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Downtown Midland welcomes The ClaimJumpers to close out The Commons Live Music Series 2024 season on September 27, 2024 from 7-9 p.m.

Performances will be set up on the Pedestrian Plaza Stage in the intersection of McDonald St. & Main St. Bring a chair (or snag one of our outdoor tables), grab a drink & food from your favorite downtown restaurant, and enjoy the music!

The ClaimJumpers are a group of veteran musicians and singers that have been playing together for the better part of two decades who have come together to play some good classic country music! The band includes bass player Jeff Walikangas and pedal steel player Tim Rowley, both who’ve been inducted into the Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame. Jeff spent the 80’s and 90’s as an in demand session musician in Nashville, originally under contract from Epic Records with his band Romeo Ridge, while Tim performed and toured with various country bands. Together they have backed up artists such as Vern Gosdin, David Allan Coe, Billy Joe Royal and Wade Hayes and have shared the stage with such legends as George Jones, Reba McEntire and George Strait.

Guitarist Scotty VanDell is an in demand session player and has recorded, toured and played for the better part of 35 years! After meeting Jeff and Donny on a recording date they began performing as a backing band for hire. Scott has shared the stage with Larry McCray, Sharree Williams and even did a last minute fill in date as lead guitarist for The Verve Pipe!

Drummer Donny Brown is a studio and touring veteran who has appeared on The Tonight Show (twice!) and Late Night with David Letterman as well as founding and touring the world with multi platinum RCA recording artists The Verve Pipe.

Newcomer to the group Jonny Butler rounds out the group with great classic country vocals that will take you right back into Prime Country radio’s golden days.

The shows that the The ClaimJumpers perform are a living musical testament to the great American country music songbook! Their experience makes a big difference and they hope you’ll join in as they please crowd after crowd with great Classic Country favorites!

2023 Commons Live Music Series Performance

This year’s Commons Live Music Series is brought to you by the Downtown Development Authority and presented by Dow Credit Union. Thank you, also, to our supporting sponsor Labadie Toyota and our community sponsors Mercantile Bank, ONe eighteen, Tri-Star Trust, and Three Rivers Corporation!