Los Gatos Music in the Park Lineup Announced, Concerts Begin June 16

The community nonprofit organization Los Gatos Music & Arts has announced the much-anticipated summer concert lineup for its hugely popular Music in the Park series that begins at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 16.

The 10 musical groups are booked to perform at the Los Gatos Civic Center lawn, 110 E. Main St., produced by the nonprofit and made possible thanks to the generosity of local business sponsors and individual contributions that support its mission, which is to nurture the arts and cultural programs in the community.

The nonprofit is also responsible for the other popular Wednesday evening concert series known as Jazz on the Plazz at Town Plaza Park.

"Not only do we host the two most popular summer event series in Los Gatos, we also fund scholarships and arts education programs for youth in the community" said Jonathan Knowles, chairman of the board of Los Gatos Music & Arts.

Teri Hope, president of LGM&A and 2013 chair of Music in the Park, said this year one concert of particular interest to families will be the Sunday, July 21 Pacific Philharmonic Orchestra performance, during which something will be done specifically for youth at that concert.

"We're still working out the details, but we're going to do something that will be very special and fun for youth," she said.

The 2013 Music In the Park Lineup is the following:

• Sunday, June 16: Joe Sharino, pop/rock/soul
• Sunday, June 23, Rupa and the April Fishes, multicultural world music
• Sunday, June 30, Long Train Running, Doobie Bro Tribute
• Sunday, July 7, James Garner's Tribute to Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash Tribute
• Sunday, July 14, Maxx Cabello Jr., blues/guitar/vocals
• Sunday, July 21, Pacific Philharmonic Orchestra
• Sunday, July 28, Oliver Mtukudzi, Afro pop
• Sunday, Aug. 4, Pacific Mambo Orchestra, salsa/Latin jazz      
• Sunday, Aug. 18, Saritah Reggae, soul/world music
• Sunday, Aug. 25, Talavya Indian Tabla drums

Interesting about this year's lineup is the much more diverse set of musical experiences for concert goers, such as several tribute bands including James Garner's Tribute to Johnny Cash, which performed in 2011 and the Pacific Philharmonic Orchestra, along with Afro and reggae and Indian Tabla drums.

"It will be a much more diverse experience for people this year," Hope said.

The concerts, which have been presented for 25 years, attract between 2,000 and 5,000 people each Sunday.

Hope encourages community members to ride their bikes to the concerts and said Summit Bicycles, 111 E Main St., will be offering free valet bicycle parking across the street from the Civic Center.

About attendance, Hope said organizers haven't seen significant growth during the past few years and said the numbers have remained steady.

"It tends to rise and fall during the summer depending on the concerts as well as the weather," she said.

Even on very warm Sunday evenings, people will show up a little early for the performances and then enjoy the shade of trees. As the weather cools, the Civic Center lawn is fairly full again.

The concerts speak to the community nature of Los Gatos. "We like to come together as a community for these types of celebrations and entertainment. And certainly people are spending time shopping and dinning in our restaurants when they visit Los Gatos," Knowles said. "When people talk about moving to Los Gatos, it's one of the things they tend to list as their reasons, the charming downtown, the beautiful hillsides, the community events such as MIP, Jazz on the Plazz ... it's near the top of the list of why they want to live here."

The nonprofit LGM&A has about 50 volunteers who cross over and help with the Music in the Park concert series and the Jazz on the Plazz concerts on Wednesdays at Town Plaza Park, Knowles explained.

"We're very fortunate to have the generous supporters that we do," Knowles said when asked if LGM&A needs more support from the community. "Because we're a nonprofit organization, we put 100 percent of what we raise into arts education programs. We're always looking for people who are willing to partner with us in the community to continue to make Los Gatos the gem of the Valley of Hearts Delight."

Knowles said it's because of MIP and Jazz on the Plazz and the partnership the nonprofit has forged with key community leaders and businesses that Los Gatos is the special town everyone in the South Bay recognizes for its quality performances and art appreciation.

This will MIP's 26th season.

To sponsor MIP or donate to Los Gatos Music & Arts, please call 408-354-1155, or email terihope@losgatoscoffee.com.