BUCYRUS – The Bucyrus Kiwanis Club hopes their newest fund-raiser makes a “splash.”
The group is bringing a dueling piano group from Cleveland – “Piano Fiasco” – to town Saturday, Oct. 15, for a concert at the Crawford County Fairgrounds youth building.
Proceeds, as in all of their fund-raisers, will benefit the new Splash Park planned for the city of Bucyrus.
“Dueling pianos has become a popular event in the last few years,” said Kiwanian Kriste Slagle, a member of the committee spearheading the event. “We’re just excited to bring something you may find in a big city right here in Crawford County.”
Bourbon Street Grill & Café from Dayton, Ohio, is catering the event, which begins with a chicken dinner at 6 p.m. The performance, featuring multi-instrumentalist Matt Johnson – the founder of “Piano Fiasco” – and classical pianist Brian Laakso, begins at 7.
Although several groups were interviewed for the gig, Slagle said Kiwanians chose “Piano Fiasco” for both their musical quality and audience participation. “The audience is very interactive. The crowd requests songs and they can play impromptu per requests.”
Johnson has entertained thousands across the country at casinos, corporate events, comedy clubs, and even on cruise ships. He learned his craft at the original dueling piano bar, “Howl at the Moon Saloon” in Cleveland, where he performed for 12 years.
Laakso, who was trained at the Cleveland Institute of Music, brings a special flair for virtuoso piano playing to his shows as well as a repertoire of some of the greatest sing-along hits ever written. He not only plays music but also teaches it to high school students.
Tickets for Dueling Pianos are $50 each, which includes dinner, and are available from a Kiwanis member or by emailing bucyrusohkiwanis@gmail.com Slagle said a table for four “baby grand” admission is also available, along with a “grand piano” table for eight are available through Oct. 1.