Summer band concert series offers warm nights of music

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — Residents are invited to bring friends, family, blankets and lawn chairs to Monument Park every Saturday this summer starting July 5 to enjoy the Gardner Summer Band Concert Commitee’s summer concert series, which includes a wide array of musical performances. The concerts, which are funded with the help of local banks and credit unions, are provided at no cost to area residents and the performances will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Community Bandstand. Committee Co-chairman Ed Lepkowski said that concert series have been offered in the city before, but three or four years ago were phased out because of a drop in interest. “When we had the concert four or five years ago, I think people stopped going because of the quality of the music,” said Mr. Lepkowski. “It wasn’t really concert-type music, they began having rock performances and it didn’t really appeal to the elderly that like to come down and relax for a night of music.” According to Mr. Lepkowski, the summer concert series was revitalized in 2007 under the supervision of former mayor Gerald St. Hilaire, and because of its success, Mayor Mark Hawke has opted to continue the series. “People really enjoy coming down for the camaraderie with their neighbors and the relaxing music,” said Mr. Lepkowski. “ And because this is for the residents of the city, we try to give them whatever they want. We ask them what they would like to listen to and they give us a direction.” The concert series, which was expanded to include nine concerts this season, offers a wide range of music, and concerts will generally last two hours. For inclement weather, rain dates are expected to be scheduled for the Wednesday following each concert. The list of summer concerts include July 5, with Blazing Hearts to perform, a “high energy” country band; then on July 12: rhythm-contemporary pop, blues, country; on July 19, Eddie Forman will perform polka music; the July 26 performance will feature Rick Barron & The Quavers known for their “high energy” rock and country classics; on Aug. 2, the Boothill Express will play their own version of country, bluegrass, folk and Southern rock; Aug. 9 will feature the Western Partners, a group that plays an assortment of country and Franco-American music; on Aug. 16 Slograss will play traditional bluegrass and folk and blues music; the Aug. 23 performance will be Patty & The Guys, a polka music group; and capping off the summer series will be Marty’s Reminisce Orchestra, a 16-piece swing band playing on Aug. 30. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 4 on 6/26/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 151)