"Music On The Street" To Bring Summer Vibe To Newtown

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — "Music On The Street," an eight-concert series of free performances, is coming to South State Street this summer.

Presented by the Opus Outreach Foundation and sponsored by local businesses, the series opens on Thursday, July 11 and continues every Thursday through August 29. The music begins at 6 p.m. in front of the Opus Elite building at 16 South State Street.

“We’re appealing to all audiences with our lineup. We have everything from solo artists to duos and trios to a full-fledged rock band,” said Mark Gatta of Opus Elite. “We have all different music, all different genres of music, everything from 70s and 80s pop and rock and everything else.”

Featured headliners include Cara Cartney, hit recording artist Meg Russell and the Bunker Band featuring some familiar State Street faces including Harry Betz from the Newtown Bicycle Shop.

Opening the summer series on Thursday, July 11 at 6 p.m. will be the Singing Humans sponsored by Dumack Engineering and Ned's Cigar Store.

The Singing Humans are Sandy and Jim, an acoustic duo act from Bucks County who has been playing together for the last five years. They will be performing hits from the 60s to current day. Sandy takes the lead in vocals and conga drums while Jim plays acoustic guitar.

The series continues July 18 at 6 p.m. with the Brian Ulrich Duo, July 25 with Bad Hombres, August 1 with the Bunker Band, August 8 with Cara Cartney, August 15 with the Anders Hyatt Trio, August 22 with John Thomas and August 29 featuring Meg Russell.

Throughout the series, the Opus Elite office will offer complimentary refreshments and an air conditioned respite from the heat. “Everyone is welcome to come inside, enjoy the snacks, use the restroom if they need to, or just to cool down,” said Gatta.

Concertgoers are welcome to bring their own chairs and blankets and find a spot on the sidewalk to enjoy the music, said Gatta.

While each performance is free and sponsored by Newtown businesses, Gatta encourages attendees to donate to the Opus Outreach Foundation. The foundation supports local families in need, said Gatta. “And there are no administrative costs so every dollar raised goes to the foundation and helping people in the community," he said.

"We also ask that you support the businesses that are sponsoring the concerts," adds Gatta. "Local businesses are going out of their way to support this. We hope this not only brings people to the street, but also adds some life to the street and some financial support to the local business community.

"Before and after the concert, people can grab something to eat at the Temperance House, get a cup of coffee at the Coffee Room, check out the Second Sin Taproom or stop by Giovanni's Fine Fashions and grab a gift certificate or rent a tuxedo," said Gatta. "We hope that everyone enjoys the music, but also supports the local business who are making this happen."