by Lisa Schauer
After taking a break last year due to restrictions on public gatherings during COVID-19, the Morgan Arts Council has announced the season lineup for the 2021 Concerts in the Park summer program.
Free Summer Concerts in the Park have been held in Berkeley Springs State Park on Saturday afternoons since 1987.
Concerts are from 5:30 until about 7:30 p.m. Bring your own lawn chair or picnic blanket. No pets or alcohol allowed. Rain location is the Ice House for all concerts except on September 4 when it will be in the Connie Perry Auditorium at Berkeley Springs High School.
New acts this year include “Snaps for Sinners”, a rockabilly-swing ensemble; “Ryanhood”, an acoustic folk-pop duo; and “BlackCat Zydeco” featuring Louisiana zydeco, Cajun and blues accordionist Dwight Carrier.
“The artists are eager to get back out and share their music,” said Jill Klein Rone, Concert and School Coordinator for Morgan Arts Council.
“I’m excited to dance in the park again,” said Rone, who books all the acts for the seven-date summer series.
“Every year it’s a juggling act, and we only have seven slots,” Rone said. The genres are varied, from Americana, country and bluegrass to blues, rock and pop.
“We couldn’t do this without our local sponsors,” said Rone.
Local sponsors include SureStay Plus Berkeley Springs Inn, The Naked Olive, Gat Creek Furniture, Lot 12 Public House, and River Bend Family Medicine.
Funding is also provided by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History; the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts; and local hotel/motel taxes.
Summer Concerts in the Park kicks off on July 10 with “Hillbilly Gypsies”, a talented group of old-time bluegrass and mountain musicians, including fiddler Robbie Mann, originally from Great Cacapon.
Local ensemble “The Flashbacks” performs hits from the ‘50s to the ‘80s on September 4 in a benefit concert for Berkeley Springs State Park Foundation.
2021 Summer Concerts in the Park
July 10 – Hillbilly Gypsies
July 17 – Snaps for Sinners
July 24 – Ruthie and the Wranglers
July 31 – Ryanhood
August 7 – Deni Boney & Chris Flynn
August 14 – BlackCat Zydeco featuring Dwight Carrier
August 21 – Jim Donovan and the Sun King Warriors
September 4 – The Flashbacks
