The music will return to Memorial Park in downtown Brighton this summer.
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Music in the Park will be back and better than ever, said Lloyd Hutchinson who’s a member of the committee that organizes the concert series.
“Oh, I’m very pleased that we’re able to get started with the concerts in the park. A lot of people have been inquiring about it,” said Hutchinson of the free concert series.
Hutchinson said because of the two-year, COVID-induced hiatus, the committee has opted to elongate the summer concert series in 2022. The concerts generally have started in July, but this year will start a full month ahead of schedule on Wednesday, June 1 and will go through until August 31 each Wednesday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
He said the committee has several bands that have played at the Music in the Park in previous years but have also added several new musical acts to the mix for the music series. Mainly, though, the committee looked to feature a cross-section of music genres to satisfy all music tastes of concert-goers.
“We have a list of bands that contact us and previous bands. We have country and western, we have country-rock, we have 50s and 60s, we have Celtic and soft rock — so we got it all mixed up. So, that when you come out there are different bands playing so it’s not the same music every time you come out each week,” said Hutchinson.
The Music in the Park series will kick off with Bentwood Rocker on Wednesday, June 1. Hutchinson said the band is a popular one in the area. “They pull in a good crowd and it’s a good way to start the year off.”
The Brighton All Star Band, a community orchestra of classically-trained musicians from across Northumberland, will perform at the end-of-the-season concert on Wednesday, Aug. 31. Hutchinson said the group always puts on an incredible show of musicianship.
“It’s amazing. They fill the stage right full with their people playing. They do it for the love of the music and it’s just amazing to listen to them. They play for two hours and sometimes they go over. They just put on a
fabulous show,” said Hutchinson.
The depth of musical talent in the Brighton area never ceases to amaze Hutchinson. And, the Music in the Park series is a great way to highlight all the impressive array of local talent.
“Most of them are from around the area,” said Hutchinson. “Sometimes you have to go outside of the area to bring in the type of music you want to hear, but we have a lot of talent within the area and it’s really nice to just give a phone call and somebody is very close and they will play, “said Hutchinson.
The concerts are free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. The complete concert series is as follows:
• Wednesday, June 1 – Bentwood Rocker
• Wednesday, June 8 – Rudy & Saddle Up
• Wednesday, June 15 – The Reasons
• Wednesday, June 22 – Seventh Town
• Wednesday, June 29 – Ginny McIlmoye & Band
• Wednesday, July 6 – R & R
• Wednesday, July 13 – Three Tequila
• Wednesday, July 20 – Ragwood Jazz Band
• Wednesday, July 27 – Off Beats
• Wednesday, August 3 – Coup de Ville
• Wednesday, August 10 – Wicklow
• Wednesday, August 17 – J Sautner Band
• Wednesday, August 24 – The Keene Country Band
• Wednesday, Aug. 31 – Brighton All Star Band
(Written by: Alan Rivett)
