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App Summer Fest: John Rowell of Valle Crucis Wins New Car at Chicago and Doobie Brothers Concert

By Paul T. Choate

July 27, 2012. On Wednesday, July 25, Chicago and The Doobie Brothers took the stage at the Holmes Convocation Center on the campus of Appalachian State University and one lucky man left the proud owner of a new car.

John Rowell, of Valle Crucis, entered a raffle to win a 2012 Ford Focus prior to the Wednesday night concert. There were 350 tickets available and according to Megan Stage, marketing and public relations manager with ASU’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, about 200 tickets sold. He was announced as the winner of the raffle during a break in the concert.

“They had a nice little cheering section up there at their seats,” said Stage. “I think he was pretty much stunned. They all kind of jumped up at once. It was great. We didn’t require someone to be in attendance to win but we were really hoping someone would be.”

As for the concert itself, it sold out days prior to July 25. According to Stage, the show was a big hit.

“It was phenomenal,” she said. “All 4,500 people who were there – they were dancing from the very second The Doobie Brothers took the stage until the very end.”

Stage said there was a very wide range of ages at the concert. She described the crowd as everything from young people to people “living their glory days.”

For the last 20 minutes of the concert Chicago and The Doobie Brothers played together, which Stage said was a huge hit with the crowd.

For more information on remaining events with An Appalachian Summer Festival, visit appsummer.org.