All right.

We are in Elkhart today, and I have the mayor with us.

Thank you so much for joining me.

You guys are putting something amazing.

We were just here for the press release, and I have to say, this is such an exciting event.

Tell us all about it.

Well, we were able to, work with some supporters in order to put a free A-list concert.

A-list concert?

Right?

I mean, this is big stuff.

Kool and The gang and the Commodores.

All in the gang.

Okay, now, it was a little bit before my time, but those are.

Don't worry about it.

But those are classics that they.

They actually fit well.

What we're trying to get, what we're trying to do because it actually is, this is an act that defies time, because of how strong the hits were.

And so, we're pretty excited and we're pretty, because it's going to draw from all over Elkhart.

I'm sure bigger than that, even too.

Absolutely.

So we're we're pretty excited about it.

And I think it's going to be a wonderful opportunity.

And, the Elkhart Visitors and Conventions Bureau, which is which, quite frankly, should be at the table, really has decided to to jump on.

And John Hans Berger, that is does a wonderful job with that organization because this is a countywide opportunity.

It just so happens is happening in Elkhart, which is a great place to be.

Right.

Which is a very good place.

It is.

And you guys argue that point you guys have done so much over, I mean, even just your time here, but even before that, I'm just knowing the community here, bringing the community together, especially in Elkhart.

Well, the Lerner 100 is a wonderful opportunity to do so as well.

I mean, you know, we have a wonderful group that's working with the Lerner 100 and, and that committee has put together a list of activities, and this happens to be one of them.

But towards the end of the year, we have Midland coming in, which is a country band.

And, we have, we had we have movies all throughout, whether whether it was Selena, whether it was, Imitation of Life.

We have we've just had activities to say.

And the people come for it.

Yes.

This is an theatre that has, has, has, I've been a part of our community for over 100 years.

And it provides that kind of point of contact for so many different people in so many different ways.

And so for it to be celebrated in theater and music and us to be the heart of Michiana's music area.

I mean, with Selma, we make musical instruments.

And so, you know, us, a lot of the groups that come and play here, they also go in to work on Selma or have their horns made there.

Because this is that's what Elkhart is kind of a full circle.

I always like to say we punch above our weight.

Sometimes they think that's a little violent, but it's all in jest.

We punch above our weight because.

Because we people don't think that a city our size can deliver in such a big way.

And you guys are doing it.

And this is a celebration under the lights.

Are you guys going to do it here in the theaters are going to be outside.

We're going to do it outside on the central green, so we can have thousands of people out there.

Our four for July brings in about 10,000 people to our downtown.

Now they're all over.

But we believe that Central Green can handle about 5000, 6000 people.

You're going to be one of those people out there, right?

Aren't you?

I am going, come on now.

Of course am.

We're going to celebrate together.

Right.

So when is it happening?

It's going to happen September the 6th.

Okay.

So we gotta get that on our calendar now.

Yeah, yeah.

So get it on the calendar right now.

September the 6th.

It's going to be, it's going to be Commodores and, and and Cool and the gang.

And we're, we're, we're first of all honored to host them.

Sure, absolutely.

But, I think that you're going to have a people that are from, older than I to me, to younger than me and introducing the Next generation classics all doing their thing.

You know, I said dance and shoes, but guess what?

It's going to be a little bit of everything moving there.

And this is the kind of music that gives you up and moving.

But people, they can bring their lawn chairs out.

That's absolutely right.

And it's a free concert.

I want to remind people that this is so great.

I'm sure you have a lot of community support to help make that happen.

Yes, we do.

And that's, that's why it's so important for us to understand that that kind of support is what makes this alive, because we want to make sure we have everyone that has access to this.

And so we're pretty excited about it.

And you guys are going to have food trucks out there and stuff like that.

I'm food trucks.

Yeah.

You actually I should read the promo before I came that we do have food trucks with free will have on September 6th and Kool and The gang will be kicking it and and you know, you be able to eat for all day long.

I love it and enjoy the food.

And actually, I'm hopeful that it becomes a place where people are meeting and greeting each other and having just a good time in Elkhart and, and quite frankly, under the stars.

I just love what you guys are doing here in the community.

So thank you so much for putting something like this on.

We're happy to celebrate 100 years here at the Lerner, and we'll see you out here September.

Six minutes.

Come on, we got a little dance and we got a little easy.

This easy, remember?

Easy.

Like Saturday morning or Sunday morning.

It seems like Sunday morning.

Yummy.

Are you ready for what's on the other side of this needle?

Okay, this is me.

Okay, John with Elkhart County CVB.

I mean, you guys have worked hard to make this happen, right?

Absolutely.

And I have to ask, how long was the process to plan this event out specifically?

Well, this event is a part of the entire package for the Lerner 100 celebration.

This started back in late October.

Beginning of November is when we really began to think about the entire year of celebrating Lerner 100.

So this is been, almost, you know, nine, ten months in the planning initially, have two staff that have been dedicated their time to the committee, several, committees within the Lerner 100.

So whether it's marketing or just the overall planning.

So staff time, our own time, it's it's many months in the planning.

And I have to ask like how do you get Kool and the gang here?

Well, I know I think we have to know someone who knows somebody who knows somebody.

So it's like we got people for this.

So, you know, we have got a great staff here at the Lerner, and they have worked tirelessly, trying to identify acts that, you know, the whole music scene is a very different animal to try to work with.

And so to have the the stars aligned like it has to have Kool Gang and the Commodores come here.

It's it's taking a lot of work but a great time.

And you guys here in Elkhart, I feel like I mean with the jazz festival and you guys are kind of known for music now, or you're at least you are becoming known for it, right?

Like this is a thing.

Now Elkhart is known for this.

How does that play into what you're offering with this concert?

Well, I think that being a premier destination for entertainment, I think is, is something that we've worked for and strive for.

And so our history in our DNA, obviously with Jazz Fest and being the jazz, capital of the world, I mean, that's something that we own and we live in our DNA, obviously.

But to really take that not only from product to experience is what we're striving for, right?

So trying to bring that that DNA and have that be an experience not just for our residents, but also something that visitors can come and enjoy as well.

I love it all.

The more reason for people to come on out September 6th September 6th.

All right.

We'll be under the light.

Absolutely right there.

You're going to be singing.

I'll be singing and dancing.

Hopefully nobody's watching.

Dance like nobody's watching.

Come on.

That's right, that's right.

All right, let's go for the walk.

You say that now.

That's a movie where you have.

Ladies and gentlemen, how about we get Kool and the Game?