San Andreas, CA… Music in the Parks Returns to Calaveras County: After last year’s summer of silence in the parks, we’re all itching for some good times. And thankfully, music returns to Calaveras County on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. with the Calaveras Arts Council’s long-standing admission-free Music in the Parks concert series.

Music in the Parks fell silent in 2020 for the first time in over 30 years of sharing music with the community. Music in the Parks holds a special place in the heart of Calaveras County, and Executive Director Kathy Mazzaferro heard from many people that they missed the weekly summer performances. She knows everyone is looking forward to the return of the summer concert series.

“We are so delighted with the community enthusiasm for the return of Music in the Parks,” she said. “We want to slowly help restore a feeling of normalcy to life in Calaveras County. Music is a language we all share that can soothe, relax, bring a smile and send our toes a-tapping. Music in the Parks brings us together as a community.”
Music in the Parks encompasses a wide range of music styles, all chosen to resonate with the community. There’s something for everybody. “There’s everything from swinging Chicago blues, jazz, California country, American folk and bluegrass, to Broadway and Americana,” Mazzaferro said. The Kool Shifters will kick off the season with R & B and rock and roll at the Jenny Lind Veterans Park in Valley Springs on Wednesday June 16. This year, all concerts will be on Wednesday evenings, from June 16 to August 18.

All concerts will be held outside this year. According to Mazzaferro, “The San Andreas concert (July 21) returns to Turner Park with smooth jazz from the Bob Eisenman Jazz Trio. A new venue this year will be the White Pines Community Park in Arnold (August 18), where the Calaveras Community Band will play Broadway tunes and Americana.” She’s excited about this move. “We will have more room to spread out beneath the pine trees. We are grateful to the White Pines Community Park Association for welcoming us to their beautiful park.

Music in the Parks concerts are admission-free events funded by individual donations from community members, and by the generosity of local businesses like Dignity Health Mark Twain Medical Center. More sponsors are stepping up. “This year we are delighted to welcome Big Trees Market and Sierra Pacific Lumber as sponsors,” Mazzaferro said. She is grateful that the community values the tradition of Music in the Parks. “Every donation helps,” she said.

For those concerned about Covid-19 safety, Mazzaferro offers reassurance. “We will be following all local, state and federal health regulations and we hope audiences will work with us,” she said. “Our hope is that we can all come together in kindness and respect, celebrating the opportunity to be together again.”

“The “buzz” around the county is so exciting and we can’t wait to see all of you!”

Print out a schedule at www.calaverasarts.org or call the Gallery Store at 209/754-1774 for more information.

Show dates:
June 16
Kool Shifters
R&B, country
Jenny Lind Veterans Park
Valley Springs

June 23
Pinetop Boogie
American folk & bluegrass
Brice Station (No outside alcohol permitted)
Murphys

June 30
Windburn Brothers
Country swing, hillbilly jazz
Utica Park
Angels camp

July 7
Frozen Radicals
Jazz and big band
Shutter Tree Park
Mokelumne Hill

July 14
Two Tone Steiny & the Cadillacs
Mountain Ranch Community Park
Mountain Ranch

July 21
Bob Eisenman
Jazz trio
Turner Park
San Andreas

July 28
Janna & Leroy
Jazz and American standards
Venue TBA
West Point

August 4
The Sky Kings
Country, rock and roll
Murphys Community Park
Murphys

August 11
Grover Anderson & The Lampoliers
Folk Rock
The Square At Copper Valley
Copperopolis

August 18
Calaveras Community Band
Broadway and Americana
White Pines Community Park
Arnold