Hello fellow farner fans,

Me and my sons, Derek and Ryan headed out from Georgia to Punta Gorda, Florida on friday April 21st. We stayed at days inn at Alma, ga that night. We got up early to head to Florida, my boys had never seen Mark Farner in concert. My daughter, Heather went with me back in nov.2004 to jacksonville. me and the boys enjoyed the trip, we got to punta gorda around 4:40 pm, stopped at an pilot travel store to get directions to the block party where Mark Farner was playing.

A nice cashier gave us directions to the concert site downtown near Marion street. we got parked across from the block party and walked to the entrance. we got the program and read that we only had a few minutes to find the stage where mark farner and the Classic Rock all Stars were playing.

We made our way thru the big crowd and found the stage, me and my sons made our way all the way down to the stage. we were right in front row in front of the stage(way cool!!) a local radio d j was hosting. A huge crowd had gathered and they were ready to rock!!! the all stars came out and played each members songs. the all stars are mike pinera of blues image and iron butterfly fame, Peter Rivera of Rare Earth and Dennis Noda of Cannibal and the head hunters. man we got there right on time!!! the all stars brought back alot of memories with their hits.

After nearly an hour of rockin, it was time for the man himself..Mark farner. mark came out with a blue t-shirt and jeans . he sang some kind of wonderful, the locomotion, were an american band , closer to home, etc. the crowd was dancing like crazy to the funk tunes. My son Derek took pictures for me, my son derek was kind of famous that night cause he had his were an american band record album waving it around!!! Mark Farner had his tent set up for meet and greet.

Me and my boys hurried to the tent, got lucky to be the first to buy our cds and marks picture. we waited a long time, the band played some more and mark went back on stage to sing with the guys. finally the police escorted mark to the tent. Mark signed Dereks american band album and also signed his cd and autograph pic. Mark signed my cd and he signed his picture for me. derek told mark that i raised him on his music, Mark told derek that he had a good Dad!... I was all smiles!

I thanked mark for the autographs. we left and went up the interstate and got a room at days inn. we talked along time at the hotel about how mark really rocked the block party!! as an added bonus on the way back we stopped at a huge flea market, you would not believe my luck. i found the Red album LP!!!! for 1 dollar in mint condition!!!!....rock on Mark Farner...

--Mark Shrewsbury.. Milledgeville, Georgia