Husband-wife team Rick and Holly Garrett are the folk/bluegrass group Acoustic Duo Patchwork.
Photos provided
MOHAWK — Grab a lawn chair or blanket, go listen to music, and hang out.
That’s what organizers of a new free summer concert series in Mohawk hope people will do.
Mohawk United Methodist Church plans to launch a free series of summer concerts in the community northwest of Greenfield. Musical groups will play under the roof of the church’s shelter house, and listeners can spread out on the lawn west of the church building at 2045 W. County Road 400N, Greenfield.
The music kicks off 6-8 p.m. June 25 with husband-wife band Acoustic Duo Patchwork and continues Aug. 13 with The Occasional Blues Band.
“We’re trying to reach out to the public in an attempt to provide some wholesome free entertainment to families,” said Susan Edwards, chair of the church outreach committee that will sponsor the series, Music at Mohawk. She said organizers would still like to find a musical act for a July concert.
“We’ve got some local bands lined up, and we’re hoping to get more,” said the Rev. Kerry O’Brien, the church’s minister. “This is our inaugural season.”
The idea for free family concerts came as church leaders contemplated some of the assets of their location: a shelter, a playground, and an open lawn area.
“We were just talking about what we could do to be good neighbors to the people in Mohawk,” O’Brien said. “Why don’t we just have these free evenings of music?
“We’ve got lots of room for people to spread out. It’s an ideal place for people to come out and relax and listen to music.”
Children can play on the playground, restrooms will be available inside, and admission is free. The bands will play for tips and perhaps have their music available for purchase.
Music will have some variety, organizers say. While Acoustic Duo Patchwork’s repertoire includes upbeat gospel songs such as “I’ll Fly Away,” concerts will also feature some country and pop music. Not all the music will be religious music, but it will be family-friendly music.
“It’s just going to be a nice evening (to) chat with the neighbors … really just kind of relax and enjoy,” O’Brien said. “We’re hoping it will grow and we’ll get more groups out here.”
