For the past 19 years, the Tyrone Regional Arts Council has provided plenty of free, summertime entertainment for the residents of the northern Blair County area.
This year, they’ll be at it again, but there’s more coming to the table.
“Each year, we have to re-apply for grant funding,” said Steve Stoner of the TRAC, “and each year, we have to show a sustained interest and an increase or change in the programming. We have consistently done that and that’s why we’re able to provide this great entertainment every year.”
This year’s newest addition is tailored to the young people. Three youth concerts have been scheduled in the parking lot of the M&T Bank, near Joybeans, throughout the summer.
“We looked at the demographics of the audience attending the concerts and realized the only age group we were missing were the youth,” said Stoner. “We got together and decided to add a youth concert series to the line-up.”
The youth concerts, like all other TRAC events, are free to the public.
The first concert will get underway on Friday, June 25 with the christian rock sounds of Tyrone-based Zion’s Gate. The July 16 concert will feature the rock and pop sounds of Electric Blue, and the Aug. 6 concert will be Vertigo, with their heavier rock sounds.
“We definitely tailored the concerts for what the kids want,” said Stoner. “We wanted all area-based bands, and we wanted it in a location where neighboring businesses would be open (Joybeans and Gardners Candies). It worked out perfectly.”
The concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. and conclude at around 9 p.m. In case of rain, the shows will be rescheduled.
According to Stoner, the TRAC operates on a yearly budget of around $4,000.
He said some of this money comes from the state, with Tyrone Borough matching these funds. He said the rest of the funding is through private donations.
“This year was just the third time in 19 years that we had to ask for individuals donations,” said Stoner, noting the rising costs of liability and property insurance required for certain program events.
In addition to the Concerts in the Park series, the council also heads the Children’s Theater, Children’s Computer Graphics Workshop, The Galley in downtown Tyrone, and a winter concert.
The first of the “Afternoon Delights” concerts gets underway tomorrow at noon at City Hotel Park when Curtis Rockwell brings his folk and Irish performance to the downtown. The concert will be sponsored by Joybeans and everyone in the audience will receive a discount store coupon from the retailer.
Other Afternoon Delight concerts on the schedule include the music and magic of Dennie Huber on June 16; the bluegrass sounds of the Conrad brothers on June 23; and the fun and patriotic sounds from the Servello family on June 30. In the event of rain, the performance will be held inside Joybeans.
Summer Sundays, the first concerts incorporated into TRAC’s programming, are at the Reservoir Park Amphitheater beginning at 6 p.m. on July 11 with local personality ZUPE. Other performances will include Les Shaw’s “17 Piece” Big Band on July 18; Mike Swavely: the Chrome Magnatones with their energized blend of rock and country known as Rockabilly; the seven-piece Irish Band known as Cormorant’s Fancy on Aug. 1; jazz and standards by Mick & The Mystics on Aug. 8; and Clayton Hoover & The Western Band on Aug. 15.
In case of inclement weather, the Summer Sundays performances will be at St. Matthew Hall.
Intown Tuesdays, in the air-conditioned comfort of Epworth Manor’s lobby, get started on July 13 with Bluegrass Band. Bill Glunt’s gospel will be July 27; and The Dennis Family Musical Variety Show is slated for Aug. 10. Each show begins at 6:30 p.m.
There is also an organ and voice performance scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 22 at the Lutheran Church.
“The attendance at these shows always seems to be going up,” said Stoner. “That’s truly important. We’re expecting this year to be very good as well.”
Anyone interested in making a donation to the Arts Council is encouraged to contact 684-ART2 or write to Tyrone Regional Arts Council, P.O. Box 194, Tyrone, PA 16686.
