BELLEFONTE — Starting June 11 from 7 to 8 p.m., visit Talleyrand Park for “Bellefonte’s Summer Sounds from the Gazebo.” The opener for the season will be the Bellefonte Community Band, which is the traditional first group of the season to perform.
In the early 1980s, planners gathered around a dining room table to plan for the concerts. The committee, with new faces, continues to meet in this manner encouraged by a “one-meeting-a-year” motto.
Music trends evolved from folk, classical combos and soloists to country, jazz and retro sounds. This year’s schedule includes Keystone Society of Swing, Tommy Wareham and the Bellefonte Community Band, performers of 25 years ago. These crowd favorites have seen personnel changes, but the melodic sounds continue to play on.
Summer Sounds from the Gazebo operates under the aegis of Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association with grants from the Elks’ Garver Fund, Central PA Convention and Visitor Center, PA Council of the Arts and contributors from its audiences, hence “the passing of the bucket.”
Summer Sounds puts an emphasis on encouraging and supporting Central Pennsylvania musicians. It tries to vary performers from year to year with the exception of Tommy Wareham.
Concerts are held at Talleyrand Park where listeners are encouraged to bring picnic fare and blankets and lawn chairs (park benches available). Attendees of all ages are encouraged to dance.
In case of rain, the concerts are held at St. John Lutheran Church, 216 N. McAllister Street, Bellefonte, where there is ample parking space available.
The schedule is as follows:
June 11 Bellefonte Community Band
June 18 Anything Goes (super strumming sounds)
June 25 Deacons of Dixieland (lively jazz genre)
July 2 Rama Lama (Hometown DooWoopers)
July 9 Tommy Wareham (engaging songster staple)
July 16 Ramblin Dan Stevens Americana (stringin’ phenom)
July 23 Keystone Society of Swing (music of bygone era)
July 30 Parlor Pickers (old time blues)
August 6 Halle & Reis (acoustical familiar favs)
August 13 Denny Taylor and the Misfits (classic country)
