This week, the Arts in the Parks series will host events in two Minot parks, with one of the first entertainment events in the newly reopened Oak Park joining the season's workhorse Scandinavian Heritage Park in the revelry.
Minot City Band tonight, 7 p.m., Oak Park band shell
Terri Aldrich, executive director of the Minot Council of the Arts, which produces the free summer concert series annually, recommends that patrons bring their own lawn chairs for comfort, and reminds audiences that although there is no charge for the concerts, a freewill offering will be taken. Popcorn and water will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the series. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will be cancelled.
The Minot City Band will perform this evening at 7 p.m. at the Oak Park band shell.
"It's the inaugural performance at the newly opened park," said director Jerry Spitzer. "We'll be back there for the Sousa concert too. That's on July 19."
The band will be playing a patriotic theme including the "Armed Forces Salute" and "The Battle of Shiloh March."
"We're also playing 'September,' written about Sept. 11," Spitzer said. The band will also perform "A Crazy Mixed-Up Opera" and "Mountain of the Sun," which was commissioned for the American International School of Muscat, Oman.
A subgroup of the band, the Brass Quintet, will be playing "That's a-Plenty," which was written in 1914 as a ragtime piano composition, recognizable to some as a theme Jackie Gleason used in his television skits. Pat Schwan and Wayne Schempp on the trumpet, Deana Carpenter on horn, Joe Alme on trombone and George Clark on tuba comprise the quintet.
"Of course we're closing with 'Stars and Stripes Forever," said Spitzer.
The visual artist is Stillpoint Photography.
Dakota Dixie, Sunday, Scandinavian Heritage Park, 4 and 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dakota Dixie will be performing at the Scandinavian Heritage Park at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Spokesman and trumpeter Pat Schwan says the group will be offering typical Dixieland music, such as "Basin Street Blues," "Farewell Blues," "Bill Bailey (Won't You Please Come Home)" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love."
"There will probably be some rendition of 'Saints,'" he added, referring to "When the Saints Go Marching In."
Joining Schwan are Curt Tracy on the tuba, Curt Kumpf on trombone, clarinetist Bob Briggs and John Spitzer on drums.
"For the 4 o'clock show we have Briana Schwan on the piano, and at 7 we have Arnola Leverson," Schwan said. "We always enjoy doing the Arts in the Parks programs. Dixieland and the outdoors are made to go together. This is the right music in the right atmosphere."
The visual artist is Aaron Michaels, photography.