Standing Room Only - People covered the grass and stood all around the edges of the Wenona Park Friendship Shell to listen to Phil Dirt and the Dozers last Tuesday night.
Phil Dirt Brings Down The Curtain
On Bay Arts Council 2003 Summer Series
Standing Room Only Crowd Packs Wenona Friendship Shell For Season Finale
August 26, 2003
By: O. J. Cunningham
Unbelieveable . . . Bay Arts Council Executive Director, Diane Middleton, looked out over the sea of people at Tuesday night's Phil Dirt and the Dozers concert and felt the warm glow of success.
"It is so rewarding," Middleton said. "To see so many people out on a Tuesday night, enjoying themselves." Middleton was beaming. "It's just wonderful."
Saturday Night - September 6 - The Vogues
Final Concert of the Season
The 2003 Bay Arts Summer Series was a 25th anniversary
Silver Celebration that featured a musical variety of 24 individual concerts. "We set out to provide a variety of music for every musical taste," Middleton said. "I think we succeeded."
If attendance is an indicator of success, Middleton is right. Estimates are that the Wenona Park Friendship Shell can hold 3,500 comfortably. There were certainly more than 3,500 in attendance for the "Dozer" Concert as concert goers stood on the top of the hill, alongside the river's protective railing and back under the trees by the concession stand.
Middleton said that hundreds of volunteers make the concert series a success throughout the summer. "Thanks to everyone that helped this year," Middleton said. "There is just no way this would be a success without the volunteers. There's so many of them, there's no way to name them all. I just want them to know how much they're appreciated."
Middleton said that she and her Administrative Assistant, Jill Urban and summer intern, Janae Woody (Aquinas College) could never thank the volunteers enough.
Next Year: "We're already planning for 2004," said Middleton. "In September, we'll step back and take a look at this year and then start making next year's schedule."
Below:(Left) Phil Dirt's Tony Alfano rocks the Friendship Shell with guitar and vocals from the 1960s.(Right) Steve Cabot, Phil Dirt's lead vocalist captures the sounds of the "oldies" during Tuesday night's -performance.
