Klaberheads to take the stage at Oxford series

The Klaberheads performs about 40 concert dates a year. CONTRIBUTED

The Klaberheads performs about 40 concert dates a year. CONTRIBUTED

Oxford’s Summer Concert Series is underway at Uptown Park. This Thursday, July 6, hometown favorites, The Klaberheads will make their debut in Oxford, with everything from German favorites to big-band numbers and more.

“This is our first time playing for the Oxford Summer Concert Series, so we are really excited to bring The Klaberheads to them. We are hoping to do a very fun, interactive, multi-genre show. We are going to do some big-band tunes like ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra, but we are also going to do some big horn tunes, like Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears, and we’re going to put a little bit of German in there,” said Erika Klaber, The Klaberheads leader and business manager.

Klaber, a Fairfield resident, said the band typically performs about 40 concert dates a year. She said it seems like wherever the band travels to, they continue to pick up or gain more Klaberhead fans.

“What’s so great is they are so involved with the show. They dance, they sing and they are great supporters. They bring positive energy, and we feed off of that, and I think they feed off of us, so it’s a very mutually beneficial relationship,” Klaber said.

Klaber’s grandfather, Franz Klaber Sr. founded the band in the 1930’s. As a multi-generational family group, many of Klaber’s family members continue to join her on stage, including her father, mother, husband and daughter.

“We are excited to bring a variety of musical styles within one concert up to Oxford,” Klaber said.

Kim Daggy, operations manager from the Oxford Visitors Bureau, said this is the 35th year for the sponsor-driven the Summer Concert Series. On average, several hundred attendees up to 3,000 attendees (for the Community Picnic, this year on Aug. 31) enjoy the weekly series.

A selection committee makes recommendations as far as the band lineup, so there is input from the community on who plays the series, she said.

“I think Oxford is very welcoming, and there is a huge sense of community. I’m not born and raised in this community, but I’m very proud to be here, and to be a part of all that Oxford is about,” Daggy said.

She said, “There’s a huge sense of comradery and we embrace the student body and the excitement they bring when the academic year is here. We love that we have a lot of local businesses, surrounded by generational family farming. It’s just a very small-town feel. It’s hard to describe.”

Contact this contributing writer at gmwriteon@aol.com.


How to go

What: Oxford Summer Concert Series

Where: Uptown Park

When: 7-9:30 p.m. Thursdays

Cost: Free

More info: www.enjoyoxford.org

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