Moses Lake concert series gearing up
Sha Na Na, The Grass Roots part of eight-act lineup in McCosh Park
MOSES LAKE — Organizers are expecting a park full of music fans on Saturdays this summer at McCosh Park's Centennial Amphitheater.
And for the first time, music fans will have a few opportunities to enjoy a taste along with their summer sounds. The annual Moses Lake Summer Concert Series on two different dates will coincide with festivals in the park, a change city Recreation Superintendent Mark Hickok will be a unique addition this summer.
On July 22, rock 'n' roll favorite Sha Na Na will play alongside the first annual "Pig Out in McCosh Park" music and food festival. On Aug. 12, the urban Latin band Picoso will take the stage during the park's La Festiva Mexicana festival.
"This is the first year that we've really been able to integrate our concerts with these festivals," Hickok said.
This is the 17th summer the city has hosted the concert series in McCosh Park, which began with the dedication of Centennial Amphitheater in 1990. Hickok said the city's aquatic center and trails are among the amenities have since, and continue to, blossom around the park.
"The park is really starting to grow and develop and grow around our concert series," he said.
Each of the eight free concerts begins at 8 p.m. at the amphitheater. Hickok said organizers try to find a combination of national and local acts from a broad spectrum of artists to appeal to both young and old, and the variety of musical tastes of music fans in Moses Lake.
"This is just a great lineup, I would say that this is our best lineup to date," Hickok said.
The concert series kicks off with the Freddy Pink Band July 4, with what Pink calls "Northwest Rock n' Soul" in a news release. The July 4 concert also highlights the city's Independence Day celebration and fireworks display in the park.
"Just come out to the concert, you'll see all sorts of people out there enjoying it," Hickok said, adding the concert series is a great way to see both regional and national acts in Moses Lake.
This year those national acts include classic rock band the Grassroots on Sept. 2, Sha Na Na on July 22, and folk artist Tom Rush Aug. 26. Other acts include The Freddy Pink Band July 4, Abbey Crawford on July 15, LeRoy Bell on July 29, the Wenatchee Big Band on Aug. 5 and Picoso on Aug. 12.