On The House series serves up free concerts in Chandler July 29-Aug. 26
An indoor concert can allow audience members to experience music in a different, often more intimate, way than an outdoor festival.
Every summer for over 25 years, the Chandler Center for the Arts has given listeners an opportunity to interact with local and national artists in this type of setting. And it's free.
This year, the center will host its annual On the House Free Summer Series, from July 29 to Aug. 26.
Michelle Mac Lennan, general manager for the Chandler Center for the Arts, said the concert series draws around 4,500 people, including regulars and newcomers who’ve never been to the center.
Lennan said the concerts give guests a chance to explore the arts center.
“It’s a great opportunity to not only discover these artists but to discover to center,” Lennan said.
Prior to some of the concerts, local musicians and ensembles will perform for guests in the lobby.
“Students who aren’t quite ready for the main stage, we will let them perform in the lobby and get some experience,” Lennan said.
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On the nights of the concerts, the center’s concessions department, gallery and exhibition hall will be open.
When guests enter the building, they are greeted with a lavish display of chandeliers and signature pieces of art. Through Aug. 27, the center’s art gallery and the Arizona Art Alliance, will present A Group Effort, a juried exhibition showcasing 3-D and 2-D art, glass pieces, jewelry and sculptures.
The summertime music series will have a mixture of local and national groups, representing different genres of music.
Lennan said she looks for high-quality acts with an uplifting vibe and full sound.
Jarabe Mexicano, a Latin band from San Diego, will make a stop in Phoenix during a summer tour of Mexico sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
The United States Navy Band Cruisers, a U.S. Navy group started in 1999, entertain crowds with a mixture of standards, pop, jazz, R&B, adult contemporary, classic rock and original music.
During the concert series, listeners can also experience Motown, bluegrass or flamenco and jazz music, depending on the night.
At each free concert, the center will offer a special discount on an upcoming concert featuring a national act.
During the last concert of the series on Aug. 26, local bluegrass group Cisco and the Racecars aims to connect with audiences on a deeper level and share different forms of bluegrass music.
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This will be the Chandler group’s first time playing at the center.
“I went to Chandler High School for two years. I used to go to CCA to see plays and dance [performances] of my classmates, so to actually be playing on that stage is extra special to me,” said banjo player and band leader Francisco Briseno.
Made up of people of different races, generations and nationalities, Cisco and the Racecars brings a fresh perspective and sound to the bluegrass scene.
Briseno said the group adheres to bluegrass traditions but performs both progressive and old-time Appalachian bluegrass music.
A mixture of traditional instruments, such as the banjo and fiddle with the cello also helps to shape the band’s distinctive sound.
Many of the group’s members started out in Jam Pak, a local bluegrass, folk and old-time music group in Chandler.
Schedule:
- July 29: Jarabe Mexicano
- Aug. 5: The Music of Motown Starring Joe Bourne
- Aug. 14: United States Navy Band Cruisers
- Aug. 19: Tres Guitarras
- Aug. 26: Cisco and the Racecars
On the House Free Summer Series
When: Fridays, July 29 -August 26.
Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler.
Admission: Free, suggested donation of $5 for children, $10 for adults and $15 for families.
Details: 480-782-2680. chandlercenter.org/events/series/on-the-house-free-summer-series.