Daud Abdullah
Point Richmond Music's free series is a favorite Bay Area summer tradition
Historic Downtown Point Richmond Park Place at Washington Avenue, Richmond, CA 94801

BY Christina Zirker

POINT RICHMOND MUSIC ANNOUNCES 2017 FREE SUMMER CONCERT SEASON

From Americana to Zydeco: Line-up of Ten Bay Area Bands Set for Annual Concert Series in Historic Downtown Point Richmond

Point Richmond Music (PRM) has announced the dates and line-up for its 16th annual summer concert season. The all-volunteer non-profit organization produces the series in support of its mission to build community through the unifying language of music. Concerts are held on the second Friday of each month, June through September, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm, with a final concert on Friday, September 22nd to close the season. Every concert features an opportunity drawing, arts and crafts booths, face-painting for children and dancing in the streets. PRM’s outdoor concert venue is located in historic downtown Point Richmond at the corner of Park Place and Washington Avenue.

The grassroots series is a favorite Bay Area summer tradition, with every concert drawing several hundred people to the historic neighborhood of Point Richmond throughout the season. Local restaurants offer a wide array of cuisines, and a rotating selection of food trucks will pull up to each concert. Concert-goers can pair fine food with beverages served in reusable and biodegradable cups from PRM’s no host bar, featuring Richmond-made craft beer from sponsors-in-kind East Brother Beer Co. and Benoit Casper Brewing, with proceeds directly supporting the music series.
 
“Our hard-working volunteers and generous sponsors come together year after year to produce an annual music series that celebrates diversity and promote the arts,” said Andrew Butt, PRM Board President. “Now more than ever, it’s important to engage as a community in ways that celebrate our commonality, and music really is a universal language.”
Please visit www.pointrichmondmusic.org and www.facebook.com/ptrichmondmusic for more information.
PRM’s 2017 Line-up                                                                    

Friday, June 9th
5:30 PM-6:30 PM - Tia Carroll and her Awesome Blues Band (Blues) www.tiacarroll.net
6:45 PM-8:00 PM - Andre Thierry (Zydeco, Accordion Soul) www.andrethierry.com

Friday, July 14th
5:30 PM-6:30 PM - Howell Devine (Mississippi Hill Country and Delta Blues) www.howelldevine.com
6:45 PM-8:00 PM - Second Line (New Orleans Funk and Soul) www.secondlinemusic.com

Friday, August 11th
5:30 PM-6:30 PM - Delta Wires (Blues) www.deltawires.com
6:45 PM-8:00 PM - Bicicletas por la Paz (Latin) www.bicicletasporlapaz.com

Friday, September 8th
5:30 PM-6:30 PM - Evie Ladin Band (Neo-Trad Kinetic Folk) www.evieladin.com
6:45 PM-8:00 PM - Lucky Losers (Americana) www.theluckylosers.com

Friday, September 22nd
5:30 PM-6:30 PM - Sang Matiz (Afro Latin Funk) www.sangmatiz.org
6:45 PM-8:00 PM - Pangea Futbol Club (International Grooves) www.pangeafc.com

About Point Richmond Music: Point Richmond Music (PRM) is a 501c3 nonprofit public benefit organization that provides free outdoor summer concerts as a way to build community through the unifying language of music. PRM concerts provide a gathering place for people of all ages, ethnicities, and walks of life by featuring musical talent from Richmond, the Bay Area and beyond. In addition to producing a free summer concert series, the group is proud to help support year-round music through its sponsorship of the Point Richmond Acoustic and Jazz series, which run October through May at the First United Methodist Church, and to foster the development of the next generation of musicians through contributions to Washington Elementary School’s music program. Sixteen years of this collaborative effort have relied on donations of time and money from volunteers and local businesses and organizations.

The idea to create a concert series in downtown Point Richmond originated from Richmond City Council member and current mayor Tom Butt. He made the suggestion in 2001 to Michele Seville (now the Arts & Culture Manager for the City of Richmond) and several other members of the Richmond Arts & Culture Commission as a way to foster community through music and promote local businesses. A small group began to meet and formed Point Richmond Music. Today the PRM Board is: Andrew Butt, Bryan Delaney, Pam deWitt Delaney, Duane Fitzgerald, Bruce Kaplan, Sydney Metrick, Michele Seville and Christina Zirker.

Thank you to our 2017 sponsors to-date: City of Richmond, Gateway Foundation, Red Oak Opportunity Foundation, Bridge Storage and Artspace, Sims Metal, Point Richmond Tech Centers 1 & 2, Republic Services, Richmond Development Company, Point Richmond Neighborhood Council, Mechanics Bank, Bay Marine Boatworks, MSH Group, California Delicious, M.A. Hays Co., BayView Realty, Atchison Village Credit Union, and Curbside Kitchen. Featuring Richmond-made craft beer from sponsors-in-kind: East Brother Beer Co. and Benoit Casper Brewing. For more information, please visit www.pointrichmondmusic.org and www.facebook.com/ptrichmondmusic.
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