Summer Concerts in Verdugo Park

Summer Concerts in the Park, a popular summertime family program organized by the City of Glendale Community Services & Parks Dept., is coming back this summer. The first concert was last night and featured the Verdugo Swing Society which is a full size community big band that has been a part of the foothills for over 30 years. This concert series runs every Wednesday night until Aug. 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is absolutely free.

This concert series has something for everyone. Besides the Big Band style of music, series’ performers include a traditional Cuban salsa band, a blues band, an ’80s band, an R&B band and a ’50s/’60s band. This event takes place at the far north area of the park at 1621 Cañada Blvd. and you are encouraged to bring your lawn chairs, dinner and blankets for a sunset picnic in the park with fabulous entertainment! Orquesta Charangoa will bring authentic Cuban music in the Charanga style and stays true to the tradition featuring flute, violins, piano, double bass, timbales, congas and güiro. A big thank you to L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich for sponsoring this band. The Blue Links plays sweet soul music from the 1960s and 1970s, with a special emphasis on the music of Aretha Franklin. They bring a high-energy, jazz- and blues-inflected interpretation to classic tunes from Motown. The Skinny Little Twits perform a diverse repertoire of songs appealing to audiences of all ages culminating in “The Ultimate Tribute to the Legends of Rock.” They will recreate the legendary music and concert experience of Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Boston, Def Leppard, The Eagles and many others! Cold Duck “bills” themselves as the premier dance band since 1969 and come complete with a horn section and a woodwind section. The final band of the series is the Hodads who will be playing music from the ’60s and ’70s. Since 1989 The Hodads have been thrilling audiences with their tremendous variety of music and entertainment and have appeared in concert with Kool & The Gang, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Brian Setzer, The Smothers Brothers, The Surfaris, Jim Belushi and many more. So please come out and enjoy the beautiful summer nights in Verdugo Park under the beautiful sycamore trees with your family and friends. For more information, log onto www.facebook.com/MyGlendaleParks.

During these hot summer nights please remember to come to the Montrose Shopping Park for its Shop & Dine Fridays. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. head right over from work for a little shopping and stay for the dining. Some of the stores will be staying open later than usual and there will be music playing for you to enjoy. After you are done shopping you can enjoy one of the many fine dining establishments in the Shopping Park.

Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce: Your source for all things local! Our mission is to actively support and enrich the community, vitality and pride of Montrose, to help preserve the historic district and small town atmosphere, to promote economic stability and positive, productive relationships within Montrose and the surrounding communities.

Upcoming events
Montrose ArtWalk on Saturday, July 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the 2300 & 2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue in Montrose.

August business mixer on Wednesday, Aug. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jenkins Property Management, 2937 Honolulu Ave., La Crescenta-Montrose.

  melinda clarke