Concert series begins July 6 at Warriner Mall
After a three-year hiatus the Central Michigan University Summer Concert Series is coming back to campus.
This year’s series, which begins July 6, will take place at Warriner Mall.
“It’s a great location for something like this because the parking is close; it is shaded and we can move it right into (Warriner Hall’s) Plachta Auditorium if it rains,” said Bob Ebner, director of university events.
“Music on the Mall,” formerly known as “Beyond the Ponds,” was created by the provost’s office as a way to give the community a free concert series that highlighted Michigan performers. It was previously held at Rose Ponds.
Rose Ponds is unavailable this year because of ongoing construction.
“Music on the Mall” is sponsored by University Events and will be broadcast live for the first time on 104.3 WCZY. It will take place every Thursday at 7 p.m.
This year’s series will feature four bands – The Saucecats, The Claudia Schmidt Quartet, Ray’s Café Americaine and the Alma College Percussion Ensemble.
Ebner said moving the series back to campus will help draw more people to the concert.
“It benefits the university and the community as a whole because it is important to have a variety of performances that will bring the community together and shade a variety of music styles that people might not get a chance to be exposed to,” Ebner said.
He said the series normally draws 350 to 500 people.
“Music on the Mall” will kick off July 6 with The Saucecats, a New Orleans and Mardi Gras-style band. The Saucecats play a large mix of music from Zydeco and Cajun Funk, along with some old Rhythm and Blues.
The Claudia Schmidt Quartet will perform July 13 with a variety of musical styles, including jazz, blues and some originals of its own.
Ray’s Café Americaine will perform July 20. The group’s repertoire includes early 20th century American, French and international standards.
“Our instrumentation is a little unusual, including an accordion, two guitars and an upright bass, but the musicians are superbly talented,” Ray Kamalay of Ray’s Café Americaine said. “We are pleased to come to Mount Pleasant, the concerts are usually well-organized and the audiences are quite nice.”
Kamalay said the group is so new that it is difficult to say who their music appeals to, but hopes people come out and judge for themselves.
Alma College Percussion Ensemble will conclude the 2006 season with a performance of jazz, steel drum and classical music on July 27.
