Aquapalooza Grand Lake 2017 Headliner 5th Element Is Ready to Rock

July 11, 2017 | By Martha J. Henderson/360GrandLake.com

Share by Email

Ready to Rock

Based out of Tulsa, the headline performer at Aquapalooza Grand Lake 2017 is 5th Element, an upbeat, high-energy, power-packed cover band that blends a variety of genres, from country and classic rock to blues, R&B, pop and a little bit of funk.

View Full Image

The Party Returns

Aquapalooza Grand Lake 2016 was a fantastic party and this year's event, Saturday, July 15, promises to be bigger and better than ever. Don't miss out on Grand Lake's largest on-the-water concert and raft up.

What do you need when you throw the largest on-the-water concert and raft up on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees?

Lake and boats … check.

More than 14,000 boaters and water-lovers ready for an afternoon of fun on the water … check.

Power-packed musical entertainers rocking the stage … check, check.

Presented by 360GrandLake.com, Aquapalooza Grand Lake 2017 is bringing all these elements together on Saturday, July 15, for a heck of a party.

And, no one is more amped about attending this national event that has become a popular Grand Lake tradition than Aquapalooza Grand Lake 2017 headline performer, 5th Element band.

“We are very excited about Aquapalooza,” said Christi King, lead vocalist for 5th Element. “We’d been trying for months to be chosen to perform and were excited and pleasantly surprised when we were selected.

“We’re rehearsing so we can put on an entertaining show for all ages.”

A Variety of Genres

Based out of Tulsa, 5th Element is an upbeat, high-energy, power-packed cover band that blends a variety of genres, from country and classic rock to blues, R&B, pop and a little bit of funk.

“We don’t really stick to one genre. We try to sing different types to hit every genre and age,” King said. “And, we play the songs that we love.”

This is not your standard repetitive and boring party/cover band. The members of 5th Element bring together a mixture of musical tastes and backgrounds to create a sound that is all its own.

Covering an array of favorites from the ’70s to current Top 40 hits, King promises 5th Element will put on an exciting show with something for everyone.

“We’ve got about 45 songs we will be doing that will touch on a wide variety of genres, from classic rock to R&B to country to current pop hits,” King said. “We love to have fun. We’re upbeat and energetic, so the songs will be too.”

According to King, some of the artists 5th Element will cover during its Aquapalooza Grand Lake show include Journey, Heart, Maroon 5, Chris Stapleton, Gwen Stefani, Adele, Stevie Nicks and the list goes on and on.

Musical Experience

5th Element has been playing together as a band on and off for three years; however, the band’s six members have a combined 40 years of professional musical experience.

“Aquapalooza Grand Lake is the biggest venue we’ve played together, but individually, we all have played for huge crowds,” King said. “We’ve all traveled and been on tour with different artists.

“Terry Wood, on keyboards, traveled regularly for 25-plus years with a number of different bands. Now, we’ve come off the road and all have day jobs, but we perform pretty much every weekend.”

Lead vocalist King is a professional singer who has spent more than 25 years singing in various aspects of the music industry. As a contracted studio musician in Nashville, Tenn., she provided background vocals for Amy Grant, Kim Burrell, Michael Bolton and many other recording artists.

King spent years as a live television singer, performing on networks such as TBN, CBN and NBC. She also has taken her talent international, with performances in areas of Africa, France, Sweden and England, as well as many other places across the world.

Before joining 5th Element, King was the lead singer of many regional and local bands in Nashville and Chattanooga, Tenn.

The newest member of the band, Shawn Wilson, shares lead vocals with King.

A singer/songwriter who has played in multiple bands for more than 15 years, King started his career as a lead vocalist for the group, Dogsway, whose music is available on iTunes. He then sang and played percussion for the local group, Tango & Thrash, and regional favorite band, Dueces Wild.

King describes Wilson as an “incredible vocal talent”.

A music industry veteran of more than 30 years, Terry Wood plays keyboards for 5th Element. The majority of Wood’s career was spent playing in various rock and country bands who opened for a variety of artists, including Toby Keith, Shenandoah, Joe Diffie and John Anderson.

Wood started 5th Element along with guitarist Keeth Rowland and drummer Mikey Montgomery.

Rowland has been playing guitar since 1986. As a founding member of the popular band, Stone Lily, he opened for The Hunger, whose single at the time was in the Top 5 in the nation. Rowland was also a founding member of the popular regional band, Bombdiggity.

A founding member of 5th Element, along with Rowland and Wood, Montgomery is the band’s drummer. From Muskogee, Montgomery is a professional drummer with more than 10 years of international touring experience.

Currently, Montgomery is endorsed by Zildjian cymbals, Promark sticks and Evans drum heads.

5th Element’s bass player is Darren Lightfoot. In addition to playing bass, Lightfoot is also a guitar player and songwriter.

Lightfoot was previously with the Brandon Clark Band, a successful regional country rock and red dirt band, which played multiple venues co-headlined festivals such as Country Fever and D-Fest.

5th Element has performed in a number of different venues all over Tulsa and northeastern Oklahoma, including on Grand Lake at Sharkey’s and Shangri-La.

About the Event

The largest on-the-water concert and raft up on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Aquapalooza Grand Lake 2017 is a not-to-be-missed party. It is held every year on the third Saturday in July.

This year’s eighth annual Aquapalooza Grand Lake kicks off Saturday, July 15, at 1 p.m., with the fun continuing until 5 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages.

SouthWinds Marina, in Bernice, is once again hosting the event, which is accessible by land or by Grand.

Thousands of boats are expected to gather in Horse Creek while hundreds of people will fill the designated swimming area in front of the 30-by-50 barge stage where 5th Element will perform. The barge stage is anchored about 200 feet out from SouthWinds Marina.

Boaters won’t be able to miss the stage, the huge tent or the banners flying on many of the thousands of boats expected for the event. They are invited to anchor in the cove and enjoy the concert.

For those arriving by land, SouthWinds Marina will once again be providing official event boats to shuttle people from the marina to the swim area. The shuttle boat will only go to the swim area, where riders will have to get into the water.

ParadisePads will line the swim area in front of the stage with a number of colorful, foam water rafts for swimmers to lounge on during the event.

360GrandLake.com will also provide a large number of inflatables, like beach balls and mats in the swim area. However, to know they’ll be comfortable, swimmers are encouraged to bring their own inflatables and mats.

Blazin’ B’s BBQ and 8230 Enterprises/Worley’s Ice Cream food trucks will be set up on the SouthWinds Marina property during Aquapalooza Grand Lake. Whether you’re hungry for a barbecue sandwich or a tastefully twisted ice cream cone, the food trucks will have a wide variety of options to satisfy anyone’s appetite.

The Aquapalooza Grand Lake concert is free; however, there will be a charge for the shuttle ride to the event. All shuttle riders must purchase a $5 bracelet at SouthWinds Marina before getting on the boat. The bracelet is good for the entire day, and may be purchased at SouthWinds Marina.

Life jackets also will be required for everyone riding on the shuttle boats, regardless of age. In addition, no animals will be allowed in the swim area or on the shuttle boats.

Prine reminds people riding the shuttle boats that bringing keys, billfolds and cellphones into the swim area is done at their own risk.

Located at 28693 South 4533 Road, in Bernice, SouthWinds Marina will also have parking available during Aquapalooza. There is a $5 fee for parking a car. For those needing to launch their boats at the marina, there is $15 fee, which covers both the use of the ramp and parking for their vehicle and trailer.

Only cash will be accepted for the shuttle boat bracelets and parking.

SouthWinds Marina has overnight boat slips available on a first-come, first-served basis for $40 each. For reservations, call the marina at (918) 256-8650. Primitive camping sights also are available for $40 a night at SouthWinds Marina.

Aquapalooza Grand Lake organizers rely solely on local Grand Lake businesses to sponsor the event and provide the free fun. Sponsors for Aquapalooza Grand Lake 2017 include Grand Nation Responsible Recreation, Monkey Island RV, The Parrot Steakhouse and Grill, Current Pride Electric and Design, Austin Brown State Farm Insurance Agency, Dream Catcher Resorts, Jones Hardware & Supply, Langley Sonic Drive-In, Old Glory Fireworks and REC Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative.

Aquapalooza Grand Lake sponsors also include Pier 13, Southern Darlin's Boutique, Paradise Pads, Walker’s Hardware and Lumber, The Lighthouse Supper Club, Stuff’ns Cafe, Zach’s Audio FX and Rough Water Docks.

Other sponsors for the on-the-water concert and raft up are Port Martin, Patriot Pharmacy, MarineMax Grand Lake, The Dam Rec Park, Grand Splash Marketing, Native Knot, SouthWinds Marina, ZFX Marina Audio and Graphics and JeffM Photography.