Counting Down to Gazebo Concert Season!

Billy King is one of the perennial favorites of the Gazebo concert season. See him on June 9, along with seven other outstanding performances throughout the summer.

A sure sign of summer in Manchester is the debut of the Gazebo Concert season. For 27 summers, Wurster Park on the village green in Manchester has hosted some of the area's best performers to entertain and delight audiences young and old.

This summer's lineup will include perennial favorites as well as new and exciting musical styles. Don't miss any of the upcoming concerts, set to begin on  June 4, just one month from today!

The inaugural concert will be singer-songwriter Joe Reilly, a native of Kalamazoo. Now living in Ann Arbor, Joe continues to write songs from his heart--playful, clever, engaging, joyful, and with something meaningful to say. Joe Reilly's message of community and healing relationships with one another and with the earth always makes for an enlightening and enriching family concert.

One June 11, Red Tail Ring will bring its blend of old time roots and new time sounds to the Gazebo. Red Tail Ring is the musical brainchild of Michiganders Michael Beauchamp and Laurel Premo. Their collaboration blends the loving attention of revivalist fervor with the playful creativity of starting from scratch, and their signature style includes layered, intricate instrumental lines over close vocal harmonies. Don't miss this amazing and talented duo!

Fans of the venerable duo Gemini will recognize the name of San Slomovits as the senior member of San, Emily, and Jacob, coming to the Gazebo stage on June 18. Their fusion of folk, jazz, classical, and world musics will delight concert-goers of all ages. Emily Slomovits is San's daughter, an accomplished violinist, and has been performing with him since age eight. Their musical partner Jacob Warren, is an up-and-coming young bassist in both the folk and classical scenes. A great evening of diverse and exciting music awaits you!

On June 25, the Gazebo concerts break for Fair week, returning on July 2 with Today's Brass Q5, a brass band group comprised of local members. There's nothing like brass band music for the patriotic holiday! Come down to the gazebo and hear classic favorites on July 2.

The remainder of the season includes Billy King and Natalie on July 9, Celtic group Nessa on July 23 (following another week's break for Chicken Broil on July 16th), Creole du Nord on July 30, and Tumbao Bravo will conclude the season on August 6. Stay tuned for more details on each of these concerts that comprise the second half of the season.

Gazebo Concerts typically begin at 7:30 pm and end at 9 pm. This summer, Thursday evenings will also find shoppers at the Farmers Market in Chi-Bro Park, and several concerts will coincide with church ice cream socials in the surrounding neighborhood. Mark your calendars for Thursday night entertainment in downtown Manchester this summer!

The Gazebo Concert series is funded in part by generous donations from several area businesses, organizations, and individuals, but also by the free-will donations accepted during intermission of each concert. In addition, if you would like to make a donation to help fund the concert series, you may send a check payable to Riverfolk, noting that the donation is for gazebo concerts, to: Gazebo Concerts,  PO Box 146,  Manchester, Michigan   48158

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.