Fewer concerts on canal this year
Four-show series set for Merritt Park amphitheatre
Now presented by the City of Welland, the Concerts on the Canal series will return this year — but with two fewer shows and a reduced calibre of production and talent.
The series’ $65,000 budget would have only paid for two concerts, so city staff elected to stretch the funds to increase the number of events at the amphitheatre in Merritt Park to four, said a report from Erin Carl, supervisor of festival and events.
Tony DiMarco suggested Wellanders will be disappointed.
“We’re only going to have four concerts this summer? When this hits the press, the local residents are going to be just livid with what’s gone on with our concerts,” the Ward 4 councillor said during Tuesday’s general committee meeting of council.
He said the series drew people to the city’s downtown core and its bars.
Welland Downtown BIA in 2018 took over the series from Don Romano and Ralph Belvedere of R&B Productions, who ran it in 2016 and 2017. The Downtown Business Improvement Area is a volunteer group of merchants focused on beautification, revitalization and maintenance programs, marketing and promotion, and special events.
In 2019, R&B Productions submitted a proposal to run the series, but the city awarded the summer series to the Downtown BIA. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the series for two years, and it returned in 2022.
Last year, the BIA presented eight concerts in the park.
Now it’s the city’s responsibility. Tuesday’s report didn’t sit well with other elected officials. Ward 5 Coun. Graham Speck blamed the budget process and Ward 3 Coun. John Chiocchio said residents deserved the same quality series as last year.
With strong-mayor powers granted to Mayor Frank Campion through provincial legislation last year, he took over what Speck called “the mayor’s budget.”
But the 30-day budget process al
lowed councillors to make amendments, including to add to spending.
That included for the Concerts on the Canal series.
Ward 2 Coun. Leo Van Vliet, chairing the meeting, reminded Speck any councillor could have pulled that item from the budget and had every opportunity to change it.
Of the concert series budget, $24,00 goes toward TNR Productions Inc., a live event management and production services company that procures talent; $23,000 for city staff; $5,000 for promotion; $4,000 for security; $4,000 for supplies; $3,000 for equipment rentals; and $2,000 for required permits/fees. staff.
TNR Productions Inc. is owned by Welland’s David Rapelje, who Ward 3 Coun. David McLeod called an experienced vendor willing to take on the series.
Rapelje has produced Port Colborne’s Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival concert series for 25 years, bringing in bands such as Big Sugar, Headstones, The Tea Party, Moist and The Sheepdogs.
Amanda Degazio, manager of business and community services, said Welland is trying to provide stellar entertainment and is looking for music that speaks to everyone.
Ward 3 Coun. Sharmila Setaram thanked staff for making the tough decision to reduce the production value of the shows and come back with four free community concerts, instead of two.Setaram also asked about a cut-off date for more funding — each concert costs roughly $16,200 to run — to add more to the series.
Degazio said April 15 was a good time frame, and Axiak, in response to Ward 4 Coun. Bryan Green, added councillors could bring a notice of motion forward with a proposed funding source if they want more shows this year.
While not in the report, the city said the sale of alcohol at the series is still an internal conversation, with all aspects under review before a final decision.
The concerts take place on Friday nights — June 21, July 26 and Aug. 16 — with the exception of Canada Day, Monday, July 1.