Perhaps one of the most distinctive things about the Tyrone community is just that – community.
During the early part of last summer, the community gathered each Wednesday in City Hotel Park to enjoy free music. Later in the summer, the free entertainment spot was at Reservoir Park. Regardless of where the music was coming from, it was the community enjoying it.
And it’s all thanks to one group.
For the 19th year, the Tyrone Regional Arts Council has received a matching grant from the PA Council on the Arts and Tyrone Borough.
The funding from the Local Government Grant is used to support six artistic programs including seventeen free summer concerts. This year\’s summer series offers area residents a wide range of musical experiences held in four venues throughout Tyrone.
“ Afternoon Delights” will start the season with four noon concerts held each Wednesday in the downtown City Hotel Park. June 9 features the contemporary folk and Irish music of Huntington musician Kurtis Rockwell.
Dennie Huber will delight children of all ages with Music and Magic on June 16.
The bluegrass music of “the Conrad Brothers” is on June 23, and June 30 will feature “the Servello Family.”
A new feature added to the Wednesday series is that anyone attending the noon concert will receive a special discount coupon to a local merchant such as Gardner\’s Candies and Joybeans Coffee Shop.
Summer Sundays is the major concert series held on the Reservoir Park amphitheater stage beginning at 6 p.m.From big band to Irish jigs, there is something for everyone beginning July 11.
Altoona native Zupe will open the series with his electrified stage show featuring music from the big bands to present day standards.
Les Shaw of State College will be bringing his 17-piece big band to the stage on July 18.
“Mike Swaverly and the Chrome Magnatones” and their rockabilly style of high powered rock and roll and country is set for July 25.
From Gettysburg, the 7-piece Irish band, “Cormorant\’s Fancy,” will transport us to Ireland on August 1.
August 8 offers the jazz and big band standards of “Mick & the Mystics.”
The park series ends with “Clayton Hoover and the Western Band” on August 15. In the event of rain the concerts are held in St. Matthew\’s Hall. The Sunday concerts conclude with the annual Organ and Voice Concert featuring vocalists Laura & Ralph Harris at 7:30 on August 22 in the Lutheran Church.
Intown Tuesday is a series of three concerts in Epworth Manor\’s air conditioned lobby at 6:30 beginning July 13 with “The Bluegrass Band.” William Glunt is featured on July 27 and “The Dennis Family\’s Musical Variety Show” on August 10.
The Arts Council is excited to introduce a new series this season. The Youth Concerts were created to target a younger audience that may not attend the other offerings. Being held outdoors from 7:30-9 p.m. adjacent to Joybeans Coffee Shop on 10th Street, the Friday evening programs offer the best in popular club bands. Zion\’s Gate will open the series on June 25 followed by Electric Blue on July 16 and Vertigo on Aug. 6.
All programs are supported by the PA Council on the Arts, a state agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and Tyrone Borough. Additional information on the series may obtained by contacting the ARTS Line Office at 684-ART2.
