2021 Summer Concert Series kicks off
The crowd at a 2019 summer concert. The weekly events draw crowds of anywhere from a few hundred visitors to two thousand. (Photo by Frank Speziale)
UPDATE: Tonight's show has been moved to the Norwich High School auditorium, located at 89 Midland Drive, due to the expected inclement weather.
NORWICH — The annual NBT Bank Summer Concert Series begins Thursday at 7 p.m. The musical performance will be from Ana Popovic, blues guitar player, and her six-piece band.
COVID restrictions put the summertime favorite on hold last year, but this year the restrictions were lifted just in time for the concerts.
"There really aren't restrictions anymore, we're just required to put up some signage advising people who haven't been vaccinated to wear masks and social distance" said Chenango Blues Association organizer Eric Larsen. "It's going to look a lot like it's always looked in the past."
This year's return marks the 25th year of the Summer Concert Series, said Larsen. The weekly concerts usually draw anywhere from several hundred spectators to a couple thousand.
"Over the years I'd say it's steadily gone up, and now we have anywhere from six or seven hundred to over two thousand," said Larsen.
Despite the usually large crowds, Larsen said that's not all the event is about. He said officials also want to make sure they keep the performers diverse.
"Some styles of music seem to draw larger crowds than others, but we like to be diverse anyway," he said. "It's not about how many people that come it's about being a diverse program."
The series is sponsored by NBT Bank, the R.C. Smith Foundation, the Greater Norwich Foundation, and the Earlville Opera House Decentralization Program. NBT Bank CEO John H. Watt, Jr. said they support the Summer Concert Series because it is good for the community.
“At NBT, we value our longtime relationship with the Chenango Blues Association and their commitment to bringing the NBT Bank Summer Concert Series to downtown Norwich. The incredible music and national talent the free shows bring to Chenango County makes the series unique, and it provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy our downtown parks, visit with friends and neighbors and support local merchants. We are thrilled the NBT Bank Summer Concert Series is on again this year," said Watt.
NBT Bank has provided sponsorship to the weekly concerts since they first began, around 25 years ago. In 2015, they even increased their sponsorship so the concerts could grow from four to seven shows, according to NBT Bank Corporate Communications Director, Florence Doller.
Due to possible rain on the horizon, Larsen urges all who are interested in tonight's event to keep an eye on their Facebook page and website, chenangobluesfest.org, in case the concert must be moved indoors.
"We call them rain or shine, so a little bit of rain we say come prepared for the weather. If it's a heavy rain and/or dangerous like lightning and it might impact the artists then we will post that information by noon on the day of the show and we'll say where the show will be held," he said.
Despite the potential weather, Larsen is optimistic about the show, and hopes it will draw out a large crowd after over a year of staying at home.
"It really could wing either way, but you feel as if there would be some pent up demand. We haven't been able to do these things in a while, and I think it's kind of renewed everyone's interest in things like this," Larsen said. "We're expecting a pretty good crowd."
(This story was updated after going to print.)
NORWICH — The annual NBT Bank Summer Concert Series begins Thursday at 7 p.m. The musical performance will be from Ana Popovic, blues guitar player, and her six-piece band.
COVID restrictions put the summertime favorite on hold last year, but this year the restrictions were lifted just in time for the concerts.
"There really aren't restrictions anymore, we're just required to put up some signage advising people who haven't been vaccinated to wear masks and social distance" said Chenango Blues Association organizer Eric Larsen. "It's going to look a lot like it's always looked in the past."
This year's return marks the 25th year of the Summer Concert Series, said Larsen. The weekly concerts usually draw anywhere from several hundred spectators to a couple thousand.
"Over the years I'd say it's steadily gone up, and now we have anywhere from six or seven hundred to over two thousand," said Larsen.
Despite the usually large crowds, Larsen said that's not all the event is about. He said officials also want to make sure they keep the performers diverse.
"Some styles of music seem to draw larger crowds than others, but we like to be diverse anyway," he said. "It's not about how many people that come it's about being a diverse program."
The series is sponsored by NBT Bank, the R.C. Smith Foundation, the Greater Norwich Foundation, and the Earlville Opera House Decentralization Program. NBT Bank CEO John H. Watt, Jr. said they support the Summer Concert Series because it is good for the community.
“At NBT, we value our longtime relationship with the Chenango Blues Association and their commitment to bringing the NBT Bank Summer Concert Series to downtown Norwich. The incredible music and national talent the free shows bring to Chenango County makes the series unique, and it provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy our downtown parks, visit with friends and neighbors and support local merchants. We are thrilled the NBT Bank Summer Concert Series is on again this year," said Watt.
NBT Bank has provided sponsorship to the weekly concerts since they first began, around 25 years ago. In 2015, they even increased their sponsorship so the concerts could grow from four to seven shows, according to NBT Bank Corporate Communications Director, Florence Doller.
Due to possible rain on the horizon, Larsen urges all who are interested in tonight's event to keep an eye on their Facebook page and website, chenangobluesfest.org, in case the concert must be moved indoors.
"We call them rain or shine, so a little bit of rain we say come prepared for the weather. If it's a heavy rain and/or dangerous like lightning and it might impact the artists then we will post that information by noon on the day of the show and we'll say where the show will be held," he said.
Despite the potential weather, Larsen is optimistic about the show, and hopes it will draw out a large crowd after over a year of staying at home.
"It really could wing either way, but you feel as if there would be some pent up demand. We haven't been able to do these things in a while, and I think it's kind of renewed everyone's interest in things like this," Larsen said. "We're expecting a pretty good crowd."
(This story was updated after going to print.)
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