Call it a lot to do.
For more than two decades, when I went out to hear music, music was my sole focus.
My job was to review concerts for the big daily in Syracuse.
Hey, people, I’m trying to hear a band here. Even when I went to local series and bars and such, I knew I’d be writing about the bands in a column at some point. Concentrate on the music, Mark.
Which didn’t always work out perfectly with big outdoor music events.
Last Saturday, my dear wife Karen and I went to the kickoff of Syracuse’s live outdoor music scene, and I liked the work of The Mere Mortals up there on the stage, surely. But no longer am I the music critic around these parts. My eyes, ears and mind were free to wander elsewhere, too.
I wrote about it the next morning, here.
And people-watching is the subject of my weekly community blog for waer.org today.
If you’d like to to read my piece for the Syracuse Public Media site, please click the link below.
http://waer.org/post/outdoor-live-music-scene-starts-people-watching-season-too
Do like to go to big outdoor events that combine music, food and people watching? What’s your favorite outdoor event? Music blinders or take in the whole scene?
Mark Bialczak 
I used to love Blossom Music Center, south of Cleveland!(Still there, thank goodness!) I also enjoyed our Germain Amphitheater, but it is closed. I like our local blocks closed since I live downtown, I can run home and get an iced tea refill, saving a little money. I buy the food, but find beverages overpriced. I have sat on my front porch of my apartment building on a black iron bench, loving the sounds but not killing my ears. I also like walking through big crowds at the Columbus and also, Cleveland Rib Fests. There is a hippie musical event, called “Comfest,” which the last few years I have missed since I go to my Mom’s over the week leading to Fourth of July. There have been people stripping and jumping into a big pond at Comfest. The local artist/musician that I have featured in my posts, Morgan Treni, will be at Comfest on the Solar stage. (There are 4 stages.) Take care, Mark!
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Stripping and dipping. That’s a hippie fest to carry on the tradition of Woodstock, Robin.
I think I would like the Rib Fests. They sound delicious to me.
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I LOVE places that have all that! Sadly, Florida is not the best host for such events, and even if it were venue-friendly, people would melt before they got to enjoy much. Seriously, I’ve seen Minnie Mouse pass out from a heat stroke before. Yes, really. Lovely post! 😀
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Oh, God, somebody get Minnie some water! Or an intravenous saline hookup … No, outdoor music is not so good in that type of heat, Rachel.
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Right! It’s funny how everyone up North think we spend the summer at the beach. We don’t because it’s too hot to enjoy. We spend the winter at the beach and the summer indoors. 🙂
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Posted my comment over on the WAER site. It’s been too long since I’ve seen a live performance. I need to do something about that soon. It’s concert season! Yay!
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Sandra, your every other post cries music! You must get a sitter and go out with Erik to a show, please, for your soul.
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The best music venues I’ve been to are outside. I love them. 🙂 I will yet make you proud of me with all of my cultural catching up adventures!!!
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I know you have walked through one great Cleveland festival, and I feel like I was there with you, Colleen, dancing and eating and having a great time.
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😀
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i love these kind of events, everything and everyone all mixed up together. my favorite, mark. and this looks like a fun one ) no blinders here, i’m open to all of the adventure )
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That’s a good way to be, Beth. So many years I had to tune a lot of stuff out.
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Gotta have the whole package, Mark. People eating and dancing with food, I say. Where? Hmm, in TX, probably same place as last time. Rock-n-Roll!
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Rock at the Dock! I can imagine it’s great, Audrey.
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You remembered. I must have painted a nice and unforgettable picture. Gotta love the music first and foremost.
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love it
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I love music. I love dancing. I love outdoors. Yes I do love to go to outdoor concerts. Apparently there’s a free concert every July in Butte, Montana. One year I’m going to check it out, even though it’s about an 8 hour drive.
Diana xo
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I cannot argue with the desire to check out a free concert in Butte, Montana, Diana. Sounds like a solid plan to me!
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And Americans always treat me so well, like I’m from an exotic land or something! 😀
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I like outdoor concerts, where it also is possible to breath 🙂
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That is a good point, Irene. Fresh air on top of it all!
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