Earlier this year, Utica received a grant to put on a concert series throughout the summer. The line-up for 10 weeks of music has been announced.

The concerts will be held every Monday night from 6pm to 9pm at Kopernik Park on Genesee Street in Utica. Every concert is free and family-friendly. The concerts start Monday, July 4th and the series will run until Monday, September 5th. Here is the line-up for the summer:

July 4th: "Groove Legacy" - A funky, jazz band from LA. They have performed next to some of the biggest stars including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Sara Bareilles, Carrie Underwood, and Rod Stewart (among tons of others). Opening up for Groove Legacy is "Kappa."

July 11th: "Bumper Jacksons" - They blend swing, country, jazz, and blues to get you dancing and moving to the music. "Dharma Burns" will be their opening act.

July 18th: "Incendio" - Meaning 'fire,' they bring an assortment of instruments (with no vocals) to help you lose yourself in the music. You'll hear the Celtic harp, the violin, the guitar and bass, the piano, a synthesizer, and many other instruments. Incendio's opening act will be "Rusty Doves."

July 25th: "SIRSY" - This indie rock group has played with some big bands including Maroon 5, Lifehouse, Third Eye Blind, Cheap Trick... And that's just to name a few. They formed their band right here in New York (in Albany, actually), back in 2000. Opening up for SIRSY is "The Old Main."

August 1st: "On Red Martian" - These West Canada High School natives bring a psychedelic sound to the stage with their guitars, keyboard, and vocals. Their lyrics will get you thinking and wanting to change - for the better. "Girl Blue" will be opening up for them.

August 8th: "Tumbleweed Highway" - This group has a 'Mississippi Sound' with some blues/rock and roll feel, and a little boogie-woogie thrown in. Their songs will remind you of heartaches, traveling, and having a cold one in beautiful weather. Opening up for Tumbleweed Highway is "The John Keller Band."

August 15th: "Jane Monheit" - A jazz singer and performer, she'll have you moving and grooving as you get lost in the music. "Devin Garramone" and "Jeff Palmer" will be opening up for her.

August 22nd: "Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience" - Terrance Simien is a Grammy Award winning artist (twice) who has been performing for more than 30 years and has traveled all across the world to perform. This is sure to be an amazing show that will fit the uniqueness that is Utica. "Castle Creek" will be the opening act.

August 29th: "The Chronicles" - From Albany, this group combines a little bit of soul, a little bit of funk, a little bit of hip-hop and a little bit of jazz to create their unique sound. Opening up for The Chronicles is "Darryl Rahn."

September 5th: "Funky Blu Roots" - This group will wrap up the free concert series with a 'bluesy feel,' - guitar and harmonica included. They'll perform some of their original songs, but will also perform covers (with their own spin on them) from artists like The Allman Brothers Band, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and more. "The Jimmy Wolf Band" will be the opening act for them.

The concerts are all held at Kopernik Park, across from the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. If it rains there is a back-up venue - The concert will be held at the DeSales Center Auditorium.

You can bring blankets and lawn chairs to sit and enjoy the music. Alcohol and pets are not allowed, however.

Utica was one of only 15 cities across the nation that won this grant from Levitt AMP. The city was given $25,000 in matching funds to hold this 10-week concert series. You can learn more about how Utica was picked, here.

 

 


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