The Ashtabula Arts Center's Brown Bag Concert Series returns July 10 .
Held at the North Park Gazebo in Ashtabula each Wednesday and the Village Park in Jefferson on Thursdays, Brown Bag concerts feature a different performer or musical group each week at noon. Admission is always free. Bring lawn chair or blanket and lunch.
The series features a varied group of artists that include folk, pop, big band, brass, Broadway tunes and more. The Ashtabula series is sponsored by the Star Beacon. The Jefferson series is sponsored by Gazette Publications.
The featured performer in both the North Park gazebo, downtown Ashtabula, on July 10 and Jefferson's village park on July 11 will be Northeasterly Winds.
Formed in the spring of 1999, Northeasterly Winds is a woodwind quintet performing classical, pop and jazz. Featured performers are Kathy Zetts, Nanette Case, Jim Fuller, Marc Fannin and Miriam Thayer. All of the members are involved in other musical activities and in addition to community events, the group also plays for weddings and other special occasions.
Concerts are held rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the Ashtabula concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church on Park Avenue. The Jefferson rain site is at the United Methodist Church, adjacent to the park.
The remaining performances of the Ashtabula series will be: Cassie Kahr on July 15; Remember When Big Band on July 22; Dennis Ford on July 29 and Alex VanAllen on Aug. 5.
The remaining performances of the Jefferson series will be Cassie Kahr on July 16, Alex VanAllen on July 23, Dennis Ford on July 30 and Remember When Big Band on Aug. 6.
Cassie Kahr is a Madison High School student with a long list of musical credits to her name. She has performed in numerous musicals and also sang for Radio Disney Pop Squad. She is a member of The Girls Band. Cassie has sung the national anthem at a Captains baseball game, the Cleveland Monsters hockey games and other local events.
Audiences take a walk down memory lane when the Remember When Big Band begins to play. Founded in 2001 by Beverly Rago and her late husband Louis, the band is under the direction of Marty Martinez. Remember When has a substantial repertoire of well-known ballroom, swing and vocal selections and performs at parks, nursing homes, county fairs, church socials and other venues from Conneaut to the west side of Cleveland.
Dennis Ford has been playing in bands since the age of 12 and has played in Soul Expressions, Good Question and Qiana. He has performed with top entertainers including Tommy James and the Shondells, Chubby Checker and more. Dennis sings songs from the 1950s to the present.
A native of Ashtabula, Alex VanAllen is a student at Ohio University. She has performed in numerous theatrical productions in both G. B. Community Theatre and Straw Hat Theatre at the Ashtabula Arts Center. VanAllen will be singing a selection of pop standards and Broadway tunes.
