Village of Leicester

Leicester park to host concert series

Beginning June 13 and continuing through Aug. 8, the Village of Leicester will be hosting its premier series of Wednesday summertime concerts at the gazebo in the park square. The concerts are free and everyone is invited.

The series is the brainchild of Leicester Village Trustee Michelle Peete and Joni Santucci of ‘The Gatherings,’ who obtained a Genesee Valley Council on the Arts Decentralization Program grant along with contributions from the Village of Leicester, The Gatherings, and municipal contractor, Sewer Specialty Services to make the series happen. The concerts will feature local talent performing in a variety of styles and musical genres.

All the shows will be on Wednesdays, starting at 6:30 p.m. and usually continuing until 8:30 p.m.

Starting things off on June 13 will be a joint concert of the York Central School Jazz Band and Show Chorus, lead by music teacher Eric Kelly.

Kelly returns on June 27, but this time with his retro-band Trilogy in place of the students. Triology is a four piece outfit that specializes in classic rock’n’roll tunes and has been playing throughout the region for 24 years.

String of Pearls led by former Yorker Jerry Curry plays on July 11. Since the late 1980s, Curry has earned a solid reputation playing with top local bands, contributing guitar, slide guitar, harmonica and vocals. On guitar and bass is Dave Santamaria from Irondequoit, well known for his enthusiastic and humorous performances. Playing guitar or banjo is Nancy Drum, whose powerful vocals have been favorably compared with Bonnie Raitt or Patsy Cline.

The ever-popular Gary the Happy Pirate makes an appearance on July 18 with his always well received children’s program which adults will enjoy as well.

The Barley Mob Band, appearing on July 25, are four local musicians who play everything from traditional bluegrass to present day hits.

The Alchemy Community Steel Band plays on Aug. 1. These steel drum players include Ted and Karen Caning and their family and friends.

The series concludes on Aug. 8 with the ever enduring Kelly’s Old Timers. Eric makes another appearance here, but the big attraction is his father Roger, whose virtuoso riffs on jazz guitar have entertained dance and concert goers in our region for seven decades. The band was founded in 1950 by the late accordionist Woody Kelly and his brother Roger whose respective musical associations date back to the Checker Boys and Swingsters of the 1940s. For decades, the Old Timers have been a fixture of the round and square dance circuit throughout the region, but are just as well known for their in-concert renditions of standards and old favorites. The Old Timers maintain their family legacy today with Roger handling guitar chores and son Eric on keyboards and vocals. Woody’s son Doug is on acoustic bass and calls the square dances. Warsaw music teacher Guy Macaluso is on trumpet, guitar or electric bass. Keith Kruppner of Wyoming is on drums.

The following Wednesdays, August 15 and 22, are reserved as rain dates for any of the earlier concerts if they have been rained out. If a concert has been canceled due to rain, a sign will be posted in the park prior to the concert and as early as possible.

Concert goers should bring their own lawn chairs. Concerts will be vended by the Boy Scouts and YCS Odyssey of the Mind club, which will be selling food and drink items. And nearby The Gatherings will be open in the old railroad depot with its fine fare of beverages and pastries.