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Justin Monts, Perpetual Journey to play Parkfest this week
With summer hastening along, just three concerts remain in the 2023 Parkfest Concert Series presented by the Greencastle Civic League.
The Tuesday, July 11 installment of Parkfest will feature Justin Monts followed by Perpetual Journey.
The concert takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the Robe-Ann Park bandshell in Greencastle.
Justin Monts is a singer-songwriter from Indiana who’s been playing and writing songs for more than 20 years but has just recently started performing in public, after a decade-long struggle with mental health.
In early 2022, having watched his musical ability wither almost completely on the vine, Monts vowed to get back what had slipped away. With a renewed spirit, reconciling with his faith and daily encouragement from his wife, Kayla, he picked up his guitar and practiced nearly every day for six months, sometimes for three hours, sometimes only 10 minutes, but always with a personal theme in mind: “Anything is better than nothing.”
This led to performing in fall of 2022 during open mic night at Almost Home and reconnecting with longtime friend Derek Chastain, leading to even more positive support and playing more live music in 2023.
Looking forward to 2024, Monts’ goal is to leave his daytime job and fill his schedule with as much music as possible. With musical ability going back several generations on both sides of his family, he considers it a blessing and privilege to carry on his family’s musical traditions. He is overwhelmingly thankful for the endless amount of support from his wife, family and friends both old and new.
Perpetual Journey is a four-member string band, formed in 2021, that has branched off of Upward Journey, which is Greencastle’s own gospel string band now celebrating 25 years together.
Jerry Clark and grandson Wyatt Clark along with Dan Brush and daughter Libby Brush comprise Perpetual Journey. They chose the name “Perpetual” with the intent to let the young ones, Wyatt and Libby, shine and carry on the love of the Lord Jesus Christ and old-time gospel music.
The groups also sings original songs and several folk music favorites. All four members are singers and love to harmonize as a quartet. Wyatt picks the mandolin and acoustic guitar, and Dan also picks the acoustic guitar.
Perpetual Journey has entertained at several local gatherings and keeps a standing gig at Asbury Towers Retirement Community each month on the third Wednesday.
The band says it is very much looking forward to the Parkfest gig and will “try to pick it pretty.”
Performers for the final two Parkfest concerts of 2023 include, July 18: Him & Her, Danny Martin and the Danocasters; and July 25 (family night): Blue Flame, Bluebird Collective.