Mentor Rocks adds two more concerts

City already expanding amphitheater offerings

Ready to rock some more? Mentor City leaders are extending the Mentor Rocks concert series two weeks this season, “due to its overwhelmingly popular response.”

For example, this week’s show — a Journey tribute band — drew the largest crowd yet, estimated at 7,000.

“This doesn’t include the people lined up on the two ridges and the parking lot,” said Community Relations Administrator Ante Logarusic.

Instead of ending Aug. 15, Billy Morris & Sunset Strip will play Aug. 22, and the season will close with Motown Sounds of Touch on Aug. 29. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. in the amphitheater behind city hall, 8500 Civic Center Blvd.

“I don’t think anyone anticipated the huge success that our Mentor Rocks series would be,” said Mentor City Council President Janet Dowling.

The timing of this week’s council meeting — scheduled the same night as the concert — was rearranged so as to conflict with the

music as little as possible. It couldn’t be entirely moved because of some previously advertised public

hearings.

“It was a great night,” Dowling said. “We had record crowds for the Journey tribute band, and the people’s business was handled thoroughly and in a timely manner. … (The amphitheater) is truly an

enormous success — something that Council and the Administration are extremely proud of.”

The city’s former Summer Concerts in the Park were held in a gazebo, razed to make way for the $2.5 million, 7,500-squarefoot facility featuring state-of-the-art lighting and sound, and twin 14-by-7-foot retractable video screens.

The amphitheater was built with the intention of creating a venue for the performing arts that would serve as a destination. Other free events include “Macbeth” by the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival and Resonanz Opera, presenting classic Italian arias Aug. 19.

“A variety of factors are involved, but there is no doubt that the new facility is key to the overwhelming success this year,” Logarusic said. “The overall experience is what makes Mentor Rocks what it is. It’s a great way to spend a Tuesday evening. Admission is free. We have a great lineup of quality bands. We have a great

variety of foods as well as beer and wine sales.”

The additional bands were selected from several that were on the city’s radar.

“Sunset Strip has a great local following and a different repertoire than we’ve offered this year,” he said. “The Sounds of Touch are an amazing Motown group, and it was a genre we’ve had a lot of requests for. We’re fortunate to have a lot of talented acts in Northeast Ohio to choose from.”

The city budgeted $40,000 for the series this year. The two extra shows will cost $8,500.

“Sponsorships and beer sales will offset the vast majority of the costs, if not recoup them completely, when all is said and done,” Logarusic said.

The administration already is looking ahead to next year, when the series will be expanded to 11 weeks, up from seven.

In addition, three allday music festivals are being planned for summer 2018, as well as other programming.

SUBMITTED This drone shot from the city of Mentor captures the crowd attending the most recent concert in the Mentor Rocks series. The series is being extended this year because of the huge response to the new venue.