Wheatfield Band 50th Anniversary Show

Wheatfield’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

            On Sunday, November 21, the Community Center for the Performing Arts proudly hosts Wheatfield’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Show at the WOW Hall.

Oregon Music Hall of Fame Alumni Wheatfield will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary at The WOW Hall on Nov 21, 2021. This rare appearance will feature band members who toured and recorded with Wheatfield throughout the 70s and 80s, and again in the first decade of the 2000s. The event will showcase their vibrant, original country-rock flavored songs and their trademark vocals and instrumental variety. 

Wheatfield formed in October 1971 as a folk duo, then trio, quickly evolving into a popular country rock/bluegrass powerhouse that toured the Northwest for the next eleven years. They opened for many national acts and recorded a single in 1972, “Ashland”, and a full self-titled album produced by Norton Buffalo in 1980. Reuniting for special occasions over the following years and re-forming in the 2000s, Wheatfield released its second album in 2010 and was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in 2011.

Pete Wolfe and Will Hobbs met at the Odyssey Coffee House in Eugene.  Their first impromptu rendition of “Helplessly Hoping” met with immediate applause, and the two decidd they had something special worth pursuing.  Within a week of forming they were featured on a radio program on alternative music station KZEL, and quickly received many bookings.

Pete and Will added a lead guitarist and a bass player, and finally a drummer the following spring.  As new musicians came aboard, they added their own musicl styles to the group’s sound, and Wheatfield developed its signature penchant for musical variety – covering folk, bluegrass, country, country rock, rock and roll, and even some jazz.  Pne prerequisite of all new members was that they sing, further differentiating Wheatfield from most other bands at the time.  Most members also played multiple instruments.

In 1972, Wheatfield put out a 45, which received airplay in several markets. The A side was a war protest song written by Will, that was also featured on an album recorded at the Second Annual Willamette Valley Folk Festival.

As Wheatfield’s reputation grew, so did its geographical reach, ultimately covering the entire Northwest, from British Columbia to Montana, Idaho, Alaska, Washington and Oregon.  By the mid-70’s, Wheatfield was said to be the top unsigned band in the Northwest. Wheatfield played clubs, colleges, standalone concerts and festivals. Besides headlining in all the venues where Wheatfield played, they also frequently shared the stage with other popular artists, including Doc Watson, Maria Muldaur, Seals and Crofts, Asleep At The Wheel, Utah Phillips, Norton Buffalo, and even the Ramones. One weekend in Seattle, Wheatfield was the backup band for Bo Diddley.

In 1980, Wheatfield released a self-titled album, produced by Norton Buffalo, which also received airplay in several markets. The songs from the album and 45 are currently available on a CD, which can be ordered through their web site. In December of 1980, Wheatfield was honored with a prime time TV special that was aired throughout Oregon by Portland’s KOIN TV.

In 1982, with increased interest in their growing families, and weary of constant travel, the group disbanded. Occasionally, in the ensuing years, the band would briefly re-form for some specific gig, and in 2002, after a reunion to benefit their drummer, Ken Sawyer, who had fought cancer successfully but was left with massive medical bills, the band decided to get back together.

In 2010 Wheatfield released its second album, Odyssey, also available through the band’s website. In 2011, Wheatfield was inducted into The Oregon Music Hall of Fame. 

Wheatfield continues to play for special events and is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the following musicians:

Will Hobbs -- guitar, mandolin, harmonica, vocals, songwriter

Don Ross -- guitar, vocals

John Powell -- keyboards, guitar, vocals, songwriter

Paul Douglas -- guitar, fiddle, harmonica, vocals

Kerry Canfield -- bass, vocals, songwriter

Steve Aubrey – drums

            Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 day of show.  Doors open at 6:00 pm and showtime is 7:00.

LINKS:

Wheatfield:

            www.wheatfieldoregon.com

            www.facebook.com/Wheatfield-691872497492718

https://www.reverbnation.com/wheatfield4

Volunteer Signup: https://signup.com/go/PooYEDA