Visit Historic Memorials of Indianapolis, Indiana

Seth Hancock: Hi everybody and welcome to another episode of Doing Indy! You know we took a week off last week but that’s because we’re coming back with a vengeance. We’re out here at The Lawn at White River State Park. As you can see behind us, a concert is getting ready to go on. All these people are starting to pile in, so we’re going to talk to this people, we’re going to find out what’s great about this place, why you should come and see a concert here. We’re also going to talk to Ron Block the guitar player from Alison Krauss and Union Station and we’re bringing you along on this episode of Doing Indy. We’re out here at White River State Park, the concerts on The Lawn tonight this is a real treat for me because I’m a huge Alison Krauss and Union Station fan. And we’ve got Ron Block who is the guitar player for Alison Krauss and Union Station. Well one of them, but Ron has been gracious enough to sit with us and talk about life on the road, coming in to Indianapolis, playing with Alison Krauss. Ron first of all thank you for coming here. Ron Block: Thanks for having me. Seth Hancock: Well we’re glad that you’re here and we’re looking forward to a great show for me tonight. First of all, I got to ask what do you think of this setup because I mean this is absolutely a great place to play a concert. Ron Block: It’s beautiful. It’s an incredible day and we spend so much time indoors in theaters and arenas that it’s nice to be able to sit outside in the sun. Seth Hancock: How does a guy from California get hooked up with a prodigy bluegrass player? Well first of all how did you even get in the bluegrass and then hooked up with Alison? Ron Block: I heard bluegrass when—I got a guitar when I was 11 in about 1975, but heard bluegrass since ’77 and then I went crazy for the banjo. And my brother used to get mad at me because that’s all I wanted to do was play. I got into that and got playing— Seth Hancock: This isn’t a quiet instrument. Ron Block: It is. Certainly people in my family hated the banjo. And then I got into a local band and eventually got in a regional band and started traveling and then I met Alison—sort of meeting up with Alison and various other people in the mid 80s, and various other guys that would eventually we’d all be in the same band together. We get together in jam at festivals and got to know each other that way. Seth Hancock: You guys got to check out Concerts on The Lawn. I mean it’s a beautiful day. It’s 84 degrees we’ve got a nice breeze blowing. I’m about ready to lose my toupee, but before we go you guys make sure that you check out Ron’s got a brand new album out. It came out June 19th, it’s called Doorway. Ron Block: Yup. Seth Hancock: And his first album was called “Far Away Land”, so Far Away Land and Doorway is kind of a C.S. Lewis fan. Ron Block: Yeah a big C.S. Lewis fan! Seth Hancock: So check out Ron. Ron has got some great stuff and also check out Alison Krauss and Union Station. But more importantly get out here and check out Concerts on The Lawn. So walking around here is one of the cool things. I ran into one of MySpace friends Fred who is out here to check out Guster. Fred, so what’s cool about coming out to White River State Park in the Concerts in The Lawn? Fred: Just having a great seats in this great wood chair to sit in and just good atmosphere. Seth Hancock: If you ha a choice, reserved or lawn what would you choose? Fred: Lawn definitely. It’s just a much more fun atmosphere to be in. Seth Hancock: Show us what it is going to look like later on after you’ve had a couple of beers and you’re dancing tonight! The floor is yours Fred. Hey girls can I earn some beads? Girls: No! Seth Hancock: I just couldn’t have them? Girls: No! Seth Hancock: Okay. Alright, I’m out here with Terry Henesey and Bob Witt. The two guys who pretty much responsible for bringing all the concerts out here, the Concert on The Lawn at White River State Park. First of all guys, this is a cool venue. I mean it’s a great place to host a concert, how did this whole idea start? Terry: We started out four years ago on a partnership with the state and the park in developing a concert series and assist them and in some of the management of some of the properties. Bob: I think it’s a great way to bring people, new people down to the park to see all of the things that are available and beyond that there’s so much to do both before and after a show with the downtown here. Restaurants, clubs whatever you want to do it’s available. Terry: Absolutely! I mean there’s all the attractions of the park. There's the NCAA, there's a museum, there's a zoo—you name it. Bob: You got shopping! You got everything. Terry: We got everything you need. Bob: It’s all right here. Seth Hancock: There’s still plenty of time for people who have never been down to the concerts to come down and check out what’s going on down here, right Bob? Bob: Absolutely! All you need to do is get on www.inwhiteriver.com and there’s a link right there to The Lawn, as well as all the other venues here at White River State Park. Gus: So this is my go to conversation starters—the questions that I usually get—I like your pants and I’m like hey do you want to make out! Seth Hancock: See that’s what I’ve been missing all this time. I needed to learn from a guy like Gus—just you wear the pants and then you come up and you say, “You want to make out”. Alright, so that wraps up Doing Indy, I got to go back and see Gus but before I do that I got to get a beer. And I want to thank everybody who made this show possible Ron Block, Terry, Bob Witt—it’s been a great time. You got to check out Concerts on The Lawn. So for Doing Indy, I’m your host Seth Hancock and remember in Indianapolis it’s always so easy to do so much— Female: You just got to go out there and do something!