Mound City businesses to sponsor free concert Aug. 31

"Soulful blues" artist Nicki White will be performing in a free concert at the Mound City amphitheater on Saturday, Aug. 31. Vocalist Linda Simons and the "Thompson" band will open the show at 7 p.m.

By Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com

The Mound City Business Coalition is presenting a free concert by Nicki White, a Kansas City, Mo.-based singer-songwriter at the Mound City amphitheater on Saturday, Aug. 31. White, who is described as a soulful blues artist, is an in-demand performer in restaurants and clubs around the metro area.

A quartet of Linn County musicians will open the show at 7 p.m. Vocalist Linda Simons will perform a selection of hits from the ’70s to begin the show. She will be backed by Suzanne Thompson on the piano, her husband Gary Thompson on bass, and Steve Thompson (who is not related to the couple) on drums and harmonica.

Simons, who performs at her church and other venues, said their 30-minute opening set will include songs by Carole King, Carly Simon, Three Dog Night and Billy Joel. The group has been practicing and working to pare down their set list.

“It feels good to sing along with a band,” she said. “I was thrilled to get to do this. I love to sing and perform.”

White, who had a music video produced by local filmmaker Sue Vicory along with videography by Tylor Snyder, has performed at such venues as Knuckleheads, regional wineries, and festivals. She is also a member of an all-women band called Flat Susan.

To hear some of her music, go to her website, www.nickiwhite.com or her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/nickiwhitemusic .

This is the second free concert that the Mound City Business Coalition has sponsored. Last year the organization hosted a concert by Nashville recording artist Blane Howard, who also had a music video produced in the Mound City area. The threat of bad weather moved that concert from the amphitheater to the Jayhawk Elementary School gym.