I am nearly giddy with excitement, because free outdoor concert season is here. I have loved listening to live music since I was a little girl listening to my uncles jamming folk tunes around the campfire in my small town in Minnesota. As a teen, I'd drive an hour to see my cousins wailing out the 60s rock in their band Lost Weekend. In college, I was all about Brenda Weiler and Steward Davis any other midwestern singer songwriter who would make the trek to play at my small liberal arts university. As newlyweds, we'd stay out late on Tuesday nights to hear my cousin's band The Kung Fu Hippies. And in California, I lived the rock start dreams by singing in a church band that also played secular music for local gigs.
Now that I'm a mom, I love to taking my kids to hear live music. It's such a treat to see them engaged with the musicians, making the connections of sound to instrument, beats to drums and lyrics to voice. Some days we love to dance and twirl, or some days just sit and soak it in. Whether it's folk, rock, pop, hippie jams, or zydeco; you'll see us out and about filling out ears and hearts many evenings this month.
My personal favorite concerts are at the Ellis Hollow community center on Tuesday nights. They start early (6pm), parking is easy, and the atmosphere is very laid back. The fabulous lineup of music downtown on Thursdays also starts at 6, though the concrete ground makes it less comfy for those not dancing. The the fun on Saturday nights at Taughannock State Park is infectious, with hundreds of people enjoying the tunes. I still haven't made it to a concert at Meyers Park or at the Cornell Arts Quad, but I've heard they are great, and both series start THIS WEEK! I'll update the blog with details once I get there!
You can find details on local concerts at the Ithaca Family Fun Fairs, Festivals and Concerts tab, or the Community Calendar.
