Whistles and the Bells to perform at next Corbin Moonbow Nights

Bryan Simpson, the artistic talent behind Whistles and the Bells, will perform at Moonbow Nights in downtown Corbin June 14.

The second Moonbow Nights in downtown Corbin, scheduled for next Saturday, will feature a Nashville “alternative country rock” group, continuing a burgeoning tradition of eclectic music and a family-friendly atmosphere at the event.

Corbin Main Street Manager Andy Salmons said the featured band, The Whistles and the Bells, will perform on the main stage at about 7:00 during Moonbow Nights June 14. It is the second of four Moonbow Nights events planned for the year — all coincide with peak viewing times for the world famous “moonbow” at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park.

“I like to find bands that I feel like are on the rise and that are going places,” Salmons said. “I try to book them when they are still fresh and before anyone else finds out about them. I think this group will be a lot of fun. Their music is so hard to describe, but I think people will like it.”

Moonbow Nights was originally conceived as a way for downtown merchants to capitalize on the tourist opportunities presented by the moonbow, as well as local gathering. While that idea is still in play, Salmons said the event has also morphed into a “micro summer music festival” where people have a chance to hear high quality, high caliber independent bands they normally wouldn’t be exposed to.

“I like the vibe that Moonbow Nights is generating,” Salmons said. “On the whole, I think the reaction to it has been positive. It’s become a cultural asset to our community. I love to see when people I think may just hang out for the first five minutes of a show end up staying the entire time. I’ve tried to be diverse with the music and I think people appreciate that.”

Whistles and the Bells is a musical project by former Cadillac Sky lead singer Bryan Simpson. Its self-titled debut album was released in March.

Local folk rock group Kites will be the opening act.

Moonbow Nights begins at 5:00 p.m. and ends about 9:00 p.m.

Salmons said the event would feature inflatables for kids and even more vendors than the first Moonbow Nights event of the year, held last month.

In July, the 23 String Band is already booked as the featured entertainment for Moonbow Nights.

This weekend, the Corbin Main Street Program will be hosting its third City Yard Sale of the year. It is held the first Saturday of every month on Depot Street. The number of sellers has grown steadily. Salmons said about 82 people set up booths at last month’s yard sale.

“I find stuff down there every time I go,” Salmons said. “I love it. I think there is something for everybody there.”

Space is free and is given on a first-come first-served basis.

Setup is from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. The yard sale runs from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.