Music in the Garden Concert Schedule
Friday, May 13: Leslie
Tucker & Friends, original folk
Friday, May 27: Blazing
Saddle Tramps, western swing
Friday, June 10: John Tracy, Americana
mix
Friday, June
24: Fatty Lumpkin
& the Love Hogs, rockin' blues
Friday, July 8: Baddogs, bluegrass,
blues & reggae
Friday, July 22: Red Hill Band, rock ‘n country
*Sunday, August 7: Central
Virginia Blues Society, blues jam
Friday, August 12: Susanne
FitzGerald, jazz standards
Friday, August 26: Shester,
Datz & Newhall, old-time/bluegrass
*Fundraiser for the Boxerwood Education Association (BEA)
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The annual series draws local music lovers and families, who
enjoy the informal, folksiness of the outdoor venue and often arrive early to
picnic and socialize before the music begins.
Joe Dinardo, a board member and musician who organizes the
series for Boxerwood, is excited about this year’s line-up. “Once again, we’re
bringing incredibly talented musicians and a wide range of musical genres to
the Boxerwood stage – original folk, western swing, rock'n roll, rock'n
country, blue grass, blues, reggae and jazz. It’s great music in one of the
most beautiful and idyllic settings in Lexington!”
First on
the 2016 program is singer-songwriter Leslie Tucker, a one-time Rockbridge
resident who will perform on May 13 with Rockbridge friends Dan Newhall and Jim
Brown. The May 27th garden concert will feature
the Blazing Saddle Tramps, a five-some who play
western swing.
June concerts
include singer-songwriter John Tracy from
Charlottesville performing an Americana mix on the 10th, and
Rockbridge County’s own rockin' blues band, Fatty Lumpkin & the Love Hogs,
on the 24th.
On July 8, the
local Baddogs will offer a mix of bluegrass, blues
and reggae. The July 22nd concert will feature Shenandoah Valley’s
Red Hill Band, playing rock ‘n country.
The August
concerts showcase more hometown talent.
Jazz vocalist Susanne FitzGerald
will perform jazz standards on August 12. She’ll be followed by the
old-time/bluegrass trio Shester, Datz &
Newhall on the 26th.
In addition to the
Friday evening concerts, the Central Virginia Blues Society will hold a special
jam session at Boxerwood on Sunday, August 7 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm as a
fundraiser for the nature center.
Backing this year’s line-up of musicians
is an even longer line-up of local sponsors, including Azurat Studio,
BARC, BB&T, Computer Doctor, Devils Backbone, Kendal, Mariner Media,
Southern Girls, Southern Inn, Sweet Treats and Walkabout Outfitters.
“Thanks to these businesses, and to the
musicians who all donate their
performances, Boxerwood is able to present the Friday concerts for free,” says Dinardo. “Although we don’t
sell tickets or suggest donations, we do pass the hat, so those who want to can
put in a little something for the performers.”
For all concerts, music-goers are encouraged to bring
picnics, lawn chairs or blankets – and kids! In the
event of rain, concerts will be canceled. For more information and “iffy”
weather updates, visit Boxerwood on
Facebook or the Web (www.boxerwood.org) or call 463-2697.
An added feature this year will be the Little Cheerful Food Trailer which was a big hit at our Fairy Forest Festival and will once again bring its delicious delights to Music in the Garden on May 13