Ninth Year of Summer Series Featured 10 Performances in Downtown Lakewood
On 10 occasions this summer, Downtown Lakewood took on a different persona. Always a bustling commercial district, the Detroit Avenue corridor now brimmed with family gatherings, dancing children, melodious tunes and a cheerful atmosphere fit for celebrating the weekend’s arrival.
The 2019 Front Porch Concert Series concluded last Friday evening, August 30, when Rey Cintron Latin Jazz performed the 10th and final show on the front steps of Lakewood Public Library. Sponsored by Bentley Wealth Management of Raymond James and presented by LakewoodAlive, this popular summer concert series drew approximately 4,000 attendees to Downtown Lakewood for performances held on consecutive Fridays from June 28 through the end of August.
A staple of Lakewood’s summer since 2011, the Front Porch Concert Series adds vibrancy and an enhanced sense of community to Lakewood’s urban core, inducing smiles and foot-tapping among guests from all walks of life. Each week showcased a different style of family-friendly music while Lakewoodites and visitors enjoyed an entertaining evening at an open-air venue.
The 2019 installment of the Front Porch Concert Series featured many memorable performances and a remarkable variety of musical genres, ranging from rock-n-roll and jazz to folk and swing. LakewoodAlive thanks Chris Parsons of The Lakewood Music Collective for coordinating the performer lineup in a volunteer capacity. With 10 total performances this summer, the series has now hosted more than 90 concerts since its inception.
“On behalf of LakewoodAlive and Lakewood Public Library, thank you to the musicians, sponsors, concert-goers and volunteers who helped make the 2019 Front Porch Concert Series such a success for our community,” said Ian Andrews, Executive Director of LakewoodAlive. “This series has evolved into a popular family entertainment option within our downtown district, creating a Lakewood summer tradition that supports our mission to foster and sustain vibrant neighborhoods within our city.”
LakewoodAlive thanks the following talented musicians and bands for performing as part of the 2019 Front Porch Concert Series: The Pocket (Week 1), Robin Blake Sound Experiment (Week 2), Revolution Brass Band (Week 3), Diana Chittester (Week 4), Mr. Eric’s Music (Week 5), The George Martins (Week 6), Cats On Holiday (Week 7), LMC Student Ensembles (Week 8), Drumplay (Week 9), Rey Cintron Latin Jazz (Week 10).
The 2019 Front Porch Concert Series is generously supported by the following sponsors:
Title Sponsor:
Bentley Wealth Management of Raymond James
Symphony Sponsors:
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Family Health Center
The Exchange
Lakewood Public Library
Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC)
Harmony Sponsors:
City of Lakewood
The Lakewood Music Collective
Lion and Blue
Play Grounds Café