PARSONS — From Celtic to Mariachi with a hint of Fab Four thrown in for good measure, the annual Music in the Park series kicked off its 2008 season in its new home last week.
The annual series continues each Thursday at the new Forest Park Amphitheater, 13th and Broadway in Parsons. The only variation of the regular schedule will be the Independence Day weekend, with the concert moved to July 4, featuring the Parsons Community Band in a patriotic salute to celebrate the holiday.
This year marks the debut of the new amphitheater, which will be the perminant home of the Music in the Park series. Concessions from local vendors will be available during each concert evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Concerts are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
A special bonus concert will be presented to wind up the annual concert series. The Beatles tribute band, Liverpool, will perform their recreation of the Fab Four’s music. The Kansas City-based band has performed internationally and are heralded as one of the best Beatles tribute bands around. Liverpool will bring the full gamut of Beatles music to the amphitheater July 31.
Other groups scheduled to perform include Steel Around, a tropical rock band, Mariachi Tulsa, Americana group The Sky Smeed Band featuring Chanute-native Skky Smeed, and Queen’s Gambit, a traditional Celtic group who performs in period Renaissance costume.
As always, the Music in the Park series will feature multiple performances by the Parsons Community Band, comprised of local musicians under the direction of Robert Walker.
All Music in the Park concerts are presented free of charge. In case of severe weather, concerts will be moved to the Parsons Memorial Auditorium, 112 S. 17th, with the exception of the July 4 concert, which would be cancelled.
For additional information, call (620) 421-7032 or log on to www.parsonsks.com.