Joe Fernandes is pleasantly surprised.
The Maple Ridge resident didn’t know he and his band were launching the inaugural Summer Concert Series in Coquitlam, which starts Friday.
They were hired by the city this spring to kick off the first of three Envision Financial-sponsored shows at Town Centre Plaza.
And Fernandes said they’ll start the series with familiar popular and country tunes to get the crowd on their feet and singing along. “We’ve got an extensive catalogue,” he said. “Footloose, Keith Urban, Roy Orbinson — you name it, we play it.”
Programming city parks with summer sounds is now common in the Tri-Cities, with the aim to bring more people into civic spaces.
In Port Moody, Summer Sundays Concerts began 11 years ago when resident George Balzer saw Rocky Point Park nearly deserted on the day off.
He approached city hall to see if he could organize shows featuring his favourite genres: blues, soul, funk and reggae. Since then, thousands of people have come out to hear the music from top Metro Vancouver bands.
As well, Balzer and his team have collected more than $20,000 from guests for the Crossroads Hospice Society, which has a hospice in PoMo’s Inlet Centre.
Sponsorship has been key for drawing out the visitors. Like last year, Balzer has secured four main companies — PCT, K+S Potash Canada, TD Bank and Open Road — plus two publicity partners (Phoenix Truck and Crane and Flavelle Oceanfront Development) and The Tri-City News as media partner to pay for the popular acts.
Balzer expects to have even larger audiences in 2017 with the opening of the Evergreen Extension, which has a stop nearby at Moody Centre. “It makes it a lot easier for people from all over Metro Vancouver to get here,” Balzer said. “We’re expecting big crowds at Rocky Point Park. That location, there are not too many like it.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Tri-Cities, Port Coquitlam has programmed Leigh Square Community Arts Village (beside PoCo city hall) with performances on Saturdays as well as Sundays.
The city offers a mix of performances at the bandshell — including dance — and encourages hometown acts at Village Vibe and Music in the Square.
As well, for a Canada 150 party next month, Delhi 2 Dublin will grace the Leigh stage in PoCo while Bif Naked will headline Coquitlam’s Kaleidoscope fest,.
THE LINEUP
Summer Concert Series
Town Centre Plaza, Coquitlam, Fridays 7 to 9 p.m.
July 14: Joe Fernandes Band, Megan Twist
Aug. 11: Olivia Penalva, Andrew Allen
Sept. 1: Clavinova Nights, Bruce James Orchestra
Village Vibe
Leigh Square, PoCo, Saturdays 2 to 4 p.m.
July 22: Lincoln Street Union, Dee Frost and the Heaters
July 29: Youth Music Project, Crossroads Coffeehouse
Aug. 5: Tri-City School of Music
Aug. 12: Asi Somos, Western Jaguar
Music in the Square
Leigh Square, PoCo, Sundays 2 to 4 p.m.
July 16: Karen Fowlie, Copper Cove Road
July 23: Blackthorn
July 30: Swamp City
Aug. 6: Rumba Calzada
Aug. 13: 5 on a String
Aug. 27: Ten Thousand Wolves
Summer Sundays
Rocky Point Park, Port Moody, Sundays 2 to 4 p.m.
July 16: Mr. Boogie Woogie, Incognito and Friends
July 21, 22 and 23: Ribfest performers
July 30: Nigel Mack & The Blues Attack
Aug. 6: The Rain City Six Band, Legendary Powder Blues
Aug. 13: R&B Allstars
Aug. 20: So Tight Band
Aug. 27: Brickhouse
Sept. 3: Wailin’ Walker
Kaleidoscope
Town Centre Park Plaza, Coquitlam, Aug. 12
2 p.m.: Jennifer Hayes
3:30 p.m.: West My Friend
5 p.m.: Derrival
6:30 p.m.: The Matinée
7:30 p.m.: The Paperboys
8:30 p.m.: Bif Naked
Canada 150
Leigh Square, PoCo, Aug. 26
2 p.m.: Jodi Proznick Quartet
3:10 p.m.: Alex Wells
4 p.m.: the Full Spin
5:10 p.m.: Atomic Swing Vancouver
7 p.m.: Delhi 2 Dublin
