Published in the April 1-14, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life

Mark Fenichel

Mark Fenichel

Clean off your chairs and get out your blankets because summer nights will be filled with free live music at the Downtown Amphitheater. The Friday Night Music Series presented by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce begins June 5 and continues for 12 weeks ending Aug. 28. Every Friday the show will begin at 6 p.m. with a special talented kids act presented by Music In Motion or Lana’s Dance studio. That will be a 20-minute show followed by a 20-minute acoustic solo or duo act from 6:30 to 6:50 p.m. and then the headliner from 7 to 9 p.m.

June 5: soloist Steve Barbour is the acoustic opener followed by Entourage

• June 12: Lori Ludy opens for Soul Kiss
• June 19: Jeff Smith starts off the music followed by Super Bad
• June 26: Singer-songwriter Jim Boyers is the opener for The Jesse Charles Band.
• July 3: There will be a break to make room for the Third of July Street Dance Party presented by Morgan Hill’s Independence Day Celebration nonprofit. Lots going on that weekend so watch this column for all the details.
• July 10: the acoustic duo Free Spirit opens for Rodeo House
• July 17: Chris O’Connor (from Wednesday night’s Chris & Friends open mic at GVA Cafe) opens for Busta Groove.
• July 24: Watsonville singer-songwriter Michael Gaither opens for The Shane Dwight Band.
• July 31: Kevin and Ann Worley open for Tina Michelle and the Rhinestone Cowboys.
• Aug. 7: Aly Kahn opens for Forejour.
• Aug. 14: Patrick T. McCauley opens for The Cocktail Monkeys.
• Aug. 21: Dave Allender opens for Sage.
• Aug. 28: The final show of the summer series Mark Fenny (that’s me) and a special guest will open the 10-piece horn band The HouseRockers.

Bring your friends and family and make this a tradition. It’s fun and free and a great way to start your weekend.

On another note, your weekends now begin a day early. Mama Mia’s Ristorante Thursday Night Music on the Patio kicks off their free weekly music series from 6 to 9 p.m. April 2 with acoustic blues, rock, country and originals from Mark Fenny & Scott T. Miller. April 9 features Jeff and Julie Strametz

If you have a musical tip send it to [email protected] and keep those tips coming.