Get Out Your Calendars! Fun-Packed Concord Summer of Concerts & Events Awaits

 On Thursday -- May 22 --  the much anticipated launch of this summer’s Thursday Night Music and Market series takes place in Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord. 

The series continues through Sept. 11 with the Farmers’ Market in the plaza from 4 to 8 p.m. and music on the Todos Santos stage from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The 26th annual Music and Market Series is one of the longest running, most popular civic concert series in the Bay Area and contributed to Concord’s being voted one of the top ten music cities in the nation bywww.livibility.com.

Music and Market Highlights

This year’s calendar includes a nod to the 50th anniversary of the British Invasion with the Sun Kings, the Bay Area’s best Beatles band, on June 19, and The RaveUps performing hits by the Yardbirds, The Animals, and Cream on July 17.

Foreverland, a very popular Michael Jackson tribute band, performs July 24 and Zepparella, the all-female rocking tribute to Led Zeppelin, appears Aug. 21.

 Stealin’ Chicago (May 29), James Garner (Aug. 14), and The Purple Ones (Sept. 4) compliment the schedule with their authentic representations of the sounds of Chicago, Johnny Cash, and Prince, respectively.

Multi-cultural highlights include Da Island Way with its colorful Polynesian music and dance revue, and Dakila’s Latin Rock with a Filipino twist, a double bill on June 12.

The Lafayette Studio Big Band will close the Thursday series on Sept. 11 with a moving memorial salute to 9/11 featuring Big Band classics and songs that honor the great city of New York.

Special Events

In addition to a year-round Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the summer Thursday Night Music & Market series, downtown Concord’s Todos Santos Plaza features a number of special events this summer.

DadDay in the Plaza on Sunday, June 15 will feature James Clark and the Jailhouse Rockers presenting a vibrant Elvis Presley revue, as well as a special salute to dads and a chili cook-off featuring chefs from local fire and police departments.

The Tuesday Night Blues Series returns for the month of July from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Bay Area food trucks from Off the Grid will bring “brews, blues and barbecues” to the plaza each Tuesday. 

Anthony Paul and Frank Bey kick off the series on July 1 (plus a Cool Concord Car show from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.), Franky G. and the Conviction on July 8, Chris Cain on July 15, Jeffrey Marshall with the Delta Dogs and The Breedloves on July 22 and Annie Sampson on July 29.

The July 4th Jubilee and Parade features a pancake breakfast at 8 p.m., the Concord Police Association Stars and Stripes run at 8 a.m., parade at 10 a.m., entertainment and food booths. Fireworks and family activities follow at Mt. Diablo High School.

Dan Ashley and Push will perform at the annual Mayor’s Cook-off during the Thursday Music and Market program on July 31, when mayors and chefs from all over the county vie for first prize in the Healthy Eating Cook-off.  The evening also features a “Killer Karaoke” contest.

On Tuesday, Aug. 5, it’s a National Night Out celebration with presentations by Concord Police Officers, music from two local bands - Garageland Rodeo and Lumberyard - on the main stage, and Cascada performing high-energy, acoustic Spanish flamenco in Salvio Pacheco Plaza.

There will also be community karaoke at the corner of Salvio and Mt. Diablo Streets, and DVC's Rock, Roll & Rhythm Revue featuring 30 bands in 90 minutes behind Skipolini’s Pizza.

Don’t miss the California Symphony Pops in the Plaza Concert on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 6:30 p.m. This free event features a program of family-friendly performances by some of the Bay Area’s most prominent classical musicians.

Free Parking

Todos Santos Plaza is located in downtown Concord on Willow Pass Road between Mt. Diablo and Grant streets. 

Free parking is available in two municipal garages and on the street. 

For a complete listing of musical guests and event information, visit www.concordfirst.org.

The Thursday Night series is funded through donations collected from attendees during the 2013 concert series and by local sponsors. 

The 2014 sponsor list is led by the new tourism consortium called Visit Concord,  debuting its “Diablo Valley, Defying Expectations, Concord California” campaign.

 Additional sponsors include: 

• Concord Disposal
• Pacific Service Credit Union
  
• Tesoro
• Dolan’s Lumber
• Chevron
• Ashby Lumber
• Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market
• Concord Police Association
• Brenden Theatre
• Cole Print and Marketing.