Opens June 10 in St. Johns
Summer is nearly here, and that means it’s time for the 2015 Concert in the Park season at the St. Johns City Park Performance Shell. This year’s schedule features perennial favorites and newcomers performing a variety of musical styles. The line-up includes local musicians, bands from across Michigan and Canada, and a performance by a youth band and choir from Flensburg, Germany.
The free concerts are held every Wednesday at 7 p.m., beginning June 10 and running through Aug. 26 at the beautiful outdoor concert venue in the St. Johns City Park.
“This is one of our strongest series ever,” says Performance Shell Chairperson Bill Tennant. “Every Wednesday is loaded with great talent – we’re expecting a huge audience every week.”
Highlighting the series are three, first-time Performance Shell guests: American Idol contestant Shelby Ann-Marie; My Sweet Patootie, a Canadian band; and “The Best of Clinton County” featuring local talent.
Shelby Ann-Marie, who hails from Portland in neighboring Ionia County takes the stage June 17. She was a recent contestant for Season 13, making it to the final judgment day of Hollywood Week, just short of the Top 30.
My Sweet Patootie is described as “a sassy modern vaudeville, roots and ragtime trio with tight harmonies, monstrous finger-style guitar, sizzling fiddle and suitcase drum kit.” The band plays Aug. 5. “The Best of Clinton County” July 1 features the best of local stars with ties to Clinton County.
Among the talented groups returning to the Shell for the second time are Three Men and a Tenor Aug. 19, who started at Michigan State University and now tour nationally; Pete “Big Dog” Fetters and his Blues/Classic Rock band from Detroit July 8; Cats on the Fiddler July 29; and the German youth band and choir July 15 as part of its U.S. tour.
Annual favorites who are back again in 2015 by popular demand include the Sea Cruisers, a great Classic Rock band that opens the series June 10; local favorites the Jack Clarkson Band with guest musicians Rodney Page and Paul Ojibway June 24; the Mid-Michigan Festival Pops Orchestra conducted by Rodney Page July 22; Beatles tribute band, Toppermost, Aug. 12; and everyone’s favorite “Elvis,” Matt King, closing out the series Aug. 26.
The St. Johns Lions and Lioness Club staff a concession stand each week offering light refreshments; all concerts are held rain or shine. Concert in the Park is sponsored by the Clinton County Arts Council (CCAC) and the City of St. Johns.
For information on Concert in the Park visit the CCAC web site, http://www.clintoncountyarts.org/ and check out the St. Johns City Park Performance Shell page on Facebook.