Night Owl band takes stage at The Commons

Fans of Hope’s Night Owl Country Band are gearing up for a special Halloween concert Oct. 26th at the Commons in Columbus. But it isn’t just the music they’re excited about. The evenings’ performance will be recorded as the band’s first live DVD entitled “Here to Somewhere Live.”

The show also welcomes reality television star Rupert Boneham, who is best known as a former contestant on “Survivor: Pearl Islands,” as MC for the evening.

Students from Sonya’s Dance Zone will perform a couple of Halloween-themed dance numbers to open the show, says Matt Lee, lead singer for Night Owl Country Band.

“Then Rupert will come out and introduce the band and the filming for the DVD will begin,” Lee says.

Unlike previous shows, this concert will be organized a bit differently, Lee says. Opening acts Lucy Wilson and Classically Mild, people’s choice and winner, respectively, of the Sept. 23 Columbus Got Talent show, will play alongside NOCB in an awards show type format, Lee says.

“We originally thought we would have them open,” Lee says. “But we are going to have the spotlight on one of them as they perform, then the lights will go down and come to us then back down and on to the other artists.”

Columbus resident Lucy Wilson, a sixth grader at CSA Lincoln Elementary School in Columbus, says she is looking forward to performing.

“I thought it was a great opportunity,” she says. “I’m really excited to perform.”

As she prepares for her debut on the Commons’ stage, Lucy says she anticipates performing some country favorites from artists like Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks.

Lucy's mother, Melissa, couldn’t be more proud.

“It is very exciting,” she says. “We are excited she has the opportunity to do something like this. And we are grateful to the Night Owl Country Band for inviting her.”

NOCB guitarist, Tim Dooley, says the news of Boneham’s role as announcer for the event was a bit shocking.

“It was a big surprise for me because Matt kept it under his hat until he knew for sure,” Dooley says. “I’m really looking forward to meeting Rupert.”

Tickets for the Halloween show are now available online, but are selling quickly, Lee says.

“That is big for us for tickets to be selling so quickly,” Lee says. “We were shocked.”

General admission tickets are $10 per person, but fans can gather a group and reserve a table for eight for $75, Lee says.

Over the past year the NOCB’s presence on local and regional stages has grown by leaps and bounds, including performances at the 8 Second Saloon in Indianapolis and the Alley Cat Lounge in Nashville, Tenn.

“It is getting bigger all the time,” Lee says. “We are starting to play to larger crowds and have more Facebook interaction.”

The group was recently approached by Kenny Royster, of Direct Image Nashville Recording Studio in Nashville, Tenn., to return to Nashville to record three songs for release, Lee says.

Royster is best known for his recent work with country singer Luke Combs on his 2017 release “Hurricane,” Lee says.

“We have some new music in the works,” Lee says. “Nashville songwriter, Mike Morgan, has sent us more songs to record. They are going to be more of a modern country style, but will still have our touch to them.”