OONA will kick off summer concert series on Tuesday
Photos by Tom Rivers – Blind Leading the Blind, a contemporary rock band, is shown performing at the Orleans County Marine Park in July 2013. The band will be back for another concert on Aug. 18.
CARLTON – The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association will kick off its sixth summer concert series on Tuesday with the Dave Viterna Group playing classic rock, oldies and blues at the main pavilion at the Orleans County Marine Park.
The Tuesday evening concerts start at 6 p.m. and run until Aug. 18. They typically draw 200 to 400 people for music. Many concert-goers enjoy walking around the park on Route 98, a site that includes docking along the Oak Orchard River.
“We want people to have a good time and keep coming back,” said Paul Zeppetella, concert coordinator for OONA.
OONA partners with Orleans County Tourism in organizing the concerts. OONA and the county want to showcase the park at Point Breeze. The site will see an upgrade this year to its playground, stairway and electric hook-ups for boaters.
The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association and Orleans County officials are pictured today promoting the upcoming summer concert series at the Marine Park. The group includes, from left: Lynne Menz, county tourism coordinator; Tracy Panczyszyn, OONA communications coordinator; Paul Zeppetella, OONA concert coordinator; Frank Panczyszyn, OONA concert emcee; and county legislators Ken DeRoller and John DeFilipps.
The concerts on Tuesday evenings are intended to draw people to the Point on a weekday. The area tends to be busy anyway on weekends.
Concert organizers try to change up the band schedule each year, adding some bands that haven’t played at the site in the past.
This year’s lineup includes three bands that will be new to the Marine Park: The Brick Band, 78 RPM Big Band, and The Boomers.
Sponsors cover about half of the cost of bringing in the bands, with the county and a $2 admission charge covering the rest.
Tracy Panczyszyn, OONA communications coordinator, said there are many nearby talented musicians to draw from for the OONA concert series as well as other concerts in the community.
The Clarendon Lions Club will be at the park for each concert serving hamburgers and sausage. Club members working the grill in this photo from July 2013 include Kevin Johnson, left, and Don Knapp.
The concert lineup includes:
July 7 – The Dave Viterna Group (classic rock, oldies, blues)
July 14 – Brick Band (rock, jazz, country, oldies, R&B)
July 21 – The Who Dats (classic rock, pop)
July 28 – Jive Street Five (classic golden age, rat pack)
August 4 – 78 RPM Big Band (big band)
August 11 – The Boomers (ballads to boogie by)
August 18 – The Blind Leading the Blind (contemporary rock)
In addition, The Black North Inn and El Gallo, a Mexican restaurant in Albion, will be vendors for the concert series.
