Annual pops concert at Weber State set to be a real blast — literally
The 41st annual Lindquist Pops Concert and Fireworks show will be held Sunday at Weber State University. The concert is free.
The 41st annual Lindquist Pops Concert and Fireworks show will be held Sunday at Weber State University. The concert is free.
The 41st annual Lindquist Pops Concert and Fireworks show will be held Sunday at Weber State University. The concert is free.
Crowds gather around the duck pond to enjoy the 36th annual Lindquist Family Symphony Pops and Fireworks at Weber State University in Ogden Sunday, July 13, 2014. (BRIAN NICHOLSON/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Hundreds of blankets, both big and small, patterned and plain covered the campus of Weber State University July 13, 2014 in preparation for Weber State University’s annual Lindquist Family Symphony Pops and Fireworks -- otherwise known as, the “Pops Concert”.
Hundreds of blankets, both big and small, patterned and plain covered the campus of Weber State University July 13, 2014 in preparation for Weber State University’s annual Lindquist Family Symphony Pops and Fireworks -- otherwise known as, the “Pops Concert”.
Hundreds of blankets, both big and small, patterned and plain covered the campus of Weber State University July 13, 2014 in preparation for Weber State University’s annual Lindquist Family Symphony Pops and Fireworks -- otherwise known as, the “Pops Concert”.
A family of birds swims past the reflections of fireworks during the 36th annual Lindquist Family Symphony Pops and Fireworks at Weber State University in Ogden Sunday, July 13, 2014. (BRIAN NICHOLSON/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
The 37th annual Lindquist Pops concert and fireworks show was held on July 12, 2015 at Weber State University.
The 37th annual Lindquist Pops concert and fireworks show was held on July 12, 2015 at Weber State University.
The 37th annual Lindquist Pops concert and fireworks show was held on July 12, 2015 at Weber State University.
The 37th annual Lindquist Pops concert and fireworks show was held on July 12, 2015 at Weber State University.
Crowds gather around the duck pond to enjoy the 36th annual Lindquist Family Symphony Pops and Fireworks at Weber State University in Ogden on Sunday, July 13, 2014.
The 39th annual Lindquist Pops Concert drew thousands of attendees to enjoy a night of music by the New American Philharmonic and a fireworks show at Weber State University, in Ogden, on July 16, 2017. This year's concert and fireworks display has been canceled due to COVID-19.
The 37th annual Lindquist Pops concert and fireworks show was held on July 12, 2015 at Weber State University.
The 39th annual Lindquist Pops Concert drew thousands of attendees there to enjoy a night a music by the New American Philharmonic and a fireworks show at Weber State University, in Ogden, on July 16, 2017.
The New American Philharmonic performs at the Ada Lindquist Plaza during the 36th annual Lindquist Family Symphony Pops and Fireworks at Weber State University in Ogden Sunday, July 13, 2014. (BRIAN NICHOLSON/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Crowds gather around the duck pond to enjoy the 36th annual Lindquist Family Symphony Pops and Fireworks at Weber State University in Ogden Sunday, July 13, 2014. (BRIAN NICHOLSON/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
The 39th annual Lindquist Pops Concert drew thousands of attendees there to enjoy a night a music by the New American Philharmonic and a fireworks show at Weber State University, in Ogden, on July 16, 2017.
OGDEN — This weekend, on a tiny island in the duck pond at Weber State University, a battery of 16 cannons will be lined up and ready to play their small-but-important part in a concert tradition that dates all the way back to 1978.
Now in its 41st year, the free Lindquist Pops Concert will begin at 9 p.m. Sunday, July 14, on the Ada Lindquist Plaza at Weber State University. The New American Philharmonic, directed by Mark Emile, will present an hour-long concert of patriotic music, followed by what’s billed as one of the largest fireworks displays in Utah.
