By Perry Shirley Staff Writer
If you missed last Saturday’s show, there are four more chances
to soak in a free concert in the cool afternoon shade of Christmas
Hill Park in west Gilroy.
By Perry Shirley
Staff Writer
Gilroy – If you missed last Saturday’s show, there are four more chances to soak in a free concert in the cool afternoon shade of Christmas Hill Park in west Gilroy. The city’s Summer Concert Series rolls on every Saturday from 5:30 to 7:30pm, from now until mid-July.
“Typically we like to showcase local bands,” said Cathy Mirelez, Gilroy Cultural Arts supervisor and one of the events’ organizers. “We have a really wide range of musical styles.”
While a Latin tribute band played the June 16 concert, Saturday’s band, Silvercreek, plays country music. On June 30 the Silicon Valley House Rockers will play classics from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. The July 7 offering, Big Rain. plays more contemporary rock covers. The series will close with South Bay Swing Band at the July 14 show.
“The beauty of it is that people have the opportunity to listen to live music, see it played, enjoy it,” said Carol Harris, a member of the Gilroy Arts and Culture Commission who introduced the series’ first band. “And it’s free. Very often the arts are prohibitive to people because of the expense of tickets.”
In response to concerns by parents who have said it was difficult to come out for last year’s Sunday evening shows, just before a workday, and that the amphitheater was hard on young children, some changes are being made.
This year, all concerts take place Sunday evenings, and the first and the last concert are being held at the park’s gazebo, closer to the children’s playground.
“This is kind of an experimental year so, depending on feedback, we’ll know what to do next year,” Mirelez said.
