Cold Weather, Hot Music, Chill Finale - Reporting from Gaithersburg 1

By Elvan Katmer

Thursday, September 25, 2014

 

Cold Weather, Hot Music, Chill Finale

Drizzling rain led to low turnout for a performance by Flamenco, Flamenco-pop-jazz band Trio-Caliente in Olde Towne Gaithersburg Thursday.

 



Few people showed up for the final concert.

Photo: Katmer

Held at the outdoor pavilion at city hall, the concert was the last in a summer series of live events aimed at families as well as of all ages.

The free concert series is sponsored by the city, which spent $57,000 bringing 13 bands and solo artists to town along with other entertainment events.

Performers ranged from pop to bluegrass and jazz and included such notables as Seamus Kennedy and the Olney Big Band.

According to the arts and events program coordinator Amanda Cornaglia, attendance nearly doubled from last year’s concert series. The biggest attendance was for Olney Big Band, which plays swing dance and jazz. Cornaglia said an average of 100 people attended summer concerts, and about 60 to 75 people September events. “We will continue to have the events as long as the budget is there.”

The concerts averaged about 100 people, with Olney Big Band, which plays swing music from the 1940s, bringing in the most at 155. That’s below a children’s series on Thursday mornings in the summer, which attracts as many as 350 people, but Cornaglia said the city is satisfied with this year’s turnout.

“The attendance is within our expectations,” she said.

Regular concert goers said attendance was down for the final event in part due to the weather.

Less than 20 people showed up for the concert with their picnic chairs and raincoats. Some preferred to use picnic tables in the concert area after drying the seats. Towels and blankets were helpful for keeping warm and dry.

The rainy weather did not seem to bother Trio Caliente. “I think tonight we might use this as a rehearsal,” joked Deborah Benner, the band’s vocalist. Band members also kidded second guitarist Amilcar Cruz, who seemed annoyed at the bad weather.

The band has been together for about ten years. The Group plays in Bethesda every weekend at CO2, a restaurant in Woodmont. They also perform in private parties in San Francisco, Miami, and other cities in South America at special events, festivals and fundraisers.

Despite the cold, the audience seemed to enjoy Trio-Caliente’s music in their chairs clapping and occasionally dancing. Some people left earlier as it got colder through the night, while others stayed holding tighter on their blankets.

“We come every other show,” said Ken Weiss from the audience.

Despite the success of this year’s series, city officials said they still haven’t decided whether they’ll continue next year.

“We will have something there, but we will determine looking into the interest we get from the public,” said Dorothy Winder, arts and events team member.