.), the Matsiko World Orphan Choir (Saturday at 11 a.m.), Massy Ferguson (Saturday at 5 p.m.), and a trio of performers with local ties. Rocklyn Road Band (Saturday at 10 a.m.) features Soap Lake fiddle player/singer Danika Nolton and Moses Lake guitarist Gary Johnstad; local singer/pianist/vocal coach Mary Loeffelbein and her band takes the stage Saturday at 1 p.m. and Once Upon a Tuesday returns to the BSS lineup for a 3 p.m. Saturday set. Ephrata residents will likely recognize OUAT drummer Sandy Johnson, an EHS graduate. Johnson is joined by Tyke Reasy (lead vocals, acoustic guitar) and Keith McNeal (harmonies, bass guitar).

“One of our goals this year was really showcasing more local performers,” Basin Summer Sounds music organizer Phil Bilodeau said. “And then we have these great draws like Hamilton Loomis and Tayla Lynn. Some really good things just fell into our laps this year.

“Little Texas is one of the hardest working tour bands out there. I think we have some heavy hitters,” Bilodeau explained.

Along with non-stop music, the weekend features a Car & Cycle Show, Rotary Rim 2 Rim 3-on-3 basketball tournament, kids’ activities, food vendors, plus beverage / wine garden and the popular ‘Bottoms-Up’ beer tap.