LIVERPOOL — While the pandemic forced the cancellation of both the 2020 and 2021 summer concert series at Johnson Park, the Liverpool Is The Place Committee voted May 20 to stage four free concerts this summer, two each in July and August.
They’re calling this abbreviated series “Guitars Galore,” because it spotlights several of Central New York’s best six-stringers.
Guitarist Mark Hoffmann will open the series at 7 p.m. Monday, July 19, fronting the Hoffmann Family Band, which also features his daughter, Anna, and son, Gus.
Hoffmann was one of the founders of the legendary Syracuse rock band Jam Factory, which recorded for Epic Records. Inducted into the Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2008, Hoffmann continues to evolve as a guitarist, performing jazz standards, blues and country along with the styles for which he’s best known, classic rock, soul and R&B.
On Monday, July 26, fingerpicker Loren Barrigar accompanied by his son, L.J., will take the stage at Johnson Park.
Having played the Grand Ol’ Opry as a child, Loren has blossomed into one of the country’s top acoustic guitar-pickers. Over the years, he and his recordings have won six Sammy Awards and six years ago he was inducted into the Sammys Hall of Fame.
In October 2019, while operating a chainsaw near his home in Elbridge, Loren severely injured his left hand, his fretting hand. His comeback has been a struggle, but with the help of his guitarist son, L.J., he’s performing again and entertaining audiences with his agile fingerpicking and smooth vocals.
On Monday, Aug. 2, the area’s premier roots-rock band, the Ripcords, return to Johnson Park for the first time since 2013, but this time they’ll be accompanied by the Boneyard Horns. The five-piece Ripcords core include two gifted guitarists — Rex Lyons and his cousin, Irv Lyons Jr., a southpaw who plays “flipped around and upside down,” according to the band’s website.
Two years ago, Irv was nominated for two Native American Music Awards while the Ripcords were nominated for Best Music Video Performance and for Best Blues Recording for the album “Live at SubCat Studios.”
The shortened concert series will conclude on Monday, Aug. 9, with Mark Doyle & The Maniacs. A world-class record producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, Mark Doyle will be featured on electric guitars as he fronts his British-style blues band, The Maniacs, which also features a second exciting six-stringer, Terry Quill. One of the founding members of RCA recording bands Jukin’ Bone and Free Will, Doyle has also worked with artists such as Joe Whiting, Meat Loaf, Cindy Bullens, Bryan Adams and Mary Fahl.
Mark Doyle & The Maniacs formed in 2009 and quickly rose to the pinnacle of the CNY blues scene, winning Best Blues Sammy Awards for their first three albums, “Shake ’Em on Down: A Salute to the ’60s British Blues Boom,” “Comin’ Home” and “Pushin’.”
Doyle also won two other Sammys and was inducted into the Sammys Hall of Fame in 1996 alongside his longtime collaborator, vocalist Joe Whiting.
These four concerts are funded by a state grant administered by CNY Arts. The Liverpool Is The Place Committee is a sub-committee of the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce; 315-457-3895.
The DeSantis Orchestra plans to present its own concert — separate from the Liverpool Is The Place series — at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23, at Johnson Park.
Editor’s note: Russ Tarby has served on the LITP concert committee for nearly two decades. As the series program director, he books the bands.
