Aubry Harris’ passion for live music and making memories goes from 0 to 60 as fast as anything you will find in a car lot.
The owner of Two Frogs leases Heritage Hall, which has served as a venue for countless up and coming musicians along with numerous established music acts in its rich history. Harris plans to add to that history this year with a busy concert schedule.
“This year, I am trying to book between 15 and 20 bands if not more,” he said. “It just depends how it goes. What I am going to try to do is book an older crowd, younger crowd, older crowd and younger crowd. Back-to-back, back-to-back. That way we can leave the sound and lights there and just adjust.”
Braxton Keith and guest Caden Gillard will perform this Saturday. Southall will bring its “Six String Sorrow Tour” to Ardmore on March 15, followed by a highly anticipated show with Ole 60 headlining with Nolan Taylor in the “Outta My Way Tour” on April 5. Hudson Westbrook and Reid Haughton will take the stage on April 10.
Harris said one of the things he wants to do is provide a great experience for many of the younger kids in Ardmore.
“Lately, I have seen how much fun these kids have when we do the right band,” he said. “And that last one we did with Sam Canty and Austin (Meade) was so much fun to watch. That is what I want to continue doing, getting bands that bring joy to everybody.”
That formula includes bringing in bands that are a little more established and putting an opening band in the lineup that is on the way up and letting them grow too.
Harris said he expects between 1,000 attendees to a sellout for this weekend’s show. Southall is expected to have a good following along with the Ole 60’s, who have already sold 800 tickets.
“The biggest one probably is the Ole 60’s and Hudson Westbrook right now,” Harris said. “We have offers for several others that I am very aware of. We will do Billy Bob Thornton again this year. He is huge now, everybody knows Billy Bob.”
“There is a lot of history in what we do, but on the same note, I am just looking to go back to my roots of finding the bands and letting them play,” Harris said. “Bringing people that are great and really moving up the ladder.”
Musical roots
Lining the walls of Two Frogs are pictures and guitars from numerous artists. They highlight the importance of music and the memories made in Harris’ life. Over the years, Harris said that he has enjoyed discovering bands and bringing them to Ardmore. He credits Win Patton for teaching him about the music scene.
“He was very in tune with what is going on now,” he said. “If I would have gotten on board with him for all the Stoney’s and the Casey Donahew’s, I would have been booking them all the time. I just didn’t listen, but now I am listening.”
Many of the artists that play Heritage Hall make their way to Two Frogs for a meal and to hang out. In fact, it is not uncommon to see them stop by while passing through Ardmore just to visit.
“It is just creating a vibe,” Two Frogs General Manager Justin Harris said. “Music, food and experience. Ardmore is the same all of the time. It is creating something cool for the community. Doing something fun and out of the normal. It might be on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday.”
Aubry Harris said Ardmore has a history of showing up and showing out when a popular artist hits town, regardless of which day of the week it is. Heritage Hall was recently at capacity on a Sunday for Treaty Oaks.
“The bigger the band, the more demand and the more people get on the bandwagon, the more they want to go,” he said. “Ted Nugent sold out on a Monday. The last touring show that he did was at Heritage Hall.”
Harris highlighted historic acts that have played Ardmore, including Reba McEntire and George Strait in the early 1980’s. Styx and Three Dog Night in the 1970’s. There was a dormant period for Heritage Hall leading into 2021, when Harris brought .38 Special to Ardmore.
“I know we are a small town, but fans are fans, and they will go wherever,” Harris said. “We have had everybody. The list is so long, it is crazy.”
Making memories
The game has changed in many ways since Harris began booking acts at Heritage Hall. Social media has had a profound impact on boosting artist recognition and appeal. Harris said outlets such as Tik Tok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube build a following for people who want to be entertained and subsequently attend shows where memories are made.
That is something he identifies with.
“To me, every day, I wake up and I am thinking about what new memories I can make,” Harris said. “What can I do, who can I meet, what can I see? I have met so many people just by doing what I enjoy.”
It is not always sunshine and roses as there is a financial risk that comes with concerts. Harris said there have been times he ended up losing money on a show.
“At the end of the day, I have to have something to look forward to,” he said. “Ultimately speaking, looking forward to seeing bands and bringing bands that I can be proud to look back and go, ‘I was there, man, I took care of these cats, and we had them.’
“Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, we had Ted Nugent 10 times, 12 times. We had Tom Kiefer. We had Brett Michaels 10 times. That is what life is about, and, in my head, I am just as into making my memory as I am for everybody else making their memory too.”
Those are memories that cannot be made on the internet and social media. Harris said concerts bring friends together and bring people closer together. As he has grown older, his philosophy has changed as he places more value on seeing and doing things.
“I remember all those things because I was really proud that we did something and it moved people to come here,” Harris said. “Because honestly, these small towns don’t ever get stuff like that. And it is not that there is some crazy formula. It is just a thing that people are used to the pattern.
“I like to have security, money in the bank, and to go do fun things. I want to make memories, book shows and watch people smile as there are 1,000 people in line to get in the door. It is cool.”
