Music down by the river delights concertgoers in Freeport
Music fans came by foot, bike, car, and even boat to attend the last summer concert held Friday at Riverside Park in Freeport.
Sponsored by the Freeport Renaissance Association, the monthly music series wrapped up with the summer’s third free performance from the gazebo in the park.
Sommelier, an indie-rock band from Greensburg, performed under blue skies and sunshine.
“There isn’t community without music,” drummer Maggie McLeod said.
Lead singer J. Trafford said the small-town vibe was appealing to the band. It was their first gig in Freeport.
“These community events, and revitalization — that attracted us to playing here,” Trafford said.
Several food trucks were on hand to feed the crowd and 1833 Coffee and Tea Co. offered a summer-inspired drink menu.
Other food trucks included Galaxy Donuts and Sonny’s Smorgasbord, which donated a portion of their sales to the Freeport Renaissance Association.
Association volunteer Zoe Norris, 27, said the event is growing, and turnout this summer has been robust.
“We’ve had the best turnout this year than we’ve ever had,” said Norris, estimating about 125 people attended Friday evening.
Norris said most of the bands either perform for free or at a discount, allowing the nonprofit to sponsor the concerts for the public at no charge.
The mission of the FRA is to promote pride in the community and to make the business district enjoyable to visit.
The Kirk family of five recently moved to South Buffalo and took in their first concert in Freeport.
“We like live music events and we’re checking things out,” Anne Kirk said.
Friends Dee Speer and Beverly Sarver walked over the from the nearby senior high-rise, Freeport Towers.
“It’s a nice get-together,” Speer said.
Numerous boats with folks aboard were ready to listen to the concert from the Allegheny River. They were tied up at the free boat launch.
Attendees spread out on blankets, brought their own chairs or watched from the dock.
“I love it here. It’s a great mix of music, it’s small and not too busy,” said frequent concertgoer Candy Decock of South Buffalo.
John Chuly, 63, of Harrison sat on a houseboat with friends and praised Freeport’s dedication to offering free outdoor events.
“Anything on the river is great. It’s a summer tradition coming here to hear the concerts. Freeport is a great little town,” Chuly said. wi
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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