Flower power returns in 60s revival

From the birth of the hippie movement and the culture of the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, Calif., to Woodstock and Vietnam War protests, the 1960s are coming to Austin.

Grand Ole Opry Singer Colene Walters, and Denny Charnecki and his band, the DC Drifters, plan to give Austin a “history lesson set to music” when they perform the 60s musical buffet “Age of Aquarius” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3 at the Paramount Theatre.

Charnecki said the 90-minute performance includes favorites from Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, Buffalo Springfield and more, hitting on each artist, why they were big and what they did to get there. Then, actors dressed as those performers play their hits, belting them out in three-part harmonies set to a 60s light show.

“It’s really a neat, informative show,” Charnecki said. “After doing this, I learned a lot of things I didn’t even realize happened in that time period. You forget how strong and what a different style it was from previous decades.”

The show, organized by Charnecki, features several local musicians, including Paramount Theatre operations manager Scott Anderson and local singer Amanda Corey. The group first performed in April 2011 at the Radisson Hotel in Rochester. Charnecki planned another Age of Aquarius performance at the Paramount in July 2011, but that was canceled because of a lack of ticket sales, according to Jennie Germain, Paramount executive director.

Germain said they planned a variety of performances around the same time as that show, and they couldn’t promote it as well as they would have liked. But both Germain and Charnecki agree, this time should be different.

“Denny always puts on a really great show,” Germain said. “Everyone enjoys his music. He’s a really great entertainer.”

The performers will don hippie garb, and Germain said they are encouraging the audience to do the same.

“There’s no competition, but it adds to the mood,” she said.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door and $5 for students. Order tickets by calling 507-434-0934 or go to www.paramounttheatre.org.