ITHACA, N.Y. – Members of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, CFCU Community Credit Union, and The Downtown Ithaca Marriott gathered at Monks on the Commons on Tuesday to announce the CFCU Summer Concert Series’ 2018 performer lineup to the public.
For the fourth year in a row, CFCU has sponsored a lineup of free concerts beginning on June 21 through September 6. The concerts will begin at 6 p.m. every Thursday – with the exception of two shows – at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on The Commons.
Representatives from all organizations gathered on the patio at Monks to release names of the bands in this years lineup, which was followed by a free show from local bluegrass band, The Hilltoppers.
The event conveniently fell on one of the first warm spring days to hit Tompkins County, with temperatures reaching over 70 degrees by noon.
“We ordered this weather for every concert scheduled this summer,” said DIA Director of Events, Summer Keown. “We are really excited to invite all of you to the 13 free concerts this summer, we’ve got a wide variety of artists in genres from jazz to bluegrass, so we’ll have a little bit of everything – we’ve got a great mix of local favorites and nationally recognized performers.”
Thie year, the series will also be sponsored by Downtown Ithaca Marriott, Seneca Beverage Company, Cayuga Radio Group and Wagner Vineyards.
Seph Murtagh, the alternate acting mayor and member of both the DIA and Ithaca’s Common Council, also spoke at the event, sharing an anecdote from last year.
“I had two friends visiting from Ireland for three weeks last summer – they could have gone anywhere in the U.S. but they chose to come to Tompkins County,” Murtagh said. “I’m not making this up, their favorte thing to do was go to these concerts every night on The Commons. It was fun for the whole family, and it was fun for me to see the continuing vibrancy of downtown Ithaca, which is something we’re always trying to foster.”
CFCU Marketing and Events Specialist, Jessie White, said sponsoring the series was especially important to the credit union was bringing people together.
“This is a great event,” White said. “At the heart of it, it’s a community event and our community is so important.”
While Keown said she hoped for perfect weather throughout the series, in case of weather emergencies, she said The Range is set up to host any shows that may need to come indoors.
Check out the final list of performers in the lineup below.
2018 CFCU Summer Concert Series Schedule
June 21 – Vanishing Sun: Rochester (R&B, Jazz, Funk)
June 28 – Thru Spectrums: Ithaca (Funk, Rock)
July 5 – Viva Mayhem: Ithaca (Ska)
July 12 – Maggie Koerner: New Orleans (Soul, Rock)
July 18 (Wednesday) – Taj Weeks & Adowa: St. Lucia & NYC (Reggae, Afro Folk)
July 26 – Searson: Ontario (Canadian Celtic Pop)
August 2 – Fall Creek Brass Band: Ithaca (Brass Funk)
August 9 – Stone Cold Miracle: Ithaca (Soul)
August 16 – The Hilltoppers: Ithaca (Bluegrass)
August 18 (Saturday) – East Hill Classic Jazz Band: Ithaca (Jazz)
August 23 – The Blind Spots: Ithaca (Moxy Rock)
August 30 – Kwame Binea Shakedown: NYC (Roots Rock)
September 6 – Gunpoets: Ithaca (Hip-Hop)
