ASTROVAN Brings Community, Energy, and Magic to Loveland Stage Company

Photo by ShotByKira

ASTROVAN, a local and rising band made up of dads first and musicians second, brought something truly special to Loveland this past weekend. Thanks to the Loveland Stage Company’s new music series, the theater transformed into a space where live music, community, and creativity came together in the best possible way.

The series, led by LSC board member Gary Giver, is introducing a fresh kind of entertainment to the area. When a production closes and the stage would normally go dark before the next round of rehearsals begins, this series keeps the doors open, inviting in music lovers and creating new momentum and energy within the community.

On April 11, ASTROVAN headlined the evening, with an opening set by Mid-Life Reverie, an acoustic duo that brought melody, soul, humor, and heart to the stage.

Let me set the scene.

It is a gorgeous day in Loveland. The bike trail is full, friends and families gather at local spots, kids skip rocks along the river. There is a sweetness in the air, the kind that comes when the sun

decides to stay a while.

You grab a DORA cup from The Rose Boutique & Bar, complete with a discount and donation for attending an LSC show, and cross the street toward the theater.

You are greeted with warm smiles. Volunteers like Mary Jo Bissmeyer welcome guests at the ticket booth, while Becky Giver checks names as you enter. It already feels different. More personal. More connected.

Inside the lobby, young girls wearing ASTROVAN “Mini Van” t-shirts approach with handmade merchandise, upcycled and thoughtfully reimagined. Mid-Life Reverie’s merch table is run by their son. Everywhere you look, families are part of the experience.

This is not just a concert. It is something deeper. Family friendly, yes, but also vibrant, creative, and undeniably cool.

As you step into the auditorium, pink stage lighting designed by Clarke, a familiar LSC tech volunteer, casts a warm, electric glow. The instruments are set. A sign reading Astrovan glows from the side of the stage.

You can feel it. Something special is about to happen.

Mid-Life Reverie opens the night with an intimate acoustic set, gently drawing the audience in. Their music invites you to settle, to listen, to feel. There is laughter. There are quiet moments. Maybe even a tear or two.

Then comes the shift.

A brief intermission. More laughter. More merch. A growing buzz.

And then, unexpectedly, the “Mini Vans,” ASTROVAN’s daughters, take the stage to introduce their dads. Their joy is contagious. Their pride unmistakable.

The crowd erupts as the band takes their places.

Photos by Bob Schwartz

From the first note, ASTROVAN delivers. Mikal Crist, lead vocalist and guitarist, commands the stage with a blend of energy and tenderness, and a flair for fashion that matches the music’s vibrancy. He draws the audience in

effortlessly, leading both quiet moments and high-energy peaks.

Jacob Shidler on drums is electric, his solo pushing the night into another gear entirely. He transitions seamlessly between intensity and playfulness, even stepping into softer rhythmic moments with ease.

Steve Ashmore holds down the bass with a groove that is both steady and joyful, punctuated by a standout solo that is as catchy as it is smooth.

Eric Schroeder rounds out the sound on guitar, layering rhythm and stepping into a soaring solo that lingers just long enough to make you want more.

Throughout the night, the band moves between heartfelt songs and high-energy anthems. Then comes one of the most unforgettable moments.

An FC Cincinnati Alumni, Corben Bone takes the stage to introduce a song Mikal wrote, now played in the stadium. “3 Point Night” begins.

The kids who have been dancing at the front of the stage are instantly all in, jumping, cheering, fully alive in the moment. The crowd joins in, hands in the air, voices rising together.

It is electric.

It is joyful.

It is something bigger than just a song.

And as you look around, you start to see it clearly. In the front row, members of the Loveland Stage Company who performed alongside

ASTROVAN in the Valentine show Crushin’ It are there, cheering them on. Supporting one another. Celebrating what they created together.

Behind them, a house full of newcomers, people discovering this space, this energy, for the very first time.

This is what art is about.

Connection.

Encouragement.

Showing up for one another.

After the show, the energy lingers. Kids glow with excitement. Smiles stretch across every face. A young boy who had been dancing in the front asks for autographs. The band members laugh, surprised and humble. Jacob hands him a broken drumstick from his solo. Programs are signed. The boy steps onto the stage, taking it all in.

His mom turns and says, “We came to Crushin’ It, and that is what brought us here. It was the first thing we ever came to, and we were hooked. My son could not wait for this concert. I think he might want to be part of this someday.”

Beautiful.

All the angles.

All the waves.

All the connections.

Photos by ShotByKira

A local band of dads finding their rhythm again. Kids dancing at the front, welcomed and encouraged. A small theater trying something new and opening its doors wider. A room full of people, some returning, some brand new, all sharing in it together.

It is community.

It is art.

It is the love of something creative finding its way into the world.

What happens when you welcome into your life the thing you love, alongside the people you love, and create something to share along the way?

Something like this. An evening with ASTROVAN was not just a concert.

It was magic. And it is alive and well, right here in the heart of Loveland.

Catch ASTROVAN at their next show: Northside Tavern : Sunday, April 26th at 10pm. For more Astro-fun, follow them on instagram: @astrovanmusic

And listen to them whenever you want on Spotify, new tunes releasing in June!