Summer concerts in park begin Saturday, June 30

The Morgan Arts Council (MAC) launches its 26th season for Summer Concerts in the Park with an eight concert line-up that starts a week earlier than usual beginning on June 30.

The music ranges from funk and jazz to ska and bluegrass and includes both Carpenter Ants and Hillbilly Gypsies from West Virginia.

The Sankofa African Dance Theater in mid-July complements the cultural impact of the Art Africa gallery show at the Ice House.

All summer concerts are at 5:30 p.m., staged along the mountainside that marks the western border of Berkeley Springs State Park. They begin June 30 and continue through August 18. The nearby Ice House art center serves as rain location.

The free summer concert series was the brainchild of the late Linda Fallon introduced in 1987 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Morgan Arts Council. In the years since, it has become MAC’s best known program drawing more than 50,000 attendees over the years with many returning year after year.

"It's hard to believe we've been doing this for more than a quarter of a century," said Jeanne Mozier, MAC Secretary. "And each season concert planners come up with a perfect blend of music types."

Mozier announced major sponsors for the entire series: Lot 12, Best Western Berkeley Springs Inn and Star Theatre.

Additional funding support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts as well as local hotel-motel tax revenues.

For detailed information on the concert series and participating performers, pick up a series calendar around town, check online or call 304-258-2300.

Saturday, June 30, Higher Hands; Saturday, July 7, Hillbilly Gypsies; Saturday, July 14, Sankofa Dance Theater; Saturday, July 21, The Carpenter Ants; Saturday, July 28, Caravan of Thieves; Saturday, August 4, The Players Band; Saturday, August 11, Eddie Becker Band and Saturday, August 18, The Fabulous Mary Ann Redmond Band.