After five years spent renovating Johnson Park, the amphitheater on the village green was christened in the spring of 1985 with a concert by the Liverpool Community Chorus.
Now more than 680 concerts later, the group that books the shows, the Liverpool Is the Place Committee (LITP), celebrates its 30th anniversary with 24 performances, from rock to country to big band, scheduled from June 1 to Aug. 19.
Past committee members will be honored at the June 15 concert featuring the Community Chorus under the direction of John Miller.
Concerts take place at 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays in Johnson Park. All concerts are free. For more information, call 457-3895
Monday, June 1 Liverpool Central School District Jazz Fest (swing and standards)
Wednesday, June 3 Mark Doyle and The Maniacs with special guest Joe Whiting (blues rock)
Monday, June 8 The Fab Cats (British Invasion)
Wednesday, June 10 The Other Guise with Jan Fetterly (oldies and classic rock)
Monday, June 15 Liverpool Community Chorus (show tunes and standards)
Wednesday, June 17 Dan Elliott and The Monterays (oldies and classic rock)
Monday, June 22 The Coachmen (oldies and R&B)
Wednesday, June 24 Grit N Grace (modern country)
Monday, June 29 Just Joe (modern rock)
Wednesday, July 1 Soul Mine (rhythm and blues.)
Monday, July 6 Liverpool Community Concert Band (patriotic tunes)
Wednesday, July 8 JD and The Rollin’ South Band (country rock)
Monday, July 13 Fab Five Paul and Magical Mystery Tour (Beatles tribute)
Wednesday, July 15 ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ Redhouse Arts Center (summer Shakespeare tour)
Monday, July 20 Moss Back Mule Band (country rock and swing)
Wednesday, July 22 The Sandy Bigtree Band (classic rock)
Monday, July 27 Jamie Notarthomas & Jungleland. (Bruce Springsteen tribute)
Wednesday, July 29 The Skiffle Minstrels (Western swing and honky-tonk)
Monday, Aug. 3. Hobin/Moncrief and Friends (classic rock and originals)
Wednesday, Aug. 5 Mickey Vendetti’s Good Time Band (oldies and classic rock.)
Monday, Aug. 10 Stroke (rhythm and blues.)
Wednesday, Aug. 12 Mark Hoffmann and The Hoffmann Family Band (classic rock and R&B)
Monday, Aug. 17 Mario DeSantis Orchestra (dance tunes through the decades)
Wednesday, Aug. 19 Alan Taylor/Two Feet Short (folk-revival; annual John Denver Memorial Food Drive)
The free concerts begin at 7 p.m. Monday, June 1, with music by student jazz ensembles from the Liverpool Central School District. On Wednesday, June 3, the vibe turns heavier with the blues-rock sounds of Mark Doyle & The Maniacs with special guest Joe Whiting (see full schedule side-bar).
The Liverpool Community Concert Band will perform patriotic tunes on July 6, and Jamie Notarthomas & Jungleland pay tribute to Bruce Springsteen on July 27.
“Over the last three decades the Liverpool is the Place committee has worked tirelessly to provide a wealth of musical talent to the residents of the greater Liverpool area and surrounding communities,” said LITP Chairperson Colleen Gunnip. “The June 15th event is a celebration not only of the concert series itself but to thank all the past and present committee members for all they have done to make this an award-winning series.”
