From left are members of Kind of Blues — Phil Lynch, John Beck, Craig Recla and Greg Hunt. They will perform at 7 tonight for Music in the Park at the band shell in downtown Norway.
NORWAY — The third concert of Music In The Park 2019 will feature a group that will be both familiar and new.
The free summer music series continues at 7 tonight at the band shell in downtown Norway with Kind of Blues.
For more than 15 years, audiences have responded to the jazz stylings of the U.P.’s “Phil Lynch Quartet.” Over the past two or three summer seasons, however, the group began to wander away from 100% jazz, incorporating several originals from members in the group as well as covering light pop and Broadway selections by various artists.
Over the winter, the group took another step forward as a full-on blues band — shuffling the lead singer, repertoire, and the group’s style.
This summer will see the emergence of Kind of Blues, and will now bring the vocal talents of Iron Mountain Schools Director of Bands Craig Recla to the front as lead singer, while keyboard specialist Phil Lynch, an Escanaba High School instructor, handles mainly blues organ and a few vocals. Newly retired bassist John Beck, a former Escanaba schools choral instructor, and drummer Greg Hunt, Norway-Vulcan Area Schools music instructor, retired, round out the lineup unless they are fortunate enough to have the occasional special guest.
The group will present blues made famous by many of the classic greats such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and many more.
“We hope folks that come into Iron Mountain for Out to Lunch and enjoy Stress Test, have a nice dinner in the area and come on down to the beautiful band shell park for this free performance as many folks do all summer during this fabulous series,” event coordinator Carol Sundstrom said.
Music in the Park will have food vendors in the parking spots straight east of the park. Some seating is available at the band shell but those taking in the performances can bring lawn chairs to enjoy the music.
Also, an area will now be reserved for children to be active so folks of any age can attend with minimal distraction near or beside the stage. Parents of young children are invited to use the children’s activity area, but more importantly, to monitor children and insure that no one in the park has a difficult time enjoying the show.
In case of inclement weather, concerts will be held at the Crossroads Church behind the historical museum on O’Dill Drive.
Major underwriters for Music in the Park include the Curtis Brackett Fund; Law Offices of Tinti and Goodman; Vulcan-Norway-Loretto Lions Club, the full sponsor for Kind of Blues; Integrity Care EMS; Norway Area Preservation Society; and Jim’s Music of Iron Mountain, a season sponsor.
Upcoming Music in the Park performances for 2019 include:
— July 11, The Cadillacs
— July 18, The Daydreamers
— July 25, Stress Test
— Aug. 1, Hand Picked Bluegrass.
— Aug. 8, Flagship Romance
— Aug. 15, Norton, Chartier & Company.