Riva Sharples | Editor
The eighth season of the Beresford Area Arts’ summer Rock Wall Concert Series will kick off in just a few weeks on Wednesday, June 11, with the Nolan Clark Band. Nine concerts are scheduled to happen weekly between June 11 and August 6 and will keep your Wednesdays this summer filled with music.
The concert series is meant to bring the community together to enjoy live music that is enjoyable for all ages.
“[The Rock Wall Concert Series] was originally the brainchild of BAA member Julie Morren and former elementary music teacher Gina Mees in an effort to offer a wide variety of free music to the public in our lovely park framed by the iconic rock wall,” explains BAA member Jane Carlson. “We feel this is a wonderful activity to promote community fellowship each Wednesday evening. Everyone is welcome. It’s exciting to see people from all walks of life and all ages join together to simply enjoy music in our beautiful park.”
Each year, the BAA selects a wide range of talent to bring to Beresford through the concert series.
“We try to seek some new talent each year offering a wide variety of music with something for everyone,” said Carlson. “Interestingly, this year, many regionally known performers contacted BAA instead of the other way around. Word is out that this is a beautiful venue and performers enjoy the positive feedback they receive from the audience.”
Each concert costs the BAA between $500 and $1,200 to pay for the talent. The BAA funds these concerts through grants from the Beresford Community Foundation, the SD Arts Council, and donations from the community.
“We covet donations,” said Carlson. “This year, a 50/50 drawing will be offered at each concert along with a donation box present each week for very welcome contributions. We’ve seen our audience numbers grow each year and it is our goal to continue these free concerts long into the future. We need community support in order for that to happen!”
This summer’s line-up consists of a range of local and regional talent, including the Nolan Clark Band, the popular East of Westreville group, the Prairie Groove Band, Mogan’s Heros, Sonny Sundstrom, Walt Peterson, and Scott Giffith, the New Horizons Band, a local talent night (on July 23), Andy Yost and the Big Red Rawkit Riot, and Joel Shotwell and Tayko Jones.
All concerts begin at 7 p.m. in Bulow Park and are free. Area residents should plan to bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the evening in the park. The music will begin right after the summer farmers market, being held in the park on Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m. Area residents are encouraged to come shop, eat, and enjoy an entire evening in the park, beginning at 5 p.m.
The concerts are one thing that make living in Beresford a joy.
“The concerts offer our residents a place to meet and/ or entertain friends, and time to enjoy nature while listening to quality music,” said Carlson. “We appreciate the Farmers’ Market and presence of food and drink trucks on Wednesday evenings as well. A strong community is one where relationships are formed. We hope to provide the perfect framework for that to happen.”
Mark your calendars now for the upcoming summer music series in Bulow Park!