The Rylan Strong Wheels of Hope fundraiser at Red Barrel is less than a month out and it will include the reunion of a local favorite band which hasn’t performed together in more than 20 years.
“This is the first time performing together in 24 years,” said Heath Allen of his Fabulous Blue Aces. “I’m so happy to be back together with the guys. We’ve all tried playing outside of the band and there’s nothing like when we play together.”
That’s why it didn’t take too much convincing to stage a reunion when Red Barrel Managers Randy Freeman and Rachel Simon asked if they could play for the 3rd Annual Wheels of Hope Oct. 5.
The blues-inspired band also includes Steve Hamilton on guitar, Marshall Copeland on bass and Marshall Wofford on drums.
“We practiced on Blackjack across from what is now Big’s,” said Allen who started playing at age nine and was in his 20s when the band formed. “My grandparents owned a little building we called ‘the electric church.’ That’s where we started in 1995.”
From there, the band played about 600 times, opening for acts like Pat Green, Jason Bowen and The Great Divide in a number of Texas cities.
The band changed some members since it first formed and many may remember Jim Easterling also playing on organ. Allen admitted the sound will be a little different with Easterling retired but the band found a natural groove on the Red Barrel patio Sept. 8 as they met to practice.
Fabulous Blue Aces will be playing some of the favorite originals like “Tell Me What it Takes” as well as some other blues favorites they’ve always played.
The band is also proud to be opening for noted musician Jesse Jennings, another Dublin native and Heath’s cousin who played with the band when he was only 10 years old.
“He’s super good,” Allen said of his cousin. “He learned to do everything we taught him and a lot more.”
This live music is only part of the Wheels of Hope celebration and fundraiser at Red Barrel Oct. 5. The car, truck and motorcycle show will also include vendors, a corn hole tournament, a motorcycle audio shootout, face painting and more. The family friendly event will be held from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.