Local Band Kicks Off Bronxville’s Free Summer Concert Series

With the start of summer comes a plethora of free local events for area friends and families. One option for residents throughout the season: the Bronxville Summer Concert Series.

Despite the looming threat of rain, the series kicked off on Thursday night on Park Place with Plan B, a classic rock and roll band made up of local dads from Bronxville and Eastchester.

The band is comprised of seven musicians: Brian Fetherstonhaugh on guitar and harmonica, Ken Nichols on drums and vocals, Scott Sherman on guitar and vocals, Kreg Gottschall on guitar and lead vocal, Bill Donner on Keyboards, Tom Davies on bass, and Lynne Lamberis as lead vocals. 

What gave them the idea to name the band Plan B? "Well, I think for all of us, we have our first jobs and our families, but for everybody when our jobs are over we have Plan B. It's our second love in our lives in terms of what we are doing," said group manager, Brian Fetherstonhaugh.

"We've been playing together for about five years now, just a bunch of us got together to jam," he said. "We absolutely love classic rock music: The Rolling Stones, The Beetles, Eric Clapton, The Who, The Doors, Aerosmith, some Motown. Over the years a number of us got together a few players have joined along the way. But we play in local bars and in the City a few times. Tonight, we are opening the Summer Concert Series for the Chamber of Commerce. It's just a blast! Most of us live in Bronxville or Eastchester, so we have a lot of fun doing it."

Plan B has been participating in area events for the past three years.

"It's really great for the local community. We've got a lot of family and friends in the audience and I think the local merchants really get a kick out of us," Fetherstonhaugh explained.

And Ruth Wood the head of the Bronxville Chamber of Commerce Head was excited for the band and event, even with the threat of uncertain weather.

"We are excited that the weather came around on us. We were watching it for the past few days. It looked horrible, but we've persevered and decided to call it at the last minute. I am so glad we did," she said, "It's a beautiful night and the crowds are already starting to gather. The community loves to come out to support local artists, and meet with their friends in a really casual atmosphere. School got out this week. There are a lot of families around looking for fun things to do."

And many local artists came out to support each other, including Florence Kooluris artist and owner of The Fine Arts Gallery of Bronxville.

"I've been a resident of Bronxville for 34 years and own the building that houses the art gallery on the first floor and our residence on the second floor. I am an artist by trade, I taught art in the High School," she said, "This is a great event and I love supporting other artists."

The music offered a great outlet for the whole family. Bronxville residents, Rob and Dana Pancrazi's 13-month old daughter, Lexi, not only danced, but did yoga poses to Plan B's cover of Magic Carpet.

"Lexi loves music and dancing!" her mom Dana, said.

Rob agreed. "She kept running towards the band as they played. They gave her a maraca to join in. It's a beautiful night, nice crowd, and good music. I can't ask for anything better," he said.

Bronxville's merchants also got in on the action, keeping their doors open to draw in customers. Others, like, Mini's Meats and Tramezzini Italian American Deli brought their goods right to the community during the concert by making their food stations portable.

And the concert series brings in crowds from neighboring communities as well. Eastchester High School juniors, Andrea Petresco, 17, and Maggie Heffernan,16, were drawn in by the music as they rode their bicycles.

"Eastchester is not too far from Bronxville, it's only about 15 minutes away on our bikes and we stopped here on the way home," Andrea explained

The next concerts in the series include The Mojomatics on July 22 at Leonard Morange Park starting at 6:30, and L.F.P on August 26 on Park Place starting at 6:30. The events are sponsored by local businesses including East India Designs, Servpro Clean up and Restoration of Scarsdale/Mt. Vernon and Bronxville-Ley Real Estate.

For more information visit www.bronxvillechamber.com.