[info]This story reprinted courtesy of the Antelope Valley Press[/info]
LANCASTER – For the third year, a full lineup of live entertainment will have audiences on their feet weekly on Lancaster Boulevard.
This summer’s All-American Concert Series begins next week and will run from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday until October, coinciding with the downtown farmers’ market, which runs from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursdays.
“There’s no other place in the Antelope Valley that we can shop, listen to live music, dine, take in a show and purchase fresh produce in one block,” Lancaster Vice Mayor Marvin Crist said Thursday during the announcement at the BeX Bandstand Stage on Lancaster Boulevard.
Sponsored by Sierra Toyota/Scion, the concert series kicks off May 30 with One Way Ticket, a Beatles cover band.
Performances will take place on the BeX stage, 706 West Lancaster Blvd.
“We have put a lot of really good work into doing this program once again this year. Something really exciting about our concert series is that every musical genre is represented every week,” said Patricia Garibay, Recreation Supervisor II for Lancaster’s Parks, Recreation and Arts Department.
“We have everything from country, like Jacob Nelson and the Tone Wranglers, to Celtic rock. We also have salsa and we have R&B, different things for the community every week,” she said.
“It’s always great personally when we get to do things on the boulevard,” City Manager Mark Bozigian said. “When a lot of us were young, this was always exciting to come down to the boulevard and downtown, and it’s even more exciting now.”
“This is the center of our community, and being able to partner with businesses to bring music and entertainment is just tremendous,” he said.
The lineup includes Latin and flamenco group Caravana Band on June 6; funk and R&B act Tesserae Band on June 13; smooth jazz ensemble James Gentry and the Tequila Sundance Band on June 20; and the Island Rhythms on June 27.
No entertainment is scheduled for the Fourth of July. Rather, the city is playing host to its annual Fourth of July Extravaganza at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.
Irish and Celtic rock group Green Ashes performs on July 11; classic rockers Tightrope on July 18; and Rock of Ages on July 25.
All-woman rock band Cougrzz Rock performs Aug. 1, Jacob Nelson and the Tone Wranglers on Aug. 8; female-fronted cover band Hollywood Blonde on Aug. 15; country and oldies singer Carmine Zeccardi on Aug. 22; and Latin music band Kimera, whose influences include Gipsy Kings, Santana and Vicente Amigo, on Aug. 29.
Pop/rock group Backstage Pass will perform Sept. 5, salsa group Tony Molina and Friends on Sept. 12; Johnny Cash cover band The Walking Phoenixes on Sept. 19; and classic rockers Wild Side on Sept. 26.
The concert series closes with rock group Two Meteors Band on Oct. 3 and country singer Raihanna Estrada on Oct. 10.
“The Sierra Toyota/Scion All-American Concert Series definitely makes the boulevard the most diverse gathering spot for people of all ages,” Crist said.
“We hope to see you there.”
For details, call (661) 723-6077 or visit www.cityoflancasterca.org/concertseries.