Stackin' Eights to highlight original tunes at FA5

Local area rock band Stackin’ Eights will make a return to Owensboro’s free summer entertainment series Friday After 5, this time on the Jagoe Homes Stage in Truist Plaza at the RiverPark Center from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

The group, founded by Stevie Lee, one of the lead and rhythm guitarists and the group’s songwriter, previously performed at the event in 2022 and 2023.

“It’s progress,” Lee said of the group heading up one of the main stages this year. “We loved playing the two years that we did on the Overlook. We always had a big crowd show up and support us. We love it.

“Moving on up to the big stage is just confirmation that hard work pays off.”

Originally from South Florida near West Palm Beach, Lee found an interest in music with the likes of The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet.

“That’s pretty much the staple down there, but (I would) listen to that kind of stuff and it’s just my kind of music,” he said. “I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13 — garage bands and just the stuff that everybody does.”

Lee, who had a 14-year stint in the U.S Army as a combat medic, relocated to Evansville about six years ago upon meeting his wife, who was originally from Indiana.

Upon making the move to the Midwest, Lee decided to put a classic rock cover band together before changing gears.

“I quickly got bored with it, you might say,” he said, “so I started writing my own stuff. I’ve always been kind of inclined to lyrics but I really didn’t get serious about it until I put this band together.

“It just started coming out of me and it hasn’t stopped yet.”

Lee coins the group as a rock-and-roll band, though he said the sound of those influences from his upbringing tend to come out.

“... Anything I play, man, even classic rock, … is going sound southern,” Lee said with a laugh.

While the group has only been in existence for three years, Stackin’ Eights has been making some headway.

The group’s debut album, “Made in Georgia,” was released in 2023 after being contacted by record producer Paul Hornsby, who’s worked with the likes of the Charlie Daniels Band, the Marshall Tucker Band and Wet Willie.

“We went down to Macon, Georgia and cut that one,” Lee said, “and like any fresh, new band, we cut our teeth and learned the ropes. (Paul) was very instrumental in getting us on the right path.

“He’s still a dear friend of ours and we talk to him every day, almost.”

From there, Lee said Stackin’ Eights began performing “anywhere we could” as he continued to write more tunes.

“I have a pretty extensive catalog now as far as original material,” he said. “Probably over 100 songs now.”

On July 7, the band released its 10-track second album, “Year of the Eights,” which was recorded at Rising Sun Studios in Nashville with Jack Gavin, a producer who played with the Charlie Daniels Band for 14 years.

Besides getting the album complete, Lee said the band left the studio with something more.

“Jack actually plays on the album. He played on every song,” Lee said. “After we recorded the record, he said, ‘Hey. I think I just want to be your drummer.’ ”

And just on Sunday, the group, which consists of Lee, Gavin, Misty Dawn, Dark Mike and Preston Lee, opened up for the country rock band Blackberry Smoke at the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater in Decatur, Illinois while also recently jumping on board with Nashville-based Segno Records, which put out the band’s second album.

“... We’ve got some big things in the works …,” Lee said.

Lee said the group’s set list this evening will consist of material from both albums, while also putting in a few select covers.

“(On) this new album, … we’ve got everything from straight-up hard rock-and-roll from the Aerosmith-y kind of feel to straight into outlaw country (like) Hank Jr. and that kind of feel and everything in between,” he said. “... Every band’s gotta have their power ballad and we have one called ‘My Mountain to Climb’ and Misty really knocks that out of the park ….”

For those that decide to stop by and watch, Lee hopes they “take away good memories and go on an emotional rollercoaster with us.”

“I think if you can touch one person with something that you wrote, then you’re doing it right,” he said. “I hope our music can move people in a positive way.”

Other performances scheduled for the night include the dance, soul and R&B group Soul Circus from 8:30-11:30 p.m. on the Romain Cadillac Stage at the Kentucky Legend Pier behind the Owensboro Convention Center and Billy Wood & The Classic Country Band playing from 7-9 p.m. on the Overlook Stage.

Additionally, the free gospel music series Glenn’s Gospel on the River will return for its second time this season at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 230 J. R. Miller Blvd., with the Childress Family, Cathy and Tommy Mullins and Delnora Acuff. Steve Bridgmon will serve as emcee.

For more information and updates, visit fridayafter5.com or facebook.com/fridayafter5.