JENNINGS COUNTY — Those yearning for a roadie experience are invited to join musicians Tracy Thompson and Elaine Basham on the “Funbus.”
Thompson, of North Vernon, and Basham, of Commiskey, have been making music together for six years, and perform a wide range of music including Americana, soft rock, old-time country, bluegrass and some original compositions.
As their reputation grew over time, bookings for gigs at music venues beyond Jennings County also grew. These days, they’re touring from Anderson, Indiana to Lexington, Kentucky and beyond.
Last year, Thompson decided the performers needed an additional vehicle for the transportation of instruments, sound equipment and friends to their performances. So, just before the pandemic hit, Thompson ran across a used 14-passenger school bus for sale and bought it.
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He added a few improvements, and some advertisement on the exterior, and simply named the vehicle the Funbus.
However, just when they were ready to roll, COVID-19 hit and entertainment venues were forced to shut down.
“It was terrible to watch so many music venues struggle to just survive,” Thompson said. “I think people finally just decided ‘we can’t do this anymore, we need some fun and we need music,’ and then things started picking up and we were back on the road.”
Thompson said he drove the Funbus to more than 100 performances last year.
“What is the world worth without music ? It’s music and the love of music that brings people together. We decided to get back on the road and make some music,” Thompson said.
Basham added that there were typically five or six people on the road trips with the musical duo.
According to Basham, there is no fee to ride the Funbus…though some people do make a donation for the gas, and riders often volunteer to help load and unload the equipment.
“Some people like to enjoy a few beverages during the show, and if they ride the bus they don’t have to worry about that. So it’s more fun for them, too,” she said.
Thompson said many recent bookings have been at breweries, wineries, and distilleries.
Most weeks, Basham and Thompson also perform at The Worship Center in North Vernon.
“I learned to sing with my mother at church, but I left music until I met my husband, Alan,” Basham said. “He was a musician and I got back into music in the 1980s when I was in my 30s. Now that I am a widow, singing at church is very important to me. I feel closer to him there.”
Thompson, 61, said performing is just about the music.
“It’s not about being discovered and getting rich and famous,” Thompson said. “It’s just about the love of music. Everybody needs a passion in life and my passion is music. I just like playing music for people.”
The Funbus is now loaded with masks, disinfectant and sanitizers,and is ready to travel through the last days of the pandemic.
To learn more about the Funbus, visit the Tracy Thompson Music page on Facebook.
