Decatur’s Free Summer Concerts Kick Off June 1 at Rhodes Ferry Park

Decatur, Ala. (May 5, 2015) – Decatur’s popular summer concert series is set to return in 2015, bringing friends and families together for an evening of great music on the banks of the Tennessee River. Sponsored by the Decatur Parks and Recreation Department, Paul Stroud Concerts by the River offers a wide variety of musical entertainment as beautiful Rhodes Ferry Park provides a stunning setting for this free, weekly concert series. The concert series gets underway Monday, June 1 with concerts held each Monday through July 27.

The concert series features a broad range of musical styles including country, oldies, bluegrass, southern rock, jazz, Big Band, and more in the 2015 season. The opening concert on Monday, June 1 will feature crowd favorites Taylor McLain and the Sophisticated Swingers in a performance of classic Big Band melodies and soaring vocals.

Performances begin at 6 p.m. and usually conclude by 8 p.m. All concerts are free and guests are welcome to bring picnic baskets, lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy the abundance of musical talent found in the Tennessee Valley.

   

The 2015 series features the following performers:

June 1              Taylor McLain/Sophisticated Swingers          Crooner/Big Band

June 8              Papa Rox                                                         Oldies, Soft Rock

June 15            Bimini Road                                                    Southern Rock, Blues

June 22            Jeff Whitlow                                                   Country

June 29            Dorothy Cole and Friends                              Tribute

July 6               Dixie Bluegrass/Robert Montgomery             Bluegrass 

July 13             Decatur Youth Symphony/Replay                  Classical/Oldies and

                                                                                                Southern Country Harmony

July 20             Reginald Jackson and Friends                                    Smooth Jazz

July 27             Ben Parker Project                                          Southern Rock

Complete schedule information can be found at www.decaturparks.com or can be obtained by contacting 256-341-4818 or dbreland@decatur-al.gov. Information on concerts will also be posted on the Facebook pages of the Decatur Parks and Recreation Department and the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Funding for the 2015 concert series is provided in part by a donation from Ms. Edna Smith in memory of her daughter, Frances Smith.

The concert series originated in 1991 and now bears the name of the late Paul Stroud, a founding member of the Sophisticated Swingers who encouraged local musical talent and served as the series Coordinator for many years. His legacy lives on through this cherished summer tradition. Special thanks to the many wonderful musical artists who make this evening of family-friendly fun possible.