Local musician returns home to a large crowd

A full, energized crowd and a warm hometown welcome set the tone as Jory Woodis returned to the Big Horn Basin for a celebratory night of live music at the Hyart Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Woodis, who grew up in Cowley, took the stage with The Sunshine Special, marking a milestone moment for the group.

“The Sunshine Special are proud to mark the Hyart Theatre in Lovell as the home of our inaugural show and the release of our first album,” Woodis said. “It was an honor to bring some of my favorite musicians to this stage and to share that night with the people I loved first. We’re deeply grateful for the incredible support from this community. If you didn’t make it to the show, don’t worry, we’ll be back.”

By all accounts, the night delivered.

“It was amazing,” Woodis added. “I couldn’t have been happier. The band was great and the turnout was everything I hoped for.”

Organizer and promoter Keath Fenton said the response exceeded expectations.

“The turnout was great,” he said. “It was awesome to see the community come out to support something like this, and to have a line that stayed constant almost up to starting was incredible. We estimate about 350 people came.”

Fenton also highlighted the impact on students and young musicians.

“Live music is so different from music on the radio or our phones,” he noted. “Almost every defining moment for me as a music student came from live music. Creating those opportunities for students is something I really try to provide.”

The feeling was mutual. One band member remarked that while larger cities may bring bigger crowds, Lovell was the performance they would remember. With enthusiasm still building, Fenton said the wheels are already turning for a return appearance.