Each year, organizers try to make sure about 25 percent of the acts that play at Freedom Park summer concert series are new.
One of the additions for 2011 is the All Paul Show, a tribute to Paul McCartney. The band takes the Freedom Park stage Saturday, July 9, at 7 p.m.
I’m old enough to remember The Beatles, so I’m excited, said Nell Burrows, president of the Freedom Park Foundation, with a laugh. `But even the younger folks should like it.`
Featuring Dave Plummer as Paul McCartney with Geo Doody on keyboard, Scotty Mac on guitar and Donnie Moore on drums, the All Paul Show touts itself as looking and sounding `like the real thing,` offering the `experience of being at a Paul McCartney concert on his current world tour.`
It’s just one of the acts that Burrows is looking forward to this summer. Also this weekend, there will be a contra dance. Set for Sunday, July 10, at 7 p.m., the dance is sponsored by the Dance Flurry Organization and features music by The Capital District Megaband.
`One of our board members is into contra dancing and said, ‘We have to do this!’` Burrows said.
Why not? The park prides itself on having a little something for everyone, Burrows said. Among the other not-just-standard-music offerings is a performance by the Puppet People on Sunday, July 24. The Ellen Sinopoli Dance Co. will perform on Sunday, Aug. 21, and
Our Own Productions will put on the play `Alter Boyz` Thursday to Saturday, Aug. 18 to 20. Burrows noted that the play was a Tony winner on Broadway and encouraged people to check it out.
She also made a pitch for the Route Fifty Five brass quintet, which closes out the concert series on Saturday, Aug. 27. The group plays a lot of popular and classical brass tunes, mixing them with humor.
`They are very, very fun,` she said. `People won’t recognize the name, but they should come.`
Longtime favorites the Audiostars, billed as `party rock,` play at the park on Wednesday, July 29, and the always-popular Refrigerators take the stage on Wednesday, Aug. 10. Another familiar act, alternative rock group SIRSY, performs on Wednesday, July 13.
`I heard they’re going national,` Burrows said. `This might be the last year we can afford them.`
Wylder will play mostly Motown at a Saturday, July 31, show, changing it up a little from the rock and roll the group traditionally plays. Burrows is looking forward to hearing lead singer Kimberly Wylder’s take on Motown.
`She is one of the best female singers in the area,` Burrows said. `It should be wonderful.`
The concert series kicked off on Wednesday, June 22, with the Blisterz. Rain put a damper on that show, but Burrows was happy to report roughly 1,200 people turned out for Flame, a rock band, on Wednesday, June 29. Flame isn’t the typical rock band ` based in Amsterdam, its members all have some kind of disability.
`Everything from blind to paraplegic to autism,` Burrows said. `They’re really good. It was just wonderful.`
All shows are free and start at 7 p.m. People are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. For a full schedule, visit www.freedomparkscotia.org.“