SUMMER CONCERT SERIES READY TO GO FOR 10TH YEAR
From small-scale start, Sunday night event now regularly packs ‘em in at Elmira’s Gore Park; shows get underway June 5
ELMIRA RESIDENTS CAN ONCE again enjoy a full summer of free music as the Sunday Night Concert Series returns to Gore Park this weekend, marking its 10th anniversary.
The concert series was started by local musician Lynn Russwurm to provide a venue for traditional country music. As Lynn has fallen ill, his son Lance has taken over this year, but Lance notes his dad booked all the bands.
“Dad’s very proud of it and so am I. It’s really become a big event in Elmira. It’s pretty cool. It doesn’t cost anything. We usually pass a hat around, like a donation to pay the musicians. But you don’t see that type of music a lot – there’s not a lot of traditional country shows around anymore. I’ve played country music all my life and there’s not a lot of it left. You’ve got to go out to these specialized venues,” Russwurm said.
If you’ve ever passed through downtown Elmira on a summer Sunday night you won’t be surprised to hear the audience can range anywhere from 400 to 1,000 people. They pack into the small park at the corner of Arthur Street and Memorial Avenue, spreading out to the street behind the park, often coming an hour or more earlier to get a good spot to enjoy the show.
Russwurm notes this is the second year in a row that his dad was able to book three full months of Sunday night shows.
“I know Dad’s very proud that he’s gotten it going from virtually nothing to a big event in the town of Elmira. He’s hoping he’ll be able to make it out for some of the shows this year, but you never know. He’s been up and down health-wise. Last year he started out in perfect condition, just a year ago at the start at the first few shows he was there and performed a bit,” Russwurm said.
The bands are a mix of traditional country and bluegrass and he plans to keep it that way. Russwurm chuckles as he remembers how the first few shows it would be a small audience of people who his dad knew really well. But that didn’t last long as word got around and soon good crowds became a regular occurrence.
The performers tend to be local, but they also book bands who fit the demographic and are going to be in the area.
“We’re not trying to keep it local specifically but it is a local event. I know last year we had one band from Kentucky. There’s one group who are from Owen Sound,” Russwurm said.
Russwurm’s excited to have Steve Piticco perform with Naomi Bristow on June 26. He says Piticco is one of the biggest guitar players in Canada right now and has played with a variety of other artists.
Dianne and the Cavaliers is celebrating 50 years of doing country music and she always packs in a big crowd.
“Rural Appetite is a good mainstream country band. Ephraim Frey, he’s a mainstream country band. Traditionally Wound, the start out band, is a sixpiece bluegrass band. I know some of the guys in that and I’m told they’re a great bluegrass band. Earl Fries and the Chaparrals are always popular. Earl is not quite as old as my dad, but he’s getting up there and he’s been around with his various members of his family for years. Back in the ‘80s and ‘70s he was one of the most popular country bands around. The Muir Family, they’re country music, they’ve been here before. Darin Parise and Al Widmeyer, those are both local musicians, very talented. They all have their followings,” Russwurm said.
All of the bands have their own fan bases and are pretty well known locally by country and bluegrass music lovers.
“The audiences are very appreciative of what’s happening. You just don’t see that music anymore. Well you do, but it’s spread out, and there’s not many radio stations that play traditional country anymore.”
The Sunday Night Concert Series runs every Sunday night from 7-9 p.m. in Gore Park, beginning on June 5 and running until Sept. 4. The shows are free and attendees are encouraged to come early to get a good spot and bring a lawn chair.
“If you want to see traditional country done well, any of these groups are great to come out and see. They’re beautiful evenings and hopefully the weather will be good this year. It’s always a lovely evening in the park because it’s 7-9, the sun’s just sort of going down during the shows,” Russwurm said.
The 2016 Sunday Night Concert Series lineup is as follows: June 5 - Traditionally Wound, June 12 - Rural Appetite, June 19 - Ephraim Frey & OldTime Country, June 26 - Naomi Bristow with Steve Piticco, July 3 - Wayne Uncer & Gid-R-Done, July 10 - Earl Fries & The Chaparrals, July 17 - Muir Family, July 24 - Dianne & The Cavaliers, July 31 - Darin Parise with Al Widmeyer, Aug. 7 - Lance Russwurm, Aug. 14 - Gerald Davidson & The Country Versatiles, Aug. 21 - Emory Lester & Jill Jones Band, Aug. 28 - Southbound with Rick Loucks, Sept. 4 - Rhyme ‘N Reason.