Troutdale becomes party central during SummerFest

Parade kicks off July 18 event, park to feature bands, booths and rides for children

By Rob Cullivan

The Gresham Outlook, Jul 8, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

file photo / The Outlook

Tom "Turkey Creek" Mannen fires a double barrel shot gun at outlaws who robbed the bank and were getting away with the loot as the old west entertainers kicked off the Troutdale Parade with an old west shoot out during the 2006 SummerFest.

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Susan Mazza-Calame plans to enlighten crowds at the Troutdale SummerFest with deeply introspective songs strummed on an acoustic guitar ringing out notes of heartfelt loss wafting on the breeze …

Oh wait, sorry, wrong musician bio. Mazza-Calame will blessedly forgo sharing her pain in order to increase your party fever at the festival, which runs from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Saturday, July 18.

An 11 a.m. parade starts at the corner of East Historic Columbia River Highway and Kendall Street and winds its way to Glenn Otto Community Park where Mazza-Calame’s band, The Reformed, takes the stage at 2:30 p.m.

The Reformed plays the music of such acts as The Beatles, The Beachboys, Martha and the Vandellas and Elton John.

“We do a lot of oldies and some folk rock and some party rock and songs from the ’90s,” she says. “We just keep expanding our repertoire, and we enjoy getting people involved.”

Hubby and friend

The Reformed started in 2007 in Vancouver when Mazza-Calame decided to put a band together for a block party. A professional musician for many years, both in California and Oregon, she has fronted her own bands, worked with big bands and performs as a duo with her husband, Larry Calame.

Larry is a pianist/keyboardist who also makes most of the charts for The Reformed. Larry has played for years as a solo performer and with various groups. He played piano for Nordstrom for several years as well.

Singing backup and some lead is Jacque Baldovin, who also sings with praise teams and choirs but loves cutting loose on rock and roll. The Reformed features four guitarists: Matt Melton, Jim Long, Don Christina and Larry Wear as well as drummer, Dee Madden.

“We pretty much like doing music that is recognizable to people,” Mazza-Calame says. “It’s sort of relating to the crowd rather than doing a lot of originals that people aren’t familiar with.”

Acts aplenty

In addition to The Reformed, other acts for SummerFest include Buttons the Clown, the Turkey Creek Desperadoes and Radio Disney.

The Desperadoes will be on hand for the 11 a.m. parade, and perform gunfights, bank robberies and fast draws, with audience participation and some special effects. Their performances include the use of period attire and props of the 1880s through the 1890s with a little Hollywood thrown in, according to www.turkeycreekdesperadoes.com.

Representatives from Radio Disney AM 1640 will appear in Glenn Otto Community Park at 3:30 p.m. to put on an upbeat dance show, as well as provide games, prizes and a chance to win a Flip Video Camcorder.

Director’s delight

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