There’s nothing like a little outdoor music in the evening.
Will Schmitt, a musician born and raised in Winterset, will bring his “Spirit of Chautauqua” concert series to East Lake Park’s Lion’s Pride Shelter from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 24.
“The magic of it, for me, is to meet people, and in such beautiful settings,” Schmitt said. “It has made it all the more rewarding.”
The name of the concert series is a tribute to the lively Chautauqua festivals that brought entertainment to Iowa communities a century ago. Schmitt will tour 45 counties across the state this summer.
The Osceola stop of the tour is presented by Clarke County Conservation. It is free of charge, and CDs and a tip jar will be available for donations.
Inspiration
Inspiration for the tour came to Schmitt as he was backpacking along the Pacific Crest Trail last year.
“After 700 miles of desert hiking, I reached the Sierra Nevada mountains and was awestruck by the natural beauty of the area,” he said. “I felt a deeper appreciation for the public lands of America and a curiosity about the many parks that dot the landscape in my home state. I initially thought of doing a bicycle tour but felt that by hosting concerts, I could better share the experience with others.”
More tour dates and information are available at SpiritofChautauqua.com and WilliamBorgSchmitt.com.
Musical history
Schmitt has been writing and playing for 16 years. For 10 years, he led Midwestern rock band Funks G.
Five years ago, Schmitt put his electric guitar down to work at a wilderness therapy school in Vermont and has gone on to hike more than 4,000 miles up the eastern and western parts of the United States.
Now, he best described his music as somewhere between John Denver and James Taylor — musically and storytelling-wise.
He has also gained a lot of inspiration from Paul Simon.
“It seems like a lot of the songwriters I listen to are from that era,” Schmitt said. “I find it easy to sing Simon and Garfunkel songs.”
In Osceola
Schmitt said he hasn’t been to the Clarke County area since high school but remembered going on picnics with friends at East Lake Park.
With his family-friendly show, he’s looking forward to the chance to see some old friends, as well as make new ones.
“It’s fun seeing the little kids bop their heads and the older crowd tap their feet,” Schmitt said. “It’s nice to be able to communicate so easily with a broad range of people.”