MORGANTOWN – A large blue tour bus’s shadow graced the Courthouse Square Saturday evening as BOPARC hosted a Sounds of Summer Series concert to the public. A happy audience came together toting lawn chairs and scoring Kona Ice as kids ran through the square in their cowboy boots.
A five-man band wielding, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and stand-up bass allotted the echo of bluegrass music from blocks away. Deeply rooted in Appalachian tradition Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass brought down the house from the Courthouse stair opening the evening with a bluegrass jam.
“Our community has expressed a great deal of appreciation and support for the Sounds of Summer series,” said Melissa Wiles of BOPARC.
Danny Paisley and his band played numerous songs as the audience clapped along and tapped their feet. They even took the time to allow requests from the audience. The band is currently on tour, playing traditional bluegrass and sticking to a family tradition that Paisley’s late father started as the founder of Southern Grass.
Wiles mentioned that Joe Kaehler of the City’s Metropolitan Theatre was kind enough to work with BOPARC for this concert for set up and sound. The Met was available in case of being rained out, but the weather was what some might describe as perfect, and the Courthouse Square was shaded comfortably.
The BOPARC Sounds of Summer Series is offering a plethora of community events through the remaining weeks of summertime. The concert Friday kept momentum into the weekend after Wednesday’s Fourth of July Celebration. Upcoming concerts include Steel Drums July 17th at Krepps Park and Mountain Heart at Marilla Pool July 27th.
The Series is also inclusive of Movies in the Park which include a family fun festival from 7-9 p.m. “Cars 3” will be playing at Jack Roberts Park, “Peter Rabbit” August 4th at Paul Perserve and “A Wrinkle in Time” August 17th at Krepps Park. All events are free and open to the public.
“BOPARC is thankful to our sponsors, including the Mon County Commission, City of Morgantown and Coca-Cola for their contributions to these events. Without their support the series would not be possible,” said Wiles.
