In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic changed the ways most everyone conducted their home and work lives, Rick Bibbee was anxious to find a way to fulfill his personal and professional passion of putting talented musical artists before receptive crowds.
He handed a microphone to an artist and broadcast the music via FM radio to people parked in vehicles at the Leitersburg Ruritan Club.
“There were eight or nine cars at the first show,” Bibbee said. “The next had a couple more.”
The experience morphed into an entire music series, which was held in its second year in a gazebo with social distancing. The series now found a home in a field across from Misty Meadow Farm Creamery near Smithsburg for its fifth year.
Bibbee has a 12-foot by 8-foot stage mobile stage where artists will perform for guests sprawled on lawn chairs and blankets. The first show in the Interludes With Impact: Friday Night Music Fest is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, June 14, featuring Mack Berry Band.
Bibbee, of Hagerstown, is the sole proprietor of Interludes With Impact. He started the endeavor by doing his own tech for shows, then expanded to promoting and today offers the 16-foot box truck with stage.
He described making a “big and bold move” to grow this summer’s music series to seven shows, which each have a charitable entity cooking hamburgers and hot dogs for revenue.
“We make it a mini food stand that pops up,” he said.
Held Fridays in June and July, the music series features, among others, Julia Neville (country rock) and Elly Cooke (heartfelt originals).
“Every one of them are people I’ve had interactions with over the years,” Bibbe said, saying the performers are naturally gifted and don’t have egos.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive at about 6:30 p.m. and bring a chair or blanket, plus a flashlight. Food sales are by donation to the night’s charity, as is entry.
Bibbee hopes attendees have fun while supporting good causes.
“Each one of the years has been a lot of really good music,” Bibbe said, “and people have been falling in love with it.”
