Duck Jam in the Park
With the addition of the new Island Park Performance Venue, a new group has organized to plan an annual concert series on the new stage. The group, Island Park Productions, is the combined effort of eleven local organizations, as well as members from the community at large. The organizations participating are: Winfield Economic Development, Rotary club of Winfield, Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Winfield Arts and Humanities Council, Winfield Recreation Commission, Southwestern College, USD 465, South Kansas Symphony, Winfield City Band, City of Winfield, Legacy Regional Community Foundation. Serving as at-large members are Mark Olney, Bart Redford, and Cindy Goertz. Jill Long of Winfield Economic Development is the acting president of the corporation.
Island Park Productions will organize 4-5 concerts each year during the spring and summer. These concerts will be free and open to the public.
The Island Park Productions concert series will be funded through sponsorships from local businesses and organizations. This will allow the concerts to remain free to the public. Information on sponsorship can be found at the Winfield Chamber, 123 E. 9th Ave., or on the Island Park Productions Facebook Page.
Duck