As summer begins so does the concert season in Tyrone. Celebrating its twenty-third year, the Tyrone Regional Arts Council announces seven concerts for area residents to enjoy.
The original series, Summer Sundays at Reservoir Park’s amphitheater, consists of seven concerts that will feature the music of the big bands, Dixieland, bluegrass, Irish, gospel and country. As occurred last year the series will run through Labor Day.
Beginning on July 13 classic and contemporary country music will be offered by Silver Creek. Tyrone’s Irish heritage will be features on July 20 as the Michael O’Brian Band brings a piece of the homeland to the Park. Bluegrass and gospel favorites will be served up on July 27 by Cup O Joe. Contemporary gospel music will be featured on July 15 as the EBC Praise Team takes to the stage. On July 22 a completely different twist to Celtic music is the inspiration for Full Kilt, a local group that puts a Celtic flare on rock and roll standards.
August ushers in the consummate performer Zupe who will entertain on August 3 with his special stage show. The seventeen-piece Big Band Sound, Inc will bring back the glory days of the forties with that incomparable big band sound on August 10. August 17 the energetic music of Dixieland, Ragtime and the Blues will continue the series as the Summit City Saints Dixieland Band performs. And finally, from Johnstown by way of New York City and Las Vegas, the one and only Lou Stein Band will feature musicians from across the country performing big band standards and vocal favorites on August 24. Summer Sunday concerts begin at 6:00 and in the event of rain will be held at the Lutheran Church on Logan Avenue.
This summer’s series almost did not materialize due to drastic cut in funding. According the Tyrone Arts Council President, Steve Stoner, the grant request made of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts was cut by two-thirds, as were all grants requests. “The Tyrone Borough is only obligated to match the grant provided by the Council on the Arts. With that budget the best we could have done was offer several concerts on Sunday evenings since many of the larger bands cost over $500 dollars per performance. The Borough Council, in an exceptional act of support for its residents, provided the Arts Council the total monies budgeted by the Borough for the original matching grant application. This generosity allowed us to schedule seven concerts at reservoir Park as well as three youth concerts o be held this summer, support the presentation of children’s theater, one movie night, exhibition of local artists at the Gallery, and children’s art camps.”
This summer’s concert series is made possible by a grant from the PA Council on the Arts, a state agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and Tyrone Borough. Family Fun Movie Nights are made possible by a partnership with the Emmanuel Baptist Church and the Youth Concerts in conjunction with Joshua House. For additional information contact the Arts Line Office at 684-ART2.
Tyrone Summer Concert Schedule by Date: July 13 – Silver Creek (Country) – Reservoir Park 6 p.m.; July 20 – Michael O’Brian Band (Irish) – Reservoir Park 6 p.m.; July 27 – Cup O Joe (Bluegrass) – Reservoir Park 6 p.m.; August 3 – Zupe (Big Band, Broadway, Oldies, Contemporary) – Reservoir Park 6 p.m.; August 10 – Big Band Sound, Inc (17 piece Big Band) – Reservoir Park 6 p.m.; August 17 – Summit City Saints Dixieland Band – Reservoir Park 6 p.m. and August 24 – Lou Stein Band (Jazz & Big Band) – Reservoir Park 6 p.m.
