“Always leave them wanting more” is an old saw of the entertainment business.
Westmoreland Cultural Trust did that with The VIP Experience, its recent weekly livestream concert series. The free concerts were so popular that the Trust has renewed the series for a second run.
The first series aired Jan. 28-March 25, with regional bands performing original songs from The Palace Theatre in Greensburg.
The series picks up at 7 p.m. Thursday with the “heavy hitting, progressive funk” of Trailheads, continuing weekly through May 27 on The Palace Theatre and Westmoreland Cultural Trust Facebook pages.
“We have had such an overwhelming response to the shows. People are really enjoying seeing live performances once again from The Palace Theatre,” said WCT CEO April Kopas. “We’ve had viewers tune in from across the country – from Florida to California to Alaska.
“We’re going to bring in some new blood” for the upcoming shows, said Adam Seifert, WCT manager of corporate and community engagement. “”Our focus also is on being mindful about diversity in this part of the series.”
In addition to Trailheads, the lineup includes:
April 8 – Jackson Gardner (Americana, alt-country/rock, singer/songwriter)
April 15 — Buffalo Rose (Americana/folk/bluegrass)
April 22 – Dan Bubien & The Delta Struts (soulful roots/blues)
April 29 – The Bleepy Things (funk and punk rock)
May 6 – Sierra Sellers (neo-soul singer/songwriter)
May 13 – The Moat Rats (jam/pop music)
May 20 – Louie Castle (soul, funk, and rock)
May 29 – Miss Freddye (blues)
“In a normal year, a lot of these bands might not be in a position to play in The Palace, except maybe opening for a bigger act,” Seifert said. “An hour of their original music would not necessarily be a reality for a lot of these bands.”
“By extending the series, we can offer even more talented performers a chance to play on our stage and reach a new audience, while also giving our patrons a way to experience live music safely,” Kopas said.
Seifert said the second round of VIP concerts will provide a bridge to the Trust’s annual TGIS outdoor concert series, which will open June 10 with live local music on the lawn of the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center, 951 Old Salem Road.
That series will run weekly through Aug. 19.
Details: thepalacetheatre.org
