This year’s Mad Bomber Run will have a few changes, namely to its music lineup.
Damaris Kunkler, program director for Thrive Allen County, said that in the past they have paid for outside musical entertainers, but this year they opted to use only local talent.
“We want to focus on people who are from around here,” she said.
The music also aims to cover a wide variety of genres to please the audience.
Kunkler will kick off the music lineup at 5 p.m. Saturday with a variety of rock and country cover songs spanning from the 1950s to the present. At 6 p.m., Christian contemporary artist Julia Martin will take the stage. Riley Herder will serenade attendees with some soulful folk music at 7 p.m., and at 8 p.m. Lowwater will headline the event, bringing alternative Americana to the stage.
Joe “Papa Joe” Evans, Humboldt resident and drummer for Lowwater, said he was looking forward to performing at the Mad Bomber Run.
Lowwater performs some cover songs, as well as original pieces. They plan to do some studio recording on the 19th.
“We put a lot of energy into it,” Evans said.
Lowwater has four members, three of whom have been together for about three years. Evans, 62, said he has been playing since he was 17, so he has played in many groups over the years, and Lowwater is his favorite.
“I just can’t say enough good things about all of them,” he said.
Dylan Boren, Iola resident and bass player for Lowwater, said he was glad the organizers decided to feature local music this year.
“There’s a lot of talent around here,” he said.
However, Boren added, he didn’t think they should completely exclude outside music at future events. Many bands have friends in other towns and participate in “gig swapping,” where they trade music venues in different towns with one another to get more coverage. He hoped the musical aspect of the Mad Bomber Run would continue to grow and include more music and more bands in the future.
“We’re very thankful for the opportunity to play,” Boren said. “It’s pretty awesome.”
