FROST KALNOW AMPHITHEATER, Tiffin, OH—The East Green Summer Concert Series announces its 2023 lineup, performers for six concerts presented every other Saturday evening at the Frost Kalnow Amphitheater in downtown Tiffin, OH.
The 2023 season has “The Soul of Ohio” as its theme, and features exclusively Ohio artists who are making an impact locally, regionally and nationally. Concerts are free and open to the public, and begin at 8:00 p.m.
The season kicks off on Saturday, June 18th, with Tiffin’s first ever celebration of Juneteenth, the U.S. federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Following a ceremony involving a variety of leaders across the community, the 8:00 p.m. concert will feature the Columbus soul-jazz band Liquid Crystal Project, along with vocalist Dre Peace. Dre Peace is a Dayton native who has toured in 48 states, appeared on Broadway as young Simba in “The Lion King”, and performed for two presidents. Made up of some of Central Ohio’s finest instrumentalists, Liquid Crystal Project is known for their soulful sound that fuses jazz and hip hop, having released four albums and developed a loyal international following during their tours of Europe. Together LCP and Dre Peace will perform a variety of popular music ranging from classics from the 1970s to modern neo-soul hits.
On Sat., July 1st, the Columbus band Honey and Blue performs an entertaining and engaging blend of pop and soul on the East Green stage. Fronted by the singer/songwriter duo of Adam Darling and Stephanie Amber, Honey and Blue have a ten-year history of credits that include Good Morning Columbus, NPR radio, the Columbus Jazz and Ribs Festival, Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top Of The Park, Stonewall Pride Festival, and Columbus Arts Festival. They’ve opened for Postmodern Jukebox, Bettye Lavette, Aloe Blacc, and Charlie Hunter, who also served as producer of their most recent album entitled, “Bloom.”
The series continues on Sat., July 15th, with Tiffin native Regina Sayles heading an all-star band in a tribute concert to local musician and Sayles’ first bandmate and co-writer Kyle Beidelschies, who passed away in November at the age of 42. The band will play classic rock, country, and modern popular songs, and will feature musicians from around the region along with friends of Beidelscheis. Sayles is currently based in Eastern Pennsylvania, where she has built a successful career and wide reputation as a dynamic singer/songwriter and most recently, studio producer. Her sound blends pop, jazz, rock, and country, and she performs over 100 shows each year around the Northeast and Midwest. Sayles has opened for female folk pioneer Tret Fure and folk icon Ani DiFranco, played as a featured artist on the 2019 Melissa Etheridge Cruise. She has released two solo albums. Her two recent singles “Better With Your Love” and “Rollin’ in the Hay” have earned her national attention, and she has released two full albums and anticipates an EP release in the coming year.
On Sat., July 29th, the series welcomes the soulful jazz singer and songwriter Emmaline, one of the fastest-rising stars in the music industry. At just 24 years old, the songstress has grown from a social media star while a student at Cincinnati College and Conservatory of Music, to starring in the 2023 Hollywood feature film “Sweetwater,” in which she plays 1950s nightclub singer Jeanne Staples, and performs alongside legendary artists Gary Clark Jr., Keb’ Mo, Terri Lyne Carrington and Dianne Reeves. Now based in Nashville, Emmaline is “a throwback in the best of all possible ways,” having been called the modern-day equivalent to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Blossom Dearie. As a solo musician and leader of her own jazz band, Emmaline has opened on tour for Chaka Khan, collaborated with funk icon Bootsy Collins, and headlined clubs all over the country. She was also featured in Rolling Stone and American Songwriter, and has accumulated over a half-million followers on social media for her videos and EPs of original music.
Columbus-based singer-songwriter Jared Mahone and his band come to the East Green stage on Sat., Aug. 12th. Known as the forerunner of the Midwest “garage soul” movement, Mahone transformed hometown open mic night glory into a humble career as a nationally touring independent musician. His songs and storytelling create a sense of intimacy and meaning no matter how large the stage wrapping crowds. His upbringing in a touring family band fed his musical appetite with the writing of Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Sting, and resulted in his own brand of original and palatable pop art. Mahone was recognized in 2013 as the Verizon Indie Icon, appeared as a featured musical guest on Katie Couric’s ABC talk show, and was named Best Male Artist in the 2014 International Acoustic Music Awards. In spite of his national notoriety, he dismisses fame chasing in favor of a troubadour-style career meeting new supporters one handshake at a time.
The season closes on Sat., Aug. 26th, with Da Land Brass Band, Cleveland’s modern brass band collective known for their infectious energy and ability to “get the party started.” Formed in 2016, Da Land features a modern take on New Orleans street bands with a high energy funk sound, they are bridging the gap between musical tradition and a vision for the future. Boasting original tunes, funky adaptations of classic songs, and true roots New Orleans music, they have the versatility to satisfy any audience. Da Land also dedicates much of their time to educational outreach programs that teach children the joy of performance and showmanship through practical improvisation and live music master classes. The band is made up of some of Cleveland’s best jazz musicians, including alumni of Heidelberg University.
The East Green Summer Concert Series full season is sponsored by Reineke Family Dealerships.
For more info, visit www.eastgreenconcerts.com
