Cutlerville - WKTV Journal

Nashville band Williamson Branch. (Courtesy, Williamson Branch)

By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

Multi-award winning Nashville band Williamson Branch takes the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Cutler Park in Cutlerville as part of the Sounds of Summer Concert Series and a stop on their 10-Year Anniversary Tour.

“When it comes to music, there’s a closeness among family members that cannot be overstated,” according to Melody Williamson Keyes, eldest daughter and PR/Social Media manager. “Harmonies are sweeter, rhythms are tighter, and emotions are heightened. For Williamson Branch, music and family have been melding for three generations.”

Based in Nashville, their polished approach to music helped propel their single, Blue Moon Over Texas, to the No. 1 spot on the RMR Bluegrass Chart for seven weeks. They garnered the award for Valley Star Family Vocal Group of the Year and front ‘man,’ Melody Williamson Keyes, was recognized as the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Vocalist of the Year in 2020.

Since their formation 10 years ago, Williamson Branch has appeared on hundreds of stages, including The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Coffee, Country, and Cody Morning Show on WSM, Heartland TV, The Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards, Song of the Mountains TV Show, Bill Gaither’s Fall Homecoming, and Guy Penrod’s Gospel Music Showcase.

Sounds of Summer Cutlerville

Bring a lawn chair or blanket to Sounds of Summer Cutlerville … a FREE community concert series held at Cutler Park Thursday evenings in July.

Here are the remaining July concerts:

July 18 (7 p.m.): Williamson Branch, outstanding family harmonies from the award-winning Nashville band on bluegrass night.

July 25 (7 p.m.): Brena, West Michigan’s premier party band will be the Grand Finale.

Free community concerts brought to you by P. Williams Productions and Byron Township.

Justin smiles as he receives applause from the crowd.

Justin-Lee Schultz, a 10 year old talented key board player from Kalamazoo had the sounds of summer audience in amazement at the grand finale concert featuring Max Colley jazz.

The Sounds of Summer wrapped up with the Max Colley jazz group, who treated the crowd to a special 10-year-old sensation.

Max Colley surprised everyone when he presented Justin-Lee Schultz, 10, a keyboard player from Kalamazoo, to the Sounds of Summer audience during the series grand finale concert. Schultz was Colley’s special guest jazz keyboard player and part of the group’s quartet. He smiled as he received thunderous applause throughout the evening from the crowd.

The night was a perfect end to the series with an evening of live music, ice cream, and a playground for the little ones. The Debo sisters, Claire, 4, and Joelle, 2, from Jamestown, along with Trey Ewing, 3, from Dorr, were just some of the children who enjoyed all the activities.

Sounds of Summer is produced by P. Williams Productions. The program is rebroadcast on WKTV Channel 26. Check wktv.org for showtimes.