Band Blast at New Kensington thrills crowds with line-up of 11 bands

Band Blast at New Kensington’s Memorial Park was all about the bands, 11 of them, that drew crowds throughout Sunday for more than seven hours of live music.

The benefit concert pays for upgrades and projects in the park.

The event was sponsored by the New Ken/Arnold Social, which also presents a sister event, “Rockin’ Roosevelt,” to help pay for projects at Arnold’s Roosevelt Park.

“I really like the bands,” said Kathy Deyarmin of New Kensington, who settled in her canvas chair with a friend for the afternoon. Deyarmin has been to the Band Blast before. “When they have it, it is something I enjoy,” she said.

She and others couldn’t attend last year, as the event was knocked out by covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

Deyarmin and the event organizers were thankful for the sunny day and the bountiful shade trees near the bandstand.

Joanne Carstetter, 78, of Lower Burrell said she loved Christian music group Risen to Save.

“I think the bands are great and it is a beautiful day and this is a beautiful park,” she said.

The variety of music and the high number of bands was a shrewd calculation by the organizers to make the show appealing with with a wide range of music to suit the tastes of everyone, said Tom Dunn, a volunteer for the New Ken/Arnold Social.

The bands performed 30-minute sets offering rock ’n’ roll, alternative rock, metal, southern rock, country, contemporary Christian and doo-wop.

The musicians play for free.

Concert organizers received requests from about 22 bands to play this year, and organizers winnowed the lineup to 11 bands, Dunn said.

“It’s a good venue for the bands to get exposure,” he said.

Dunn noted that once relatively unknown artists such as Hyde Park’s Mia Z played at the event in years past.

The first Band Blast in Memorial Park was held in 2014.

The shows have raised money to help pay for repairs and improvements in the park, including the new pavilion, bathrooms and, most recently, a large, two-sided entrance sign to the park.

Dunn expects the Band Blast, with vendors and a 50-50 raffle, to raise between $3,000 to $4,000.

“There’s going to be a healthy turnout of people today,” Dunn said.

Only three hours into the event, more than 400 patrons stopped and paid the $5 donation at the gate.

A handful of vendors offered the ever-popular funnel cakes, fresh lemonade, ice cones, pizza and more.

The New Ken/Arnold Social is looking for more volunteers to help with future events. To learn more, visit their Facebook page.