Brown Bag Concert Series - May 2025

The first concert will be held Wednesday May 7th and continue each Wednesday at noon for all 4 Wednesdays in May! May 7th will feature the Mike Sullivan, May 14 will feature Lee Denton, May 21st will feature Alice Prophit, and May 28th will feature Ira Barger.

Brown Bag Lunch Concerts are held every Wednesday in May from noon to 1 p.m. at the Pavilion at Seventh Square in West Monroe, located directly behind the West Monroe Farmer’s Market.

The West Monroe Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series is presented by WMWO Chamber of Commerce and the City of West Monroe in partnership with Emily Nunnelee State Farm, McGuire Methodist Church, Paramount Healthcare Consultants, Homeland Bank, The Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, Newk’s Eatery, 90.3 KEDM, and the Ouachita Parish School System. Artists coordinated by Music City Studios – Northeast Louisiana’s Premier Recording Studio.

The concerts are free to the general public. Newk's Eatery will be selling bagged lunches on site which include a half sandwich, bag of chips and half dessert. Lunches are sold on a first come, first served basis. Attendees may also bring a brown bag lunch while they enjoy various musical performances. Chairs and complimentary beverages and desserts will be provided by the sponsors. The Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series will continue in West Monroe with a Fall Series on Wednesdays in September.

About the Artist:

Mike Sullivan:

Mike Sullivan graduated from West Monroe High School and attending ULM with a singing scholarship. He then trained and became a Ballroom Dance Instructor. Mike has a dance studio in West Monroe and also sings and dances all over the area. He teaches at the West Ouachita Senior Center and is Master of Ceremonies for several of their events. He has performed with The Drifters, Louise Mandrel, and many more while in California. Mike was one of the featured dancers in the movie “Dance With Me”.
His passion is entertaining and he loves what he does.

Lee Denton:

Lee Denton is a captivating solo artist who commands both the keyboard and microphone, weaving together soulful vocals and intricate melodies in his vibrant pop/rock performances. Inspired by the iconic piano artistry of Elton John, the unique flair of BØRNS, the electrifying showmanship of Michael Jackson, and the innovative spirit of Prince, Lee crafts a rich and dynamic live experience. Expect compelling original songs alongside thoughtfully chosen covers, all delivered with a passion and musicality that fills the room. From intimate settings to lively stages, Lee Denton's solo shows offer a unique and engaging musical journey.

Alice Prophit:

Alice has been performing on stage, radio, and TV since the age of 9. She’s performed in Branson, recorded in Nashville, and written and produced a Christian music CD. She also has performed in choral groups at Carnegie Hall with Lauren Daigle and Francesca Battistelli, Dailey and Vincent, and at the Dove Awards with Steven Curtis Chapman. She’s recently revived the legacy of the Twin City Jamboree and produced several performances with those early artists. Singing many styles and assisted by Rita Spillers (a local legend herself) and Ed Sawyer, Alice will present hits from country, pop, and oldies but goodies.

Ira Barger:

Ira Barger grew up in a musical family in Humphreys County, Mississippi. He is an autodidactic multi-instrumentalist and songwriter with a broad knowledge of American Traditional and Roots music, especially Blues. He spent his formative years learning his craft from well-known Blues artists in the Mississippi Delta region such as Fat Possum recording artists James “T-Model” Ford and Paul “Wine” Jones. Barger further developed his musical vocabulary as a member of The Electric Mudd, a self-styled “Swamp Boogie” jam band based in Bolivar County, MS. The band’s heavy reliance on improvisation and intuition developed Barger’s ability to collaborate with almost any ensemble. He is well-known as an accomplished acoustic and electric guitarist, drawing from influences such as Freddie King, Albert Collins, Albert King, Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Tony Rice, and Norman Blake. Barger relocated to Northeast Louisiana in 2017 and has since contributed greatly to the local music community as a session player as well as a live performer with such projects as Dead Reckoning String Band, The Killer Cane Cutters, and Hot Grits. Barger is well known as the host of a popular open Blues jam held on the third Thursday each month at Enoch’s. Barger is also Vice President and a founding member of the Ouachita River Blues Society (ORBS), a nonprofit whose mission is to promote and encourage Blues heritage in north Louisiana.

For more information about the concert series, please call the WMWO Chamber of Commerce at (318) 325-1961 or online at www.westmonroechamber.org.