Photo by Mike Kellems
The Code Names band
(Click on photos to enlarge)
Dig out your lawn chairs, find your picnic basket, and — take heart — look forward to pleasant evenings this Wednesday and Thursday as Arts in the Park kicks off its 15th season at Fox Park’s Dennis F. Smith Amphitheater.
Comedian Henry Denger
This season’s debuts will feature the historic LaPorte City Band on Wednesday, June 3, and The Code Names and the LPHS Choral Group on Thursday, June 4. (Pre-concert music on June 4 will feature Trevor McDonald and Matt Winters, with special guest in a musical comedy spot: Henry Denger, age 7!).
Each week, pre-concert music will be performed between 6:15 and 6:45 p.m., with the featured band performing at 7 p.m. Each Arts in the Park concert also features an art exhibit opening at 6:30 p.m. and a poetry reading at 6:45 p.m.
June 3-4
— June 3, 7 p.m., LaPorte City Band. The LaPorte City Band was founded in 1879 and is still going strong under the direction of Charles Steck, who took the baton when Jim Burden retired three years ago. Steck has been trumpet instructor at Valparaiso University since 1990, is assistant director of bands and choirs at LaPorte High School, and is sanctuary choir director at Bethany Lutheran Church.
— June 4, 7 p.m., Youth Concert. At 6:15 p.m. pre-concert musicians Trevor McDonald and Matt Winters will perform. Dr. Scott Simerlein, reigning LaPorte poet laureate, will present poetry at 6:45. At 7 p.m. featured band The Code Names will take the stage. The Code Names is a young rock band based in the Valparaiso area, featuring Carl, age 11, on keyboard/vocals; Drum, age 9, on bass/vocals; Gage, age 10, on drums/vocals; Graham, age 10, on guitar/vocals; and Stevie, age 10, on guitar/vocals. The band’s musical influences are the Beatles, Neil Young, Nirvana, Wilco, Pearl Jam, and ’60s R&B. Also performing Thursday will be the LaPorte High School Choral Group under the direction of Tom Coe.
AIP schedule, history
Arts in the Park will host concerts at Fox Park all summer on Wednesdays and Thursdays through Aug. 27.
AIP began in 2000 when Dr. Bill and Kitty Wolf and former LaPorte City Band Director Jim Burden joined forces to extend the LaPorte City Band concert season so that LaPorte could enjoy the aesthetics of the arts and concerts all summer long. Fifteen years later there are now 10 LaPorte City Band concerts, 16 additional concerts of various genres, poetry readings and art exhibits. Kitty Wolf was the driving force behind this music tradition. Under her guidance, volunteers, individuals, businesses, organizations and musicians have shown their support. LaPorte Service League, Tri Kappa Associates and other volunteers have been the backbone of the concession stand. Jack Whitted was one of the original volunteers who helped design and build the Arts in the Park sign that hangs in the band shelter and the cart for the popcorn machine.
Arts in the Park makes for a great evening for the whole family, with a playground for children and a hillside to gather with friends and family and enjoy great music for free. Concerts are funded by donations from people throughout LaPorte and surrounding communities. Bring your own food and drink or purchase snacks and refreshments at the concession stand: cookies, soda pop, hot popcorn and sometimes other goodies, too. All proceeds from the concession stand support Arts in the Park.
Lisa Smithson is executive director/board president for Arts in the Park, Kitty Wolf is vice president, Marilyn Savich is secretary and Dale Parkison is treasurer. Other board members are Sandy Gleim, Jon Howes, John Langford, Dick Weber and Bill Wolf.
Here’s the rest of the lineup for this year’s concerts:
June 10: LaPorte City Band
June 11: Hoosier Star Night
June 17: LaPorte City Band
June 18: Middle of the Road Band
June 24: LaPorte City Band
June 25: HiFi2WiFi
July 1: LaPorte City Band
July 2: Cripple Creek
July 8: LaPorte City Band
July 9: LaPorte Symphony Ensemble
July 15: LaPorte City Band
July 16: Me & the Boys
July 22: LaPorte City Band
July 23: Trouble Blind
July 29: LaPorte City Band
July 30: Dr. Groovy & the Soul Surgeons
Aug. 5: LaPorte City Band
Aug. 6: PT Cruisers
Aug. 12: Junior & the Igniters
Aug. 13: Henhouse Prowlers
Aug. 19: LPHS Marching Band
Aug. 20: Windiana Concert Band
Aug. 26: First Church of God Worship Team
Aug. 27: Tom Milo Big Band
For more information, visit www.artsintheparklaporte.com.