Arguably, the most anticipated part of the weekend’s concert will be the orchestra’s rendition of Tchakovsky’s “1812 Overture,” complete with live cannon fire. And to punctuate the finale of that famous piece of music, the Cannoneers of the Wasatch have again been enlisted to provide artillery support.
Cannoneers of the Wasatch, based in Salt Lake City, first experimented with cannon accompaniment to music back in 1974, according to Charles Freshman, current president of the organization. But it wasn’t until 1979 that they began hooking up with the Utah Symphony to give the “1812 Overture” a little more oomph.
Freshman, who lives in Salt Lake, took the reins of the Cannoneers group back in the mid-2000s.
“The original founding members, a little over 13 years ago, were getting fairly old,” he recalled. “They figured they needed to step out of the picture, and they asked me if I would take over the responsibilities.”
Those responsibilities include a half-dozen orchestral performances throughout Utah each year, primarily with the Utah Symphony or the New American Philharmonic.
There were only six original members of the Cannoneers, according to Freshman. However, the Tchaikovsky piece calls for 16 cannon shots.
“They tried the best they could with six cannons,” Freshman said. “But the problem is, the ‘1812 Overture’ needs 16 cannons. They were trying to keep up, but it just wasn’t practical — it’s not as safe to do rapid fire.”
That’s because between each firing the cannoneers would have to “wet swab” the cannon, cleaning it out, and then reload it again.
“If you rush those things, that’s asking for a dangerous accident,” Freshman said.
Currently, the Cannoneers of the Wasatch organization has about 10 or 12 members, according to Freshman. Some members of the group have only one cannon, others as many as five or six.
Although all of the cannons are unique, Freshman estimates 95% of them use 40-millimeter rifled barrels, repurposed from World War II surplus anti-aircraft guns.
And how are they able to get the cannons to fire at the exact moment in the performance?
“You’re using an electronic igniter — some people would call it an electric match,” Freshman said. “The cannons are hooked to a keyboard, with a light and button for each cannon.”
Carolyn Thompson, as well as Freshman’s wife, Claudia, are usually the ones who fire the cannons during the performance.
“These two people in the group have listened to the ‘1812 Overture’ over and over and over, until they have it memorized,” he said.
Organizers are expecting more than 20,000 people to attend Sunday’s free concert.
Food trucks will be on hand selling refreshments to the crowd, and while there will be limited on-campus parking, the roundabouts off Harrison Boulevard and Dixon Drive will be closed to traffic. Access to campus will be via Edvalson Street, Skyline Drive, and Birch and Taylor avenues, with additional parking at the Dee Events Center.
Audience members are welcome to bring blankets or chairs, but no spaces may be saved before 6 p.m. Saturday, July 13. Items placed before that will be removed. Tarps, stakes and tent pegs are not allowed and will also be removed. No fireworks or pets of any kind are allowed on campus.
Freshman says that for the cannoneers, the annual pops concert is a nice summer tradition. Sometimes they’ll have a picnic dinner or gathering before or after the event.
Although the cannoneers sometimes fire projectiles during target competitions at a rendezvous or other historical western gathering, at symphony performances they’re shooting blanks. Freshman says they use black powder in the cannons.
“And grass clippings,” he adds. “We have somebody who mows lawns in the Morgan area, and they bring the grass clippings.”
And everyone, Freshman says, loves the “1812 Overture” with live cannons.
Well, almost everyone.
“The only ones who don’t like it is the geese and ducks on the pond,” he admitted.
One might assume that after four decades of Cannoneers of the Wasatch accompanying the symphony at the Lindquist Pops Concert, the waterfowl would have learned their lesson and take flight once 16 cannons show up at the pond. Not so, Freshman says.
“They usually wait for that first shot,” he said. “And then they’re gone.”
WHAT: Lindquist Pops Concert and Fireworks
WHEN: 9 p.m. Sunday, July 14
WHERE: Ada Lindquist Plaza at Weber State University, 3848 Harrison Blvd., Ogden
ADMISSION: Free
