Irwin Park summer concert series opens with alternative rock band

Irwin’s annual Concert in the Park series at the Irwin Park amphitheater returns this summer, with the first concerts slated for Sunday .

Irwin will kick off its five-show Concert in the Park series at Irwin Park amphitheater off Pennsylvania Avenue and Main Street with Alt Rocks, a 1990s and 2000s alternative rock band, followed by Saddle Up, a country music band on July 13. Tres Lads, a rock band, will perform on July 27. A classic rock band, Sky Pilot, will play on Aug. 3. The concert series will finish with Jimmy Ross and the Jaggerz on Aug. 17. The original Jaggerz were a popular band in the 1960s and 1970s.

All concerts will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

The concerts have traditionally been held on Sunday during the past four years and that works best for a family-friendly environment, with a playground in the park, said Keri Mace, a member of the Irwin Civics Activities Board, which organizes the concert series.

“Sundays was initially picked because that day did not conflict with any other concerts in the park series in other communities. This has now become a tradition to have the concerts on Sundays,” said Katelind Sartori, borough assistant manager and chairperson of the Civic Activities Board. The concerts started in 1990.

The activities board in the past has tried to select a variety of bands in an effort to offer something for everyone, said Keri Mace, an activities board member.

“We tried to do the same this year with some different acts than we have had in the past,” Mace said.

In addition to the music, there will be food trucks in the park during the concerts.

The borough has allocated $3,000 for the civics activities board, said Shari Martino, borough manager.

The money from the borough is a great start, Sartori said. Additional funding comes from donations from sponsors “that help greatly with making sure the season is a success,” Sartori said.