San Andreas, CA…Calaveras Arts Council has hosted free summer concerts for over two decades.  Music in the Parks 2016 will be another great music series.  The “first day of summer” starts a week earlier in Calaveras County.  On Wednesday, June 15, the Calaveras Arts Council begins its 25^nd year of providing free music in the county parks from Copperopolis to Arnold, and Valley Springs to West Point.  This fun filled musical road show is called Music in the Parks.  Residents and visitors pack up their favorite picnic treats, pull together their lawn chairs and blankets, and set out for ten weeks of great music, family friendly environments, and kick back to savor the experience.

Magnolia Rhythm Trio Left to Right Debbie Patterson, Tonja Peterson, Sammy Leverone

MIP performers hail from the foothills, Coulterville, Alameda County, and Sacramento.  We have brought back favorites and first timers will soon become favorites as well.

The Calaveras Arts Council’s mission is to support, awaken, and nourish the arts in our community.  This is done because of the financial support we get throughout the year from our membership, advertisers, and fund raisers.  Without financial support free events would not happen so during MIP arts council volunteers dance throughout the parks with colorful buckets welcoming audience donations as well.  The donations help pay for the bands, the hospitality, and for the all around good time.

This summer’s musical road trip starts June 15 in Copperopolis, Town Square with RockSlide Band from Coulterville.  RockSlide is one of the most dynamic and versatile group of musicians in the Mother.  With a combination of Classic Rock and Blues from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Ray Vaughan to Little Big Town and Adele, you are guaranteed an evening of fantastic sounds, great dancing and pure listening pleasure.

On June 22 Wicked Sisters comes to Arnold, The Hub.  The town will hear the beat of drums, sweet vocals, and guitar.  The band performs original songs as well as those of KT Tunstall, Pistol Annies, and Alanis Morisette.

To change the tunes a bit, The Bob Eisenman Jazz Trio will perform traditional jazz tunes with vocals, guitar, bass and sax for us Angels Camp, Utica Park.   Mark your calendar for June 29 for this trio.

On July 6, foothill favorite, Grover Anderson will be the star he is at CAMPS Restaurant at Greenhorn Creek Resort in Angels Camp. Grover and his band will get us dancing and swinging to his original folk and rock.

Magnolia Rhythm Trio ladies hail from up country on Highway 4.  On July 13 the trio will perform in Moke Hill’s Shutter Tree Park.  They perform Americana/Folk/Bluegrass and their harmonies are tight.  They choose music based on how it touches their hearts.

Blues greats, Delta Wires return to perform at Mountain Ranch Community Park on July 20.  Ernie Pinata and the band bring together rhythm & blues on harmonica, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, and three horns.

Another local band, Tanglewood, will perform July 27 at West Point Elementary.  The describe themselves as dreamy original folk rock musicians.

The calendar pages turn to August 3 where Ten Dollar Pony performs at Turner Park in San Andreas.  Last year they sang their hearts out at Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway’s Hermit Fest in spite of the Butte Fire.  They showed up and so did people escaping to the mountains.  With their version of indi-rock and Americana, they offered a little respite and fun to the weary .

Sacramento’s slide guitarist Dennis Johnson & The Mississippi Rambles will perform at the Ball Field in Valley Springs.  You will hear roots, more Americana, blues, New Orleans, rock, swing & more.  The summer sun will be going down by the time the music starts, so sit back and enjoy the summer evening.

Music in the Parks comes to a close in Murphys at the Community Park on August 17 with Slade Rivers Band.  The town will be rocking with honky tonk and country swing.  If you forget to bring your picnic goodies, you can purchase hot dogs and drinks from the Murphys Community Park concession stand.

More information will be available soon.  Log on to www.calaverasarts.org

Music in the Parks 2016

24 years in providing great summer music

Free to the public! Bring your favorite picnic items, beverage of choice (no alcohol at Rail Road Elem. School), blanket and low back chairs. Be prepared to dance. Arrive early, stay late. Log on to www.calaverasarts.org for more information about our events.