First online Tuesday on the Town a chart-topping hit

Elizabeth Lyons felt the disappointment of the Hampton community when Tuesday on the Town at Band Shell Park was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lyons, who has played Tuesday on the Town before, was supposed to be the first performer for this year’s series, which was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 2, but event organizers elected not to hold concerns in the park due to safety and social distancing concerns.

KLMJ, the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and event sponsors instead teamed up to bring Facebook live performances of each artist scheduled for the series to an online audience.

Lyons, a Midwest native who spent summers with her grandmother in Mason City, said she was eager to get back to Iowa visit the places and people with which she grew up. In the disappointment of being denied her return trip, Lyons found an opportunity to entertain and commiserate with Iowans who have faced similar, sudden changes of plans.

“I remember Tuesday on the Town and how the community was so respectful and kind,” she said. “To see the comments and interactions was really cool. Even though it wasn’t the same as being in Iowa and driving through the fields, I know I will get back there soon.”

Shawn Dietz, KLMJ/KQCR General Manager, said Lyons’ online performance reached 3,000 Facebook viewers and had 1,500 views in less than a day. Along with the views came support for Relay for Life, the organization that sponsor First Bank Hampton chose for the show. Dietz said the response to the new format showed that Tuesday on the Town was an event the Hampton community holds dear to its heart.

“It’s safe to say, I think, that we were able to reach at least as many people, or more, than what the traditional Tuesday on the Town event does,” he said. “Elizabeth was entertaining and fun during her presentation and it was good to be able to hear some of her stories about spending time in north central Iowa.”

Tuesday on the Town on Facebook live continues next week, June 9, with a performance by Paige King Johnson.

Newton Grotzinger, Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, said that Lyons’ performance, along with the upcoming shows, not only provided entertainment now, but gave a sense of hope and a look to the future when celebrations aren’t confined to online.

“We might not be able to sit with our friends outside to enjoy these events today, but we can look ahead knowing that we soon will,” he said.

While online performances aren’t quite the same as the sun-soaked, early evening shows at Band Shell Park, Lyons said virtual shows are equally important to the music industry and its audiences, especially during a time of such uncertainty. Lyons said she has cherished the opportunity to continue to connect with crowds throughout the pandemic, no matter the venue, as music is an escape for many.

“I immediately thought how I can use my platform and social media to connect with people and how I can, in such an emotional time, connect to everyone,” she said. “I turned to my music because I always believe that music is healing.”

Lyons said she’s had to get creative interacting with “crowds” during online performances, as artist-to-audience relationships are a majority of what makes in person concerts special. Tuesday’s show replaced asking audience members to clap along with asking them to click “Like” on the post, comment if they cheer for a certain team or ask her questions.

“Getting that engagement going helps remind myself that there are people on the other side of the screen,” she said.

At the center of Lyons’ performance was a message of strength, togetherness and hope, perfectly encapsulated by her most recent single “Brave Enough.” Lyons said throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the song has become a tribute for frontline and essential workers who risk their lives every day and a symbol that light can be found in the darkest of places. Her performance Tuesday as a whole and the song, together, let the audience know that their voices and actions can still be heard and seen.

“Music is that universal language, no matter the race, no matter the age, no matter the ethnicity, no matter the religion,” she said. “Now is the time to listen to each other, to grow in ourselves, to pause, to donate, to help and to make changes.”