Fall brings new concert series

If you think the free concert season ended with the close of the Music and Market series at Todos Santos last week, think again. This fall, the beat goes on with a new eight-concert series at The Veranda in Concord.

The concerts, sponsored by Andeavor Refinery and Visit Concord, are drawing big audiences. The bands were selected for their large local following.

The concerts are held in the fountain plaza area, which includes ample space for dancing. At the Sept. 12 concert, the high-octane soul and funk band Pride and Joy had dancers on their feet from the opening bars.

Veranda General Manager, Ashton Simmons, chose the fall for the free concerts so as not to compete with the Todos Santos series.

“Everyone does a summer series. We wanted something different.”

The “something different’ includes a five-minute spot at the beginning of each concert for a local non-profit to address the audience.

The non-profits are selected by Andeavor Refinery from their recent grantees, said Nichol Carranza, Lead Government and Public Affairs Specialist. “The first week, EMC Seafood donated proceeds from their wine sales to Monument Impact,” she said.

The series, which opened Sept. 5, will continue every Wednesday through October. The free concerts start at 6 p.m. and there is plenty of free parking.

Coming up
Sept. 28, Caravanserai, Santana tribute band
Oct. 3, the Funky Latin orchestra
Oct. 10, Diablo Road
Oct. 17, David Martin’s House Party
Oct. 24, Foreverland, tribute to Michael Jackson