Staff Reports
The 2010 Wednesday and Friday concert lineup at Gateway Harbor Park has been announced.
Concerts account for a total of three bands per week all summer and represent a who’s who of local musical talent. Bands take the stage in alternating fashion each Wednesday and Friday on either the City of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda sides of the canal beginning Wednesday, June 16.
Throughout the run — which breaks for Canal Fest between July 18 and 25 — two bands are again featured on the Tonawanda side each Wednesday at 6 and 8 p.m. respectively. Then, each Friday, one band will perform at the Gateway stage in the Lumber city from 7 to 9:30 p.m. until the conclusion of the series on Aug. 25.
The Wednesday shows, listing pairs of bands scheduled to begin at 6 and 8 p.m. respectively are: East of Eden and A-List June 16; Hot Daddy Rocks and Strictly Hip June 23; Jonsie & the Cruisers and Nickel City Pimp Choir June 30; Wanted Dead or Alive and Beatle Magic July 17; Soul Barons and The Diva Show July 14; Wide Right and The Boogie Monsters July 28; Mick Hayes & the Reinhardts and Joyryde Aug. 4; Fat Brat and Weekend Aug. 11; Dreamland and That ’80s Hair Band Aug. 18; No Excuses and Hit n Run Aug. 25.
On the North Tonawanda side, single acts each Friday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. are: Exit, June 18; N.Y. Rockin’ Revue, June 25; Backbeat 64, July 2; Shadows Motown Review with Barbara St. Clair & Billy McEwan, July 9; Widow Maker, July 30; Urban Renewal, Aug. 6; Naughty Dawg, Aug. 13; Bleeding Hearts, Aug. 20.
The shows are free and organized by the Gateway Harbor Committee, which oversees events on both side of the water. As of last year, the group also took over the city’s larger Saturday night event from the city. That lineup has not yet been announced, but usually features bands with instant name recognition, most of which have sold albums nationwide.
The latter series of eight weekend shows had to be thrown together quickly last year as control of sponsorship, booking and the like was transferred late in the season.
Rhonda Reid, spokesperson for the gateway committee, could not be reached late Thursday, but last year said the smaller Wednesday and Friday events can sometimes draw an equivalent number of spectators to the canal banks.
