Motown, indie rock, folk, blues and Celtic are all genres featured in this year’s Concerts in the Park series, featuring local musical artists in Nanaimo’s various public parks.
The free series includes 15 artists across 11 different shows beginning May 12 and ending in late August.
Mayor Leonard Krog said the popular event is a great way to showcase local talent, attract tourism and give the community something to enjoy.
“I’ve often jokingly said, I’ve read a lot of history [and] no nation or civilization collapsed because they had too much art and culture,” Krog said. “Supporting the cultural side of your community and giving people the opportunity to hear music is healthy. It’s healthy for the people listening, it’s healthy because it draws people together in public venues and it enables our local talent to develop and get experience.”
The series starts Sunday, May 12, from 1-2 p.m. with Laura Kelsey at Colliery Dam Park, and continues Friday, May 17 from 6-8:15 p.m. with Mostly Motown and Turnpike at Maffeo Sutton Park.
Other shows are Baby Bleu at Kin Park on June 12; the Shindigs, Danger Box and Maverick Cinema on June 28 at Maffeo Sutton Park; String Fever at Piper’s Lagoon Park on July 17; Cosmic Dust at Harewood Centennial Park on July 31; the Piu at the Bowen Park amphitheatre on Aug. 7, Dublin2 at Oliver Woods Community Centre on Aug. 14; Mike Alviano at Westwood Lake Park on Aug. 21 and Sundown: A Gordon Lightfoot Experience and the Shineolas on Aug. 23 at Maffeo Sutton Park. For show times, search the City of Nanaimo’s website.
Krog said including a variety of musical genres was important to appeal to a increasingly diverse set of tastes through the city.
“Arts and culture should reflect the community and that means diversity,” he said, adding that he personally considers himself eclectic. “I can listen to Vivaldi or Strauss or Chopin or Tchaikovsky, I can enjoy country and western. I’m not a big hip-hop fan to be honest.”
It’s recommended that audience members bring a chair or blanket to sit on.
Some concerts are in partnership with food truck Fridays.
Laura Kelsey’s performance at Colliery Dam Park on May 12 is part of Family Fishing Day with a trout release at noon and learning-to-fish sessions for children 5-15 years old.
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