“Here’s a gospel song for all your heathens out there,” Chuck Mead announced to a crowd full of local heathens before diving into a song full of local references. The honkey-tonk performer’s set was part of a series of festivities to celebrate the Lawrence Arts Center’s 40 years in existence.

To celebrate, the Center decorated their space inside with 70’s-themed furniture and media, including a few episodes of era-appropriate television sitcoms playing across the theatre screen. Outside, revelers danced in the street to Truckstop Honeymoon’s hometown folk before getting down to Mead’s classic country numbers. As the night settled in and the nearly-full moon rose higher into the sky, the free celebration drew a growing crowd of celebrators who kickstarted their weekend by freely dancing their worries away under the glow of the moonlight.

Words and photos by Fally Afani