Written by Ben Cox – With a history of bringing entertainment to Brownwood, a Brown County man is planning to pull out all the stops this year.
John Smiley, a 1999 graduate of Santa Anna high school, is the man behind the Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld shows that were brought to the Brownwood Lyric stage over the last two years. He has another show coming up in January, and plans for several more.
The March Divide will be playing on the 12th at the Lyric, with special guest Josh Glen Experiment as an opening act. Fronted by Jared Putnam(see headline photo), The March Divide is a nationally touring pop-rock act based out of Austin, TX.
Smiley says he is very excited to “bring something different to the table. A new experience as far as the type of experience than regularly comes to Brownwood. March Divide is a great group and they have a fun, upbeat sound that I think a lot of people will enjoy.”
No stranger to organizing concerts, especially in Brownwood, Smiley was the brainchild behind the “Brownwoodstock concerts of the early 2000’s at Riverside Park”. Smiley says “I was playing in bands locally and involved in the music scene and was trying to bring music out here since I grew up in the area. I was always having to travel to see shows and wanted to bring them here.”
John Smiley, with his wife Amanda
The concerts with Furstenfeld happened almost organically, Smiley explains. “I was involved with the very first Blue October show in Abilene, that’s been close to 15 years ago. I had met those guys through Bowling for Soup. Jaret Reddick, Bowling for Soup’s singer, told me to check them out and I happened to be going to a festival they were playing in Austin. It blew my mind, and I caught up with them after the set. I sparked a little relationship with them there and have worked with them off and on ever since.”
Smiley says friendships in the music world often develop like that, through grass roots networking. “It’s funny, the more you get to know people in the music industry, it’s such a small circle. There’s one guy, who knows this guy, who knows this band, and come to find out they’re friends with this other guy you grew up with.”
Smiley hopes to make these shows a recurring thing, “What I would like to do is get several acts that return to Brownwood often and keep fresh faces coming in as well. There are about six shows I am in the planning stages on right now, some family well known acts and artists. I don’t want to say who just yet but they are names people will know and enjoy.”
Smiley is an employee of the Coleman ISD, and also runs Decoria Furnishings which specializes in unique decorations and furniture for home or business. He is married to Amanda and has two children.
The March Divide’s latest album is called Anticipation Pops and is receiving positive reviews from music press across the state and elsewhere. The concert is on January 12th, and tickets are available on the Lyric Website.
