Log In

Reset Password
Welcome, User
LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER
Bethlehem Catasauqua East Penn Northampton Northwestern Parkland Salisbury Whitehall-Coplay

Emmaus welcomes The Large Flowerheads

Published September 10. 2020 10:21AM
by

BY Ed Courrier

Special to The Press

After Borough Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert emceed their introduction, The Large Flowerheads sang birthday greetings to her before transporting their enthusiastic audience to another era on Aug. 23.

The Lehigh Valley-based band played three sets at the Emmaus Community Park Performing Arts Pavilion.

Named after a carton of artificial flowers spotted in a Lehigh Valley warehouse rehearsal space, the popular group brought tie-dyed music to the stage, channeling hits from the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Sonny and Cher, Jefferson Airplane and others.

The Large Flowerheads group of talented multi-instrumentalists include Maureen “Moe” Jerant on drums and guitar, Greg Geist on rhythm guitar, drums and mandolin, Billy Trexler on lead guitar and electric sitar, Dave Follweiler on keyboards and accordion and Colleen Zajacik on bass and percussion. Each took turns in the spotlight on lead vocals with fan favorites like “Green Tambourine,” “I Got You Babe,” “Delilah,” “Paint It Black” and “Hard Day’s Night.”

The event was part of the Emmaus Recreation and Entertainment Commission’s free 2020 Mini Summer Concerts Series and Movie in the Park. Due to Gov. Tom Wolf’s restrictions on outdoor events, there was a limit of 250 tickets available online through Event Brite.

Jerant acknowledged the pandemic had forced the commission to cancel the series early on. She cheerfully related how they later called back to say, “Our people are going crazy! Can we put something together?” Jerant exclaimed, “Yes!” before she led the audience in a sing-along to Petula Clark’s “Downtown.”

Jerant informed the crowd the free tickets had “sold out” within four hours and the show was being live-streamed on YouTube.

Refreshments were available at the Schnecksville-based Back Home Bagels truck manned by Josh Haines and Tyler Henry and the Bananarama Sundae trailer with Emmaus owners Robert Audibert and Shannon Van Wert selling frozen banana whips.

Other groups providing entertainment for the summertime series included the Main Street Cruisers, Scott Marshall & the Hillbilly Souls and the SwingTime Dolls.

Channeling Sonny & Cher, The Large Flowerheads sing “I Got You Babe” at the Emmaus Community Park Performing Arts Pavilion Aug. 23. From left are Dave Follweiler on keyboards, Maureen “Moe” Jerant and Billy Trexler on vocals, Greg Geist on drums and Colleen Zajacik on bass.
Front row Flowerheads fans provide tambourine accompaniment as the popular band performs “I Got a Line on You” by Spirit. From left are Annie Janowiak and her mom Elizabeth, both of Whitehall, Jennifer Heil, of Bangor, Maggie Solt, of Catasauqua and Trina Minnich, of Coplay.
Makayla Pepe, right, daughter of Emmaus Borough Manager Shane Pepe, accepts a donation from Robin Maurer, of Sellersville.
As The Large Flowerheads play “Groovin'” by the Rascals, Barto residents Bonnie and Stanley Kreider are groovin' along.
Dennis Meck, of Macungie and Barbara Cochrane, of Wescosville, dance while The Large Flowerheads belt out “(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones.
ABOVE: Another high-energy '60s song from The Large Flowerheads gets the audience up on its feet.
The Large Flowerheads sing “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones at Aug. 23 free mini concert sponsored by the Emmaus Recreation and Entertainment Commission. From left are Dave Follweiler on keyboards, Colleen Zajacik on bass, Billy Trexler on electric sitar, Maureen “Moe” Jerant on drums and Greg Geist on rhythm guitar.
LEFT: Billy Trexler, lead guitarist, performs Aug. 23. PRESS PHOTOS BY Ed Courrier