Monthly music concerts return to NMC courthouse lawn

Attendees of a 2013 Music on the Lawn session listen as the band performs. The monthly summer event returns at 7 p.m. Saturday on the New Madrid County Courthouse lawn, just off Main Street in New Madrid. Jill Bock, Staff

NEW MADRID -- For singer Jennifer Morgan, it is the atmosphere that makes Music on the Lawn special.

Children dancing.

Residents seated in lawn chairs, feet tapping in time to the music.

Stars peeking through the leaves of the trees as dusk turns to night.

Music on the Lawn returns for its second year and Morgan will be among those entertaining at the free concert, which begins at 7 p.m. Saturday on the New Madrid County Court House lawn, just off of Main Street. Also participating Saturday will be Keith Allen, Julie York, Gloria Wilderness, Tom Wills and James Barbre.

"It is nice," recalled Morgan about the once-a-month concerts. "There is no better feeling in the world than to share your music."

Morgan, who sings while Michael Spear accompanies her on his acoustic guitar, was drawn into Music on the Lawn by organizer Stanley Grissom.

According to Grissom, he began thinking about organizing local music concerts after learning about the bluegrass music played at the court house in Benton, Ky., once a month. He approached other people, who also liked the idea then brought it before the New Madrid County Commissioners.

"I told them I would be respectful of the premises so they were open to it," Grissom said.

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