Scott Harmony

July 17, 2011

Scott Harmony?
By Erin Crowell
Scott Haggard will perform for the first time in Northern Michigan, backed
by a band that he’s never met.
Scott Wikle and the Lonesome Fugitive Band will provide the backdrop for
Haggard’s country music performance at the Blue Pelican, in Central Lake,
on July 20.
“I’m friends with Merle and have been a fan pretty much my entire life,”
says Wikle about the visiting musician’s famous father. “Over the years we
just got to know him and his band and, along the lines, got acquainted
with Scott.”
That acquaintance started online as the two got to know each other musically.
“Scott mentioned that he and his wife had never been to Michigan before,
so I thought it would be great to arrange some shows in the area,” says
Wikle.
The two Scotts will join forces for the first time, along with the rest of
the Lonesome Fugitive group.

THE REQUEST BAND
Many know the Traverse City-based group as the “request band,” says Wikle,
noting the foursome has a 400-song playbook. “Our mainstay is the
traditional honky-tonk, but we adapt.”
Songs range from classic country to rock and blues, including covers by
Merle Haggard, George Jones, BB King, Roy Orbison and the Beach Boys.
They also play the music not heard in years.
“We had a lady come up to us the other night requesting some Statler
Brothers—which I don’t think we’ve done before—so, we pulled up ‘Flowers
on the Wall’ and the people at her table went nuts.”
Wikle says if someone requests a song, at least one band member is likely
to know it.

A FEW ORIGINALS
Wikle started the band as Nashville North in 1991. Several years later,
the group changed its name to Lonesome Fugitive and finalized its roster
that includes Martin Hanna on bass, John Kopchia on lead guitar, Brian
Sheren on drums, Bill Charbonneau on steel guitar—with occasional steel
replacement Jerry Hendrix from Manistee (no relation to Jimmy) and Wikle
rounding up lead vocals, although each member sings.
“(Kopchia) and I have written quite a few songs together,” Wikle adds
about the group’s originals. “We have a studio CD and two live CDs with
one in the works.”
When the band isn’t producing CDs and hosting artists like Scott Haggard,
they perform regularly across Northern Michigan, including The Eagles, The
Moose, VFW and AML clubs, as well as Michael’s in Ludington and the
Southside Hideout.
Wikle believes his band’s versatility will lend well to their upcoming
performance with Haggard.
“We’re very much looking forward to it. He does a fair share of his dad’s
songs, so we know the majority of them.”

Scott Wikle and the Lonesome Fugitive Band will perform with Scott Haggard
at the Blue Pelican, in Central Lake, on Wednesday, July 20. Music starts
at 3 p.m. Haggard and the Lonesome Fugitive Band will also be at the
Sizzlin Summer Series, an outdoor country concert at the Southside
Hideout, in Buckley, on July 23 (which will also include musicians Mark
Wills, Jeff Bates, Sarah Darling, Colt Ford, Kenny Olson Cartel and more).
Search The Lonesome Fugitive Band on Facebook or visit scotthaggard.info
for more.