Summer concert series

MILLBROOK — The Millbrook Arts Group’s (MAG) summer concert series officially began Saturday, July 2, with Big Band Sound. The first concert was originally scheduled for Saturday, June 25, with Girl Howdy, however weather conditions canceled the performance. Regardless, the MAG concert series will run every two weeks from July until September at 7 p.m. at the Band Shell. MAG supports local artists, and many of the groups have a presence in the Hudson Valley, said Ann Gifford, president of MAG. A number of the concert participants are Millbrook residents. The guest vocalist for The Big Band Sound at the July 2 concert is Steve Fabrizio, who also happens to be vice president of MAG. Jill Flanigan, another Millbrook resident, is also a member of Riverbank Banjo Band, which is scheduled to perform on Saturday, July 16. Lou Pappas, a member of Jimmie Jazz, is set to perform Saturday, July 30. He, too, lives locally, as does Vinnie Bo of Vinnie Bo and the Final Touch, on the calendar for Aug. 27.All of the concerts are free and open to the public. “Lots of people come to have picnics. We do a 50/50 raffle. It’s really a very pleasant evening,” said Gifford. “For the 50/50 raffle, half of the proceeds go to the winner and the other half goes to MAG.” The 50/50 raffle is a way for MAG to generate money but it’s not a fundraiser, said Gifford. The arts group has been bringing summer concerts to Millbrook for 22 years.“What I like best about it is actually seeing the neighbors, friends and family at the Band Shell, and the music is a vehicle for that,” she said. The kids all dance and people have picnics and it’s just a super nice atmosphere to be able to watch the community live in.”For more information regarding concert dates, bands and latest concert updates, visit millbrookartsgroup.org.

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