Honky Tonk time: Country band playing Ellwood stage

ELLWOOD CITY ― On Wednesday, Tony Barge and the Honky Tonk Heroes will be making their brand of music in the Ellwood City Community Plaza as part of Wander Ellwood.

With many of the stores open, more than 90 vendors, food trucks, breweries and wineries and the open container ban lifted, downtown is the place to be. Strolling, shopping and enjoying food and drink and meeting friends have brought life to the street. There is something for everybody including a variety of arts and crafts and entertainment.

People can bring their drinks and snacks and amble on down to the community plaza to enjoy their hometown favorites, Tony Barge and the Honky Tonk Heroes.

"It's always a pleasure to play in my hometown with my friends," Barge said.

Folks always turn out for the popular group and Barge gets requests for his Johnny Cash medley and for Willie Nelson's "Angel flying too Close to the Ground."

The group is band leader Ray Lantz aka Rockin Ray of Wampum, who plays bass and sings, Tony Lang of Freedom on guitar, Scottie White of New Castle playing the harmonica, Tony Barge of Ellwood City on guitar and vocals, and Charlie McVay, Jr. of Marion Township on the steel guitar. Playing the drums is Stefan Rodriguez, originally from Chicago but currently living in Monaca.

"We have earned the title Honky Tonk Heroes because we are all older guys who in the day played in bars and bars that were called Honky Tonks," Lantz said.

The group will be playing a variety of music from traditional country to Creedence Clearwater Revival and a bit of gospel and some deep in the heart of pure country.

"I've always sang traditional country music but I'm enjoying doing this great mix of music and I'm looking forward to seeing friends at the Plaza," Barge said.

What: Honky Tonk Heroes

Where: Ellwood City Community Plaza

When: 5:30 p.m. Aug. 16

Admission: Free. Remember to bring a chair.

The concert series is hosted by Ellwood City Community Enrichment and supported by corporate, business and individual donations.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tony Barge and the Honky Tonk Heroes ready for Ellwood City stage