The Boreal Ultimate Music Society is bringing back its Summer in the Parking Lot series outside The Da Vinci Centre for the second year, following a successful debut in 2022.
The concert series starts this Thursday, continuing every week through Aug. 31, with shows beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event is weather-protected, with the concerts moving indoors to the Michelangelo Room if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate.
Organizer Chrissy Klaas said the series offers a low-cost entertainment series throughout the summer for everyone to enjoy.
“I think it’s fantastic,” she says.
“I think it’s important we have an event that features local people. We’re using about 99 per cent local musicians. We’re employing local people, and we’re also providing a service to the community.”
Klaas said the performing musicians are paid, with a stage and venue that gives them an opportunity to reach new audiences while showcasing a wide array of the city’s musical talent.
“This provides a lot of exposure for them to people who may not get a chance to see them otherwise,” Klaas said.
“We have all kinds of different acts this year. We have country, we have rock, we have rap, we have jazz, we have blues. We have some tribute acts, we have the Kaminari Wan taiko drumming group from town, and we have some students from schools performing. In addition to this amazing local lineup, we also have Five Alarm Funk playing on July 13.”
The series had a great response in its first year, Klaas said.
“Every week we were growing,” she said. “At the end, we had a lot of people. We’re expecting even more.
“We’ve done a bunch of shows throughout the year and have been gaining a lot of traction. More people are finding out about us, so I think we’re going to have a really successful year.”
The admission price for each concert is $5, with children under 12 free.
The Boreal Ultimate Music Society will have special $40-punch cards available, offering a discount for people looking to pay in advance for multiple admissions, through the kick-off this Thursday, otherwise admission for each concert can be paid at the gate.
More information about the Boreal Ultimate Music Society, and their upcoming events, can be found online.
