The 10-show concert series runs from July 23 through Sept. 24
TRENTON -- Trenton's free summer concert series will kick off July 23 and organizers are hoping it will provide enough of a draw to keep visitors coming.
The 10-show lineup for the "Levitt AMP Trenton Music Series" was announced Wednesday by the Trenton Downtown Association.
For the second year in a row, the group won a $25,000 matching grant from the Levitt Foundation to put on the series. NJM Insurance is the local sponsor.
The acts lined up to play are:
- July 23 - Puerto Rican soul singer Calma Carmona
- July 30 - jazz saxophonist Richie Cole
- Aug. 6 - Edwin Lebron and his salsa ensemble
- Aug. 13 - electronic rock band Jimkata
- Aug. 20 - jazz singer Akua Allrich
- Aug. 27 - roots band Bumper Jacksons
- Sept. 3 - the New Jersey Capital Philharmonic
- Sept. 10 - ska revival band Pietasters
- Sept. 17 - jazz singer Alita Moses
- Sept. 24 - R&B and funk-soul band The Nth Band
"The focus is to really provide a varied lineup ... so that we have something for lots of different people to come," TDA Executive Director Tom Gilmour said.
Gilmour, who started in his new post June 6, said he hopes that concert-goers will frequent the downtown businesses and restaurants, which see less foot traffic on nights and weekends when state workers aren't there.
"Our mission is to try to get people back into the city and certainly on the weekends," he said. "Because this is such a great concert series and it's free, we hope that it will be a draw to bring people in."
Last year, the size of crowds varied from a couple hundred people to just shy of 1,000. Gilmour hopes to break the 1,000-mark.
"I think it's a great time to come and rediscover Trenton," he said.
The shows start at 7:30 p.m. with an opening act. The Capital Green is located at 201 Barrack Street behind the State House at the intersection of West Lafayette Street. State Police will provide security.
For more information, visit concerts.levittamp.org/trenton
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.