There’s music in the air: free outdoor concert season begins

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 3, 2011

By Kim Mason

There's music in the air: free outdoor concert season begins

There are few gigs as coveted as a summertime outdoor concert series.  Over the years such series have grown to have large, highly diverse audiences who come to listen to music and commune with one another.  A few of the largest in our area which will kick off in June include: Bowling Green’s Concerts In The Park, Scottsville’s Arts on Main and Russellville’s Mary Ann Fisher Summer Concert Series.  What each event has in common is a causal, open air venue with a variety of free musical offerings from some of the best in local and regional talent.

Bowling Green’s series, in its 32nd season is put on by the Downtown Redevelopment Authority and dubbed the BB&T Concerts In The Park.  The series serves as a fundraising event for the organization as well as helps to fulfill their mission to “lead the growth and revitalization of the expanding downtown district”.

According to DRA Director Cheryl Blaine, “The series is constantly evolving and we try to make it better by responding to the demands of the community.”  This year, the DRA has responded to audience suggestions by increasing the length of the series through the end of August.  Concerts begin on June 1 and are held every Wednesday in June from Noon until 1:00 p.m. in Fountain Square Park.  In July and August concerts take place each Friday night from 6:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Fountain Square Park as well as from 7:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. in Circus Square Park.

In all, twenty-one local bands are featured!  Genres presented vary from the neo-soul of Noizejoi and funk/R&B of the Tyrone Dunn Experiment to the classic rock and pop of The Thornz and the acoustic country of J.D. Shelburne. Children’s activities and food vendors are available during all the concerts and you can support the DRA by purchasing a cold beer to sip during the show.

Also new this year for Concerts In The Park are partnerships with other local charities.  A last minute addition, only two are featured for 2011, but according to Blaine plans are to offer the opportunity for all concerts in the future.  July 8 will be a Duncan Hines Festival event presented by the Bowling Green Jr. Woman’s Club in Fountain Square Park and the Pontiac Oakland Club International presented by the BG Area Convention & Visitors Bureau will be featured in Circus Square Park.  “It’s their night”, said Blaine, explaining that they can feature their organization without the normal cost of insurance, park rental and advertising.  For their sponsorship and their assistance with cleanup, the organizations are provided tables for displays and to take up donations.

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To the southeast another outdoor concert series in gearing up for their season, Scottsville’s Arts On Main. Put on by the Allen County-Scottsville Arts Council, the six concert series has been going since the late 1980’s and a gazebo stage was added to accommodate the groups performing.  According to Arts Council Board Member and concert organizer John M. Thompson, “We really try to have a little bit of something for everyone.  I  hope people realize, no matter if it’s jazz, gospel, country or rock, it is going to be high quality.  I’ve been to a lot of shows over the years and some on this little stage are as great as I’ve seen anywhere.”

The concerts are free and well attended.  On June 11, July 9, August 13 and September 10 they also coincide with Second Saturdays put on by the Heart of Scottsville.  A companion event dubbed Arts Off Main, the Second Saturdays feature musical performances in front of the Heart of Scottsville before and after the Arts On Main sets.  Downtown stores remain open late and set up special displays and sidewalk sales throughout both events.

The Arts On Main concerts will run 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and showcase a wide variety of talent which includes gospel, jazz, Americana, country and classical.  The last of the series features a talent show of local artists of all ages.  Thompson described the music to be showcased which begins with original Barren County country by Burly Cruz on June 11 (Burly Cruz will also appear at Concerts in the Park August 19); followed by the “Jefferson Award winning, gospel powerhouse John Edmonds” on June 25; Americana “stomp music” by Bone Pony on July 9;  Stan Lassister,  “Nashville legend and jazz fusion virtuoso among virtuosos who plays familiar material as a platform to work his extremely abstract guitar” performs July 30 and Ching-Yi Lin.  “I’m really excited about the closer, Dr. Chin Lin, WKU violin professor who will be accompanied by a string quintet and backed by the entire WKU String Orchestra.  The pre college string program students will also perform a brief set”.  In addition, August 13 is slated as Local Talent Night and will feature a variety of Scottsville’s best musicians of all ages.  For more information visit www.acsarts.org.

A newer, free, outdoor concert series takes place in Russellville and is in its fourth season.  The Mary Ann Fisher Summer Concert Series is hosted by Russellville Blues and features four blues concerts between June 11 and September 3.  The concerts take place on the grounds of the West Kentucky African American Heritage Museum, across the street from where Ray Charles vocalist and love interest, Mary Ann Fisher lived as a child.  Starting at 7:00 p.m. attendees can get a dose of the blues as well as food and beverages from vendors.

According to founding society member Michael Gough, “Like last year and the year before, we are featuring a national, a local, and a regional act.  What started out in the summer of 2008 as a small informal backyard BBQ has grown to become a large informal backyard BBQ.”

Artists featured include: Wanda Johnson, the voice of South Carolina’s blues and soul accompanied by William Howse, considered one of the greatest harmonica players in the south; The Michael Gough Group a perennial mainstay of the local blues scene and Tee Dee Young, recently voted King of Beale Street and his band Scandalous.  The series closes with a Gospel Reunion Festival, a finale featuring youth and adult choirs and “the area’s most respected gospel performers”.

Gough concluded, “Labor Day weekend we are striving to make the season finale Gospel concert as successfully attended as the Blues concerts by bringing in some well known professional Gospel acts along with local favorites.  We know that these concerts are being highly anticipated by everyone who has attended in the past.  The buzz in ‘on’.  Last year, we were fortunate enough to book 2011 Zydeco Album of the Year Grammy Winners, Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band.  Lucky us, huh?  This year’s line-up will prove to be just as exciting.”  Visit www.russellvilleblues.com for more information.

Check the Amplifier’s online calendar for additional outdoor concerts.  Be sure to bring lawn chairs or blankets to these events as well as the entire family. 

Schedules:

Concerts In The Park

  • Fountain Square • Noon-1pm
    • June 1 Shawn Hammonds (high energy country)
    • June 8 Cotton Creek (country)
    • June 15 E.J. Rider Band (50’s/60’s rock/doo-wop)
    • June 2 2 Noizejoi (neo-soul)
    • June 2 9 Rick Arnold (50’s/60’s/70’s)

Arts on Main

  • June 11 Burly Cruz (original Barren county country)
  • June 25 John Edmonds (award winning gospel)
  • July 9 Bonepony (American Rock)
  • July 30 Stan Lassiter (jazz fusion guitarist)
  • Aug 13 Local Talent Night
  • Sept 10 Ching-Yi Lin (WKU string orchestra)

Mary Ann Fisher Summer Concert Series

  • June 11th – Wanda Johnson
  • July 2nd – The Michael Gough Group
  • August 5th – Tee Dee Young and Scandalous
  • September 4th -Gospel Reunion Festival

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