The 2024 Concert in the Park Series held for the last 28 years in Veterans Park will see some new faces joining the concert list, but there’s still a few crowd favorites returning.
“It’s not your grandma’s concert in the park anymore,” said Mark Mikenas, executive director of the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve got some younger people coming in with different styles.”
Since the concert series’ inception, around 80 groups and performers have appeared, with several of the groups returning over 20 times to the Kewanee park.
Lyle Beaver & the Brass Notes are scheduled to make their 24th appearance. The Jim Markum Swing Band will make its 21st return.
But there will be some new talent on display for the series this year, said Mikenas and a few surprises are sure to delight the crowd.
New performers will include recording artist Missy Vail. Vail has won multiple awards at local, state, national and international levels. A member of the Illinois County Music Association, Vail promotes Country and Gospel music. She was voted “Entertainer of the Year” in 2001, 2003 and 2004, winning the recording of the year with “I’ll Be Here” in 2005.
In addition, The Night People, a popular Quad Cities band in the late 1960s, will join the lineup. The band is known for opening for Jimmy Hendrix in 1968.
The Bix Beiderbecke Youth Jazz Band is on the schedule. According to the Bix Jazz Society of Davenport, Iowa, the band is an “auditioned group [that] seeks to spread the music of Bix Beiderbecke and other early 20th century artists and further jazz education in the Quad Cities. The Youth Band is made up of middle and high school students from throughout the Quad Cities who express an interest in early jazz and complete a successful audition.”
The Incredible 45’s, formerly the Glory Days Garage Band, will make its fourth appearance. The local band features members Tom Campbell (vocals and guitar), Mike Berry, (vocals and guitar), Bob McKee, (bass), and Chris Cinnamon (drums and vocals). The group has performed at venues all over the county.
The Kewanee Community Band & Jazz on the Side will make their 15th appearance at the concert and this year will be joined by Conquest Drum and Bugle Corps. The KHS Marching Boilermakers will also perform.
Last summer, inclement weather forced an indoor concert at the Flemish American Club. Playing that week was the Crooked Cactus Band aka Los Nopales Chuecos. Mikenas said he hopes for better weather this year. The band is so great, he said, “they deserve to be heard outdoors.”
The 2024 Concert in the Park Series lineup is:
June 20– Jim Markum Swing Band
June 27– Kewanee Community Band & Jazz on the Side
July 4– Northeast Park Fireworks Display High Jinx
July 11– Missy Vail
July 18– The Night People
July 25– Bix Beiderbecke Youth Jazz Band
Aug. 1– KHS Marching Boilermakers
Aug. 8– Incredible 45’s
Aug. 15– Crooked Cactus Band AKA Los Nopales Chuecos
Aug. 22– Lyle Beaver & the Brass Notes
The concerts will all take place at Veterans Park in Kewanee, depending on the weather, and start at 6:30 p.m. A food stand will be offered courtesy of the Kewanee High School FFA and open at 5 p.m.
Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. The concert series is presented by Petersen Health Care, State Bank of Toulon, Lincoln School Veterinary Clinic and Golnick-Schueneman Funeral Home.
Mikenas said he believes that the lineup this year will provide something for everyone and said the concert will feature some new sounds and bring back crowd favorites.
“Come out and give it a try,” said Mikenas.
