La Plata, MD (May 20, 2011) – The Town of La Plata Summer Concert Series for 2011 gets underway Memorial Day weekend with the 25th Hour Band performing on the lawn at La Plata Town Hall, 7PM, Friday May 27, 2011. This will be the first of 19 Friday night concerts that will go through the end of September. All special events at La Plata Town Hall, including the Summer Concert Series, are free and open to the general public.
The La Plata Summer Concert Series has been a community feature for 17 years, expanding from 4 concerts in the first year to the current, four month schedule. Many of the bands in this year’s lineup have been appearing at the series for a number of years and are familiar to the La Plata audience, including the 25th Hour Band, which has become the traditional first act of the season.
Based in St. Mary’s County, the 25th Hour Band is one of Southern Maryland’s most sought after acts with a following throughout the region, including Washington DC, Baltimore, Annapolis, and Northern Virginia. The six piece band – featuring lead singer Carol Schachter – performs jazz, classic rock, Motown, and contemporary tunes, mixing power vocals and great musicianship. They also hold the distinction of being the only band to perform twice at La Plata Summer Concert Series this year. As they have in past years, the 25th Hour Band will also close the series on September 30th.
Other returning acts include the Four of a Kind Band, a classic rock band; the Sons of Pirates, with a Jimmy Buffett influenced repertoire; and several military bands such as the Navy’s premier country band, Country Current; the versatile US Navy Band, Cruisers; and the US Naval Academy’s rock group, Electric Brigade.
Many of the new acts scheduled to perform at this year’s Town of La Plata Summer Concert Series were booked as the result of an online audience survey that was promoted at concerts last summer. One of the questions asked for names of other bands that concert goers would like to see at La Plata Town Hall. Port Tobacco Pickers (bluegrass with a twist), Cover Story (classic rock), and The Eric Scott Band (original contemporary pop) were among those mentioned that are now in the lineup for this summer.
Other new acts scheduled to perform include bluegrass favorite Jay Armsworthy and Eastern Tradition, Elvis impersonator Lionel Ward and the New World Band, and Irish traditional musicians, the Blarney Stones.
A complete schedule for the Town of La Plata Summer Concert Series is available at La Plata Town Hall and from merchants and restaurants in the downtown La Plata area. The concert schedule and a full special event schedule can also be downloaded from the Town’s website at www.TownofLaPlata.org. From the home page, click on “Events.”
The Town’s website also features video of each band so that audience goers can get an idea of the performers’ styles and genres before the show. Those can be accessed by clicking on the band name in the lineup under “Summer Concert Series.”
The La Plata Summer concerts take place outdoors with bands performing on a veranda on the west side of Town Hall and audience seated on the lawn. Concert goers are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for sitting. Picnics and coolers are welcomed, but no alcohol is allowed. Food is available for purchase on site. Town officials also encourage the public to patronize local eating establishments in La Plata before and after the show.
Concerts start at 7PM and usually last until around 9PM, with a short break in the middle. Restrooms are available
