Gazebo Concert series begins next week!

They’re back! A great 30 year tradition is returning this summer every Thursday night from June 10 through August 5, at the Manchester Gazebo in Wurster Park.

Join us each week this summer at 7:30 pm for these FREE concerts that will be enjoyed by every member of the family.

On June 10, the season will kick off with its traditional “kids concert,” this year featuring GEMILY … The “Gemini” brothers San and Laz Slomovits and daughter/niece Emily, will present a variety of songs and stories, with a large variety of instruments, and songs, tunes, and stories from cultures around the world. This concert only will begin at 7 pm, since the following day will be the last day of school.

June 17 will bring the Ann Arbor based, Grammy Award-winning virtuoso harmonica player Peter “Madcat” Ruth to the Gazebo stage. Blues, rock ‘n’ roll, folk, and world music are all part of Madcat’s repertoire. He has established an international reputation through his exhilarating, riveting virtuosity on the harmonica. Don’t miss this special event, starting at the normal time of 7:30 pm!

Matt Watroba and Robert Jones will provide an entertaining walk through the roots and history of American music at their June 24 concert. Join us for a musical program at the Gazebo that celebrates diversity by digging deep into American Roots music.

July 1 will welcome back Aaron Jonah Lewis to the Gazebo. His unique blend of American old time and folk music, ragtime and early jazz is sure to delight all music lovers! Lewis has taken blue ribbons at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, WV, and at the Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, VA, the oldest and largest fiddlers convention in the country. He spends most of his time teaching, touring as a solo performer, with the Corn Potato String Band, the Lovestruck Balladeers, and other projects.

The Dodworth Saxhorn Band will re-create the music and atmosphere of a 19th Century community brass band, complete with costumes and period instruments! Committed to bringing America’s musical past to life, the DSB presents a variety of performances which feature nostalgia and virtuosity on 19th century brass instruments. This concert will also begin at 7:30 pm, on July 8.

July 15’s concert will feature singer/songwriter Abigail Stauffer & The Wisdom, playing her unique blend of folk and neo-soul music. This is not Stauffer’s first visit to Manchester; nor will it be her last! “[The] soulful side of her is clear in the bluesy bottom of her voice,” according to a review. “There’s pain and hope buried deep in it, and it comes to the surface when (she) sings.”

The Kerrytown Stompers will bring toe-tappin’, swingin’ jazz music to the Gazebo stage on July 22. Get ready to enjoy this unique small group of talented musicians who can incorporate just about anything into their performances … even an Amtrak train!

On July 29, welcome Westbound Situation back to the Gazebo with their blend of classical chamber music and the rhythmic drive of bluegrass and jazz … they call it “Chambergrass.” Featuring CAS staff and alumni, this group is always a crowd-pleaser. The quartet — comprised of Grant Flick on violin, Jake Howard on mandolin, Zach Brown on cello, and Jacob Warren on bass — mixes composition and improvisation seamlessly into their entirely memorized arrangements.
The season will wrap at 7:30 pm on August 5 as Los Gatos, a Latin Jazz quintet, join us for a lively evening of engaging “Afro-Cuban” music. The five members of the group are world class performers, who have each toured extensively and have been performing in Los Gatos for over 10 years.

While the concerts are free and open to all, we do pass a basket at intermission and all donations will benefit the featured performers as well as Riverfolk Music & Arts Organization programming. Riverfolk has been engaging the Manchester community in music and arts experiences, which nurture creativity and promote cultural diversity, for nearly 20 years.

Keep your Thursday nights free this summer, and be sure to catch as many Gazebo Concerts as you can! Bring a chair or a blanket; bring refreshments if you wish. Enjoy warm nights and wonderful music!

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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.