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Music in the Park going until Aug. 28 at Gyro Park in Grand Forks

Music in the Park in Grand Forks is returning for another year. It will again take place at Gyro Park.
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A crowd at Gyro Park in Grand Forks enjoyed John Vere and Company the night of July 3.

Music in the Park is returning for another year in Grand Forks.

The popular outdoor musical event is returning for its ninth year and will take place at Gyro Park in Grand Forks Wednesday nights between 7 and 9 p.m., beginning last night (July 3) with John Vere and Company.

“Local seniors, families and tourists will have nine quality Music in the Park concerts to attend this season,” organizer Bernice Tetreault said.

This will be the third year Music in the Park will be held in Gyro Park and people are asked to bring chairs. There are some tables and benches but Tetreault said they fill up fast.

She said she likes Gyro Park as a venue for a variety of reasons.

“It is more visible, tourists have an easy way to stop and check us out, there is lots of parking, the acoustics are good and it is central to seniors who are the main financial supporters of Music in the Park,” Tetreault explained.

Music in the Park has always operated on a donation basis, where the hat is passed around and all the proceeds go to the bands.

Tetreault provided details for bands who are booked for Music in the Park to the Gazette to help people plan for the summer.

On July 10 the Hawk shop Band takes the stage; July 17 is the Borderline Blues Band; July 24 sees a performance from Not Yet; July 31 is That Girl and Earl; Aug. 7 is Gospel night with the churches for the first hour and Tom Kruk with Tetreault for the second hour; Aug. 14 is storytelling from 7 to 7:30 p.m. followed by belly dancing with Michelle Dean; and on Aug. 28, the 2013 season ends with That Girl and Earl.

Tetreault and husband Whitie helped Rosemary Philips start Music in the Park nine years ago by providing her with a small sound system and playing as her back-up musicians – Whitie was the roadie.

After start up, Tetreault stayed on, organizing and booking bands and providing a tent and sound system to musical acts.

Today, bands provide their own sound systems so the physical tasks associated with setting up the sound systems are a thing of the past for Tetreault.

The 50 musical bands and individual musical acts over the nine years have included a few locals with professional musical careers, but Tetreault’s main focus has been to encourage local musicians to feel comfortable to play in public without having to be professional.

She says all musical styles have participated and has many stories and pictures of tourists who stopped, listened, and then jammed with bands.

– Contributed Frank Moreland, for the Grand Forks Gazette