Honoring the Life of Local Musician Monte Jackson: “Montepalooza” Raises Thousands for Flood Relief to Close Out Henry County Summer Concert Series

Honoring the Life of Local Musician Monte Jackson: “Montepalooza” Raises Thousands for Flood Relief to Close Out Henry County Summer Concert Series

Make Some Noise

By: Kevin Vickery

The electric energy humming through New Castle, Indiana, this past weekend wasn’t just audible—it was completely undeniable. If you happened to hear the roar of guitars, drums, and community cheers echoing from the heart of downtown on Sunday, September 20, 2026, you were catching the waves of a powerful movement. Returning for its highly anticipated second year, “Montepalooza” brought a spectacular close to another successful season for the Henry County Concert Series, bringing hundreds back to the Arts Park Pavilion.

Montepalooza was originally conceived as a memorial concert to turn the local music scene’s collective grief into an explosive celebration of life. The event honors the enduring memory of Monte Jackson, a New Castle native, lifelong resident, and beloved local musician who unexpectedly passed away on June 10, 2025.

Monte was an ever-present force in the East Central Indiana music scene. A graduate of Walter P. Chrysler Memorial High School, he went on to attend Vincennes University, graduating with a degree in Architectural Drafting. He spent years teaching the trade at his old high school, but his true secondary home was on stage. He was a long-time board member of the New Castle Henry County Concert Series, hosted local jams, and played in legendary area bands like 10:01, Taxi, The Sofa Kings, Shiner, and BarneStorm. 

When he passed, his family, friends, and fellow musicians refused to let his absence turn into silence. Instead, they decided to make some serious noise. The inaugural event in September 2025 proved that New Castle was hungry for a gathering that combined grassroots musical talent with neighborhood solidarity. For this second year, the stakes were even higher, the crowd was equally hyped, and the purpose took on a powerful new layer of community urgency.

By showtime at 2:00 PM, the open seating area of the Arts Park Pavilion quickly transformed into a sea of lawn chairs, and eager faces. The weather was perfect and the air was thick with the vibrant chatter of friends, family, neighbors and rockers of all ages coming together to enjoy an exceptional afternoon of good times and good tunes.

While the music was undoubtedly the engine driving the day’s energy, the true heartbeat of Montepalooza 2026 was its mission of profound civic support. Last year’s festival focused heavily on gathering friends and healing raw wounds. This year, organizer Marty Weaver and the committee shifted the spotlight toward immediate local action. In the wake of the recent, devastating local flooding, the festival partnered with the Henry County Foundation to direct event proceeds toward the area’s flood relief fund.

The community’s response was remarkably generous. On-site donations raised nearly $2,300 for local flood victim relief, in addition to additional online donations. Another $250 was raised for the cause through the efforts of Marty’s wife, Debbie who managed the official Montepalooza shirts in addition to helping plan the entire event.

Food and refreshments were also readily available to keep the crowd energized, thanks to the tireless efforts of Lydia and Darrel Ferguson, whose work was made possible through the corporate generosity of Edward Jones Financial and drinks donated by the local Kiwanis Club. It was a beautiful reminder that rock and roll has always been at its best when it serves a cause greater than itself. 

When the music officially kicked off, the performances delivered a masterclass in classic rock history, style discovery and raw showmanship. A dedicated collective of local and regional musicians who knew and loved Monte donated their time and immense talents completely to this benefit concert.

Setting the tone for the entire afternoon, The Sofa Kings opened the show with an emotional, high-energy set. The band, which Monte loved like family, served as a foundational pillar of his musical journey. I had the opportunity to speak with an their drummer Rick Duncan who originally co-founded the band alongside Monte. He reflected on the overwhelming crowd support and what it meant to step onto that stage in memory of his longtime bandmate saying:

“Monte was a great friend and such a good guy.” Rick shared during our conversation, “I’d do anything to support or help Monte Jackson and if it means we all get together and raise some money for a fantastic cause, which I know he would have loved, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Following that powerful opening set, the stage continued to deliver heavy-hitting performances from Remedy, Dean Cline, Scott Dickson and Blue Blazes. The bands all kept the pavilion rocking and singing along to timeless classics, keeping Monte’s joyful spirit firmly anchored at the center of the festivities.

Reflecting on the importance of keeping this memory alive, Henry County Concert Series Board member Lydia Ferguson shared a sentiment that beautifully captured why the community continues to gather. Recalling her thoughts on the festival’s deep-rooted meaning, she noted:

“Monte was a dear friend, an accomplished musician and a highly respected member of the Concert Series Board. Montepalooza was an absolutely perfect way to honor him: a true reflection of how connected he was to so many artists and how much he was loved by everyone.” 

In addition to the main sets, the crowd was treated to unforgettable appearances by special guest musicians who stepped up to carry the torch, including Trish Nicholson Crowe, Sherman Stockton, Waylon Thompson, Dan Jones, Jeff Phipps  and Rick Groves. The musical brotherhood Monte built over decades took center stage, ensuring his presence was felt in every single chord struck under the pavilion.

The technical production of the event was flawlessly handled by the legendary Don Smith and Terry Brown, who went completely above and beyond to provide excellent, pristine sound for the outdoor Arts Park Pavilion as they do with all the Henry County Concert Series events.

Part of what makes Montepalooza so special is the casual, laid back atmosphere enjoyed by both the audience and artists as well. Between sets, musicians walked through the crowd, catching up with old friends, dropping bills into the flood relief collections and chatting warmly with fans. There were no distant rock-star attitudes to be found at “Montepalooza” as it was an experience where everyone in attendance was an equal participant in the celebration.

As the afternoon sun gradually dipped below the horizon, giving way to a cool September twilight, the true weight of what New Castle had accomplished became vibrantly clear. An event that began as a deeply personal way to honor a lost friend had successfully evolved into a living monument to community resilience, local pride, and mutual aid.

An event of this scale doesn’t come off without an army of support. Massive thanks belong to the Art Association of Henry County, with special appreciation extending to Vickie Bertram, Pebbles Caudill, and Greg and Nancy Dietz for their invaluable help in making the day run smoothly.

Montepalooza 2026 didn’t just make noise; it made a lasting difference. It proved that New Castle is a place where music has the power to heal, where legacy is preserved through community and where neighbors will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder to help one another through the toughest storms.

 “It was a beautiful event and I can’t think of a better way to honor the memory of our good friend, Monte Jackson,” organizer Marty Weaver shared. “He would have loved it.” 

As attendees packed up their lawn chairs and coolers, wandering back out into the quiet Indiana night, the message left behind was unmistakable: Montepalooza has firmly cemented its place as a cornerstone of the local calendar, putting an unforgettable exclamation point on the end of the concert season. The legacy of Monte Jackson lives on, louder than ever. See you next year. Peace and love.

For more information about events at The Arts Park Pavillion visit their website at www.henrycountyarts.org or donate to the Disaster Relief Fund through the following link https://hoopsinhenry.com/event/montepalooza/