The 13th season of Concerts in the Park will bring many new faces to the Transfer Beach Amphitheatre.
This year, the Sunday night concert series will run from July 1 to Aug. 26 and feature a variety of music from bluegrass to original rock. Performers include Kemal Evans, the Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific, Bluegrass Fever, Kings Without, Mike Alviano, Elfsong and Pacific Poi Boys.
“The only return group we have is the Naden Band, and they seem to come every other year,” said co-ordinator Val Duckworth. “All the people we have this year are new to me.”
This is Duckworth’s fourth year co-ordinating Concerts in the Park, and she is emphasizing variety.
“We’re trying to get a blend of music that will suit a lot of ages,” she said.
Concerts in the Park performances take place Sunday nights from 6-8 p.m., weather permitting, and are by donation. The concert series is hosted by the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association (LRCA) and is a fundraiser for the association’s many community programs.
“The money raised goes directly into programming, and proceeds are used as needed,” said Duckworth.
This is the 13th year for the Concerts in the Park series, and Duckworth says it has become so well-known that musicians usually contact her because they want to perform in Ladysmith.
“We’re becoming more known on the Island all the time,” she said. “I get phone calls and e-mails from musicians from all over. Word of mouth is amazing too. It’s a close-knit group of people, and once one of the musicians has played at Concerts in the Park, they tell other people.”
Duckworth says the musicians are always thrilled to play at the amphitheatre.
“It’s a beautiful venue,” she said. “It’s absolutely magnificent when you think about it. The amphitheatre is just a wonderful place for people to sit. Anyone who’s played there since I’ve been involved has been really impressed.”
Concerts in the Park kicks off Canada Day with Kemal Evans, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who combines elements of soul, funk, jazz and hip hop into a unique blend. Part of Ladysmith’s Canada Day celebrations, the concert will start at 6 p.m.
Growing up on Salt Spring Island, Evans learned to play guitar, piano, bass and drums. Later, he earned varied professional experience playing as part of a hip hop crew for eight years, in between stints as a drummer in a funk band and a heavy metal band.
Concerts in the Park 2012
Transfer Beach Amphitheatre
Sundays from 6-8 p.m., weather permitting
By donation
July 1 — Kemal Evans (all-age blend)
July 8 — Bluegrass Fever (bluegrass)
July 15 — Pacific Poi Boys (Doug Cox and Anela Kahiamoe — country/blues)
July 22 — No Concert
July 29 — Naden Band (big band)
Aug. 5 — Elfsong (original Celtic)
Aug. 14 —No Concert (Ladysmith Days)
Aug. 19 — Kings Without (original rock)
Aug. 26 — Mike Alviano (acoustic folk pop)
