Olean Star

OLEAN — There were almost too many cowboy hats and boots to count at Saturday’s Southern Tier Wounded Warrior concert at Bradner Stadium.

The fifth annual Wounded Warrior fundraiser hosted by Allegany native Col. Patrick Miller made its first appearance in Olean under sunny skies and a wide variety of country, rock and acoustic music.

Buffalo singer-songwriter Ade Adu, who blends acoustic, folk, pop and hip-hop, kicked off the music shortly after gates opened at 4 p.m.

The Nashville-based Hootz pitched in for Harper Grade, the Dallas native and American Idol alum who was a victim of the computer virus that canceled thousands of airplane trips earlier in the week.

Derek St. Holmes, the singer and guitarist with Ted Nuget’s band, performed several Nugent tunes.

Headliner Tyler Farr, a Nashville country rocker, played songs from his new EP, “Rednecks Like Me.”

Kids got to jump in a bounce house and older kids tried their chance with an obstacle course, attempting to beat the time of Col. Miller posted for a chance to win a Bills helmet. There were also raffles for Bills and Sabres memorabilia

There were also food trucks, a beer tent, dunk tank and a giant basket raffle. 

Another feature was a three-ton painted sand sculpture featuring the head of an American bald eagle with an American flag, donated by Eric Jones Studios. Many concertgoers posed for photos with the sculpture.

Benefitting from this year’s concert are Fisher House at Fort Hood, Homes For Our Troops, WNY Heroes and the St. Bonaventure University Veterans Service Program.

Col. Miller said that after he was shot 10 years ago at Fort Hood he feels a responsibility to help bring attention to wounded warriors with funds raised from the concerts.

Olean Star

OLEAN — In a change of venue, Col. Patrick Miller is bringing his annual Southern Tier Wounded Warrior concert to Olean’s Bradner Stadium Saturday.

The Allegany native, wounded 10 years ago in the Fort Hood shootings, held previous concerts at Allegany Firemens Field.

“Mayor Bill Aiello and the city welcomed us with open arms,” Miller said in an interview with the Olean Star earlier this week. 

“We’d outgrown the Allegany venue,” he said. “I’m forever an Allegany native, but at the level we’re at this year, we thought we needed a bigger space. Bradner Stadium fit the bill.”

Presale tickets are going well and have ramped up in the past two weeks, Miller said. “Right now, we’re a little ahead of last year. We usually sell another 400 to 500 tickets at the door. It should be a real good time.”

Miller said he and his local crew that have helped him run past shows settled on a more diverse lineup of artists this year.

Headlining the show is Tyler Farr, Nashville country rocker with three number 1 hits and a new EP “Rednecks Like Me.”

Derek St. Holmes, lead guitarist for Ted Nugent; Ade Adu, a Buffalo singer-songwriter who blends acoustic, folk, pop and hip-hop; Harper Grace, a Dallas native and American Idol alum, round out the bands.

Miller said he wasn’t making any promises, but that Ted Nugent has occasionally come out on stage at shows with St. Holmes. There is no guarantee he’ll be there, though.

There will be food and beverages, games, prizes, a 100-basket raffle including Bills and Sabres merchandise, a dunk tank, slide, a game of joust, and an obstacle course. If you beat Miller’s time, there will be a prize.

Also, Bills and Sabres alumni will be on hand for autographs and photos.

West Clarksville sculptor Eric Jones is working on a special sand sculpture for the Southern Tier Wounded Warrior Concert. 

To buy tickets before leaving for the concert, go to this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/…/southern-tier-wounded. Tickets are $30 and are also available at the stadium gate.

Benefitting from this year’s concert are Fisher House at Fort Hood, Homes For Our Troops, WNY Heroes and the St. Bonaventure University Veterans Service Program.

Miller is always asked why he returns to the Southern Tier every year to stage a benefit concert.

“I feel I was given a second chance at life 10 years ago,” he said. “ I feel a dutty, a responsibility to help those who have helped bring attention to wounded veterans.”
Miller said he loves “the last-minute stress of getting everyone together and relying on people to get things done — like the Army. I’m excited. The blood is flowing.”

On Tuesday, Miller drove to Buffalo for television appearances promoting the Southern Tier Wounded Warrior Concert.

He and his wife Ashley and their daughter and son live in Alexandria, Va. He is stationed at Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.