Realize Bradenton launches afternoon concerts on the courthouse lawn

Who says all of the good stuff happens during Snowbird season?

Starting Wednesday Realize Bradenton will  host a series of free concerts on the courthouse lawn. The courthouse concerts will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Wednesday in May.

Concert goers are welcome to bring a picnic to the courthouse lawn. Bradenton is partnering with the Food Bank of Manatee during the events, so picnickers are asked to add a non-perishable item to their picnic baskets to be donated to the food bank. For those who don't want to pack their own picnics, Renaissance on 9th will offer boxed lunches for sale.

Wednesday's inaugural concert will feature the State College of Florida Jazz Ensemble.

Other concerts to follow are:

  

·         May 11:  Michael Mac (Acoustic, blues, jazz)

·         May 18:  Henry Lawrence (Blues, R&B)

·         May 25:  Atlantico Tropical (Folk, dance music with Caribbean influence)

 

Laura McKeithen, who leads creative services and community building for Realize Bradenton, said she got to idea for lunchtime concerts from popular events in other towns. DeCatur, Ga. features the concerts and they are the city's most popular events. 

McKeithen wanted to feature local talent and diverse music in the afternoon concerts. She envisions business people networking, moms pushing strollers and seniors enjoying the music on the courthouse lawn. The concerts will be a regular event every spring and fall she said. 

The will start this month even though the courthouse is still under construction. McKeithen said she hopes that by starting now, once the construction is complete, word-of-mouth will spread about the quality of the events. She plans a huge concert kick-off next April when the courthouse construction is scheduled to be completed.

"I think it's an event that will really grow," she said. "It's a great thing for seniors to come to in the afternoon and it's great for people who work downtown."

She wants to feature all kinds of music from Caribbean and Latin to Classical and Jazz.

"I want to highlight local talent, support businesses and give people an opportunity to have a great time in the middle of the afternoon," McKeithen said.