Concerts and Performances
CLICK HERE FOR POPS IN BURR PARK
Originally created in the early 2000s to build a live music scene in Downtown Dalton throughout the summer, Off the Rails is a joint effort between the Convention & Visitors Bureau, Downtown Dalton Development Authority, the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, and the Creative Arts Guild to bring amazing musical talent to the area. The performing artists and bands span across diverse genres of music featuring Bluegrass, Latin, Blues, Indie, Country, Rock, and much more.
Off the Rails kicks off in the summer, usually held every Friday with additional concerts in August and September. Performances are held outdoors at Burr Performing Arts Park in the heart of Downtown Dalton. The evening begins with local performers in the Truist Tent starting at 6:30pm. Opening acts take the Burr Park stage at 7:30pm with headliners starting at 8:30pm. All concert nights are FREE admission with wine, beer, and concessions available for purchase on-site. NO personal coolers are allowed.
Is your band interested in being a part of the Off the Rails series? Give us your info HERE!
2023 LINEUP
June 2: Steeln' Peaches: An Allman Brothers Tribute
NEW Quintet // Truist: Sam Steadman
Hosts: Barrett Properties, Starr Mathews
June 9: Regina Troupe Trio
KAMP // Truist: Dre Hilton
Hosts: Dalton/Whitfield NAACP, Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia
June 17: Banda Santa Cecilia
Uriel UMC // Truist: Grupo TRIPLE3
Hosts: Believe Greater Dalton, Dalton State College
June 24: Shakespeare in Burr Park
Two Gentlemen of Verona (Tennessee), Directed by Lane Davies
Presented by Conasauga Shakespeare Coalition
July 1: Pops in Burr Park
Featuring the Creative Arts Guild Chamber Orchestra
Arts & Crafts Area // Patriotic Favorites // Featured Soloists and Ensembles
Appearances by: Ballet Dalton
FIREWORKS!
July 7: Brandon Davis
Jericho Rose // Truist: Seth David Coley & the Rabbit Valley Boys
Hosts: Alliant Health Plans, Coldwell Banker
July 14: The Arcadian Wild
TopHouse // Truist: Kilough
Hosted by: Shaw Industries
July 21: Rumours: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute
Shugah Munny // Truist: Joe Vidalez
Host: Hamilton Health Care System
July 28: Sail On: The Beach Boys Tribute
Remembering January // Truist: As Seen On TV
Host: Tom Durkan Family, Mountain Creek Harley Davidson
August 4: The Core
Live Out Loud // Truist: Kelsi Westfall
Host: Helton Tire
September 15: Tristan Tritt
The Whole Fam Damily
Host: Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau
Creative Arts Guild Presents: Pops in Burr Park
CLICK HERE FOR THE DIGITAL PROGRAM
The Creative Arts Guild presents its third annual “Pops in Burr Park” concert in celebration of our nation’s holiday 6:30-10pm on Friday, June 30 at Burr Performing Arts Park in Downtown Dalton. The event is free and open to the public. There will be a variety of music concluding with a performance of popular patriotic arrangements by the Creative Arts Guild Chamber Orchestra and a firework display, along with flags to wave and glow necklaces to wear for all, and even a patriotic craft table for the kids. Beverages will be available for purchase.
“It has been a longtime dream of the Guild to bring an accessible orchestral music sampling to the masses as part of the Off the Rails summer music series in celebration of our nation’s holiday. In 2021, through the support of Mohawk Industries and Textile Rubber & Chemical Co. we finally got to realize that dream and the response from our community was exhilarating! This year, again through the support of our two generous presenting sponsors Mohawk Industries and Textile Rubber & Chemical Co., our Off the Rails Partners: Burr Park Arts Trust, Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, Dalton Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dalton Utilities/Optilink, Downtown Dalton Development Authority, and Engineered Floors, and endorsed by the community excitement and desire to see our inaugural event grow, we are so very thrilled to bring a full evening of celebration to our community!” said Guild’s Executive Director, Amanda Brown.
Gathering a professional orchestra is no small feat. A chamber orchestra consists of around 30 musicians. The scheduling of this many musicians alone can be quite challenging – especially around common musical events such as the 4th of July. Additionally, it can be quite costly if you think about all the professional musicians it takes to get that unmatchable, powerful, and balanced sound. The idea of offering a free concert for the community meant that this performance and rehearsal process needed to be fully supported by sponsors who understood the value of this kind of experience and offering for our community. It is through the generous support of Mohawk Industries and Textile Rubber & Chemical Co. that we have been able to realize this dream and offer this gift of music and celebration to our community.
Brown added, “Committing to a professional paid orchestra was an important goal of the Guild as we launched the idea of the Creative Arts Guild Chamber Orchestra - originally gathered in 2016 through the support of Ken and Myra White to accompany our annual Snow Queen ballet. Support for working artists (musicians included) is a core value and intentional focus of the Guild. If we want to experience artistry on this level, it is important to pay musicians for their performances as this allows them an opportunity to make a living and validates their choice to spend all of the years of study and practice that it takes to make music a viable profession.”
Looking first for local professional musicians and then expanding to regional professional musicians, the Creative Arts Guild Chamber Orchestra comprises many locally known and loved musicians. Lead by Conductor George “Smitty” Barnett, and administered by Creative Arts Guild Music Director, Lisa Elders – who will also play flute/piccolo at the event, the 2022 Pops in Burr Park Creative Arts Guild Chamber Orchestra includes thirty-one skilled musicians. Also performing with the orchestra are several accomplished area vocalists, six Creative Arts Guild and Ballet Dalton Company dancers, actor and teacher Wes Phinney performing dramatic reading, and a group of local children who will sing “This Land is Your Land”. The evening music and festivities will kick off to the backdrop of a steel drum performance by AmeriCalypso at 6:30pm, followed by some familiar tunes performed by local band Mountain Rattle at 7:30, with the Pops performance beginning at 8:30pm. The finale will be a brilliant display of fireworks to wrap up the evening! In the unlikely event of rain, the concert will move to the Spigel Pavilion at the Creative Arts Guild.
The event will be dedicated in loving memory of Bill and Annelle Gillilan, who shared a love of music, our community and our country. Bill proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1954. The program will begin with the presentation of colors and include popular and traditional Pops favorites such as Stars and Stripes Forever and 1812 Overture.
Don’t miss this heart-warming tribute to a most important American Holiday! Add it to your calendar today! More information at creativeartsguild.org.
Interested in performing at the Creative Arts Guild? Contact Music Director Lisa Elders at 706-259-1822 or lisae@creativeartsguild.org for more information.