Solon’s Music on Mainstreet Summer Concert Series 2023 kicked off Wednesday, June 7, launching a 12-week run with the River Bottom Ramblers, a folk group that has performed several times on our main street stage. Week 2 (June 14), the Silver Swing Band out of Iowa City will bring big band and swing to us and are a featured part of the New Horizons program. Week 3 (June 21) is a new duo to Music on Mainstreet called Retro Mix — an eclectic mix of 70’s, 80’s and 90’s music. Week 4 welcomes Solon’s own Jacob Metzler and his wife Jena who are part of the Still Waters Praise Team and will perform contemporary Christian music June 28.
In the spirit of coming back home, Chase Samek is the second of four young men who grew up in Solon and are coming back to perform in their hometown. Chase returns to Solon July 5 and will debut as the steel guitar player for Jake Redman and the Waitin Rounders who are an Illinois country band.
On July 12, The Mill Creek Band, a five-piece cover band founded by Solon school teachers and students, will entertain us and is composed of Curtis Hendrickson, Jessie Freich, Derek Matlock, Ken Beck, and James McAtee (another “hometown boy”) who is a favorite of the Music on Mainstreet stage singing Tennessee Whiskey to the crowd.
There will be no concert on July 19 due to Beef Days set up.
The concerts resume July 26 with our fourth hometown star, Alex Newkirk. Alex and Molly perform in Chicago doing Broadway shows and musical theatre. Molly is a former USO singer with actor and veterans advocate Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band and has traveled extensively throughout the United States.
August 2, The Brock School of Music will present a student showcase of many talented young musicians in our community.
August 9 is Brass Transit Authority; a Chicago tribute band and we are so fortunate to bring them to Solon this summer.
August 16 is going to be a special treat with Pandelerium, the Steel Drum Band. This is a great opportunity to expose kids to an exciting level of percussion skills.
August 18 will be our last concert of the season. Please note this concert is on a Friday evening and will be held at the Solon Retirement Village Gazebo. We are pleased to have a concert at the care center for our seniors who are not able to come to Music on Mainstreet. Desmond Cervantez, our Solon High School band director is a founding member of the Cedar River Brass Quintet, and this concert will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Bring a lawn chair and your picnic baskets and plan on some great summer entertainment. The Farmer’s Market and hopefully the ice cream truck will be parked close by each Wednesday evening.
2023 Music on Main Street schedule
June 7 River Bottom Ramblers folk
June 14 Silver Swing Band big band
June 21 Retro Mix eclectic mix of 70’s to 90’s
June 28 Still Waters Praise Team
contemporary Christian featuring Solon’s own Jacob Metzler and wife Jena
July 5 Jake Rebman and the Waitin Rounders
country featuring Solon’s own Chase Samek on Steel Guitar
July 12 Mill Creek Band
featuring Solon Teachers and Solon’s favorite: James McAtee
July 19 no concert BEEF DAYS SET UP
July 26 “Alex and Molly”
featuring Solon’s own Alex Newkirk
Aug 2 Brock School of Music presents The Future Stars of Solon
Aug 9 Brass Transit Authority Chicago tribute band
Aug 16 Pandelerium Steel Drum Band
Aug 18 Cedar River Brass Quintet to be held at the Solon Retirement Village gazebo area.
Featuring founding member Desmond Cervantez note Friday eve concert at 6:30 pm.
Desmond Cervantez and his Solon High School Mariachi Band warm up before the first Music on Main concert of 2022. Included in the photo are violins -Isabella Miller, Meg Duster, and Lucy Miller. Guitars – Jack Hosking, Jamison Grimm, Lily Warnock, Morgan Holm, Emilee Suchomel, and Connor Shepherd.
Cervantez and his Cedar River Brass Quintet will close out the weekly concert season Wednesday, August 21 in the gazebo at the Solon Retirement Village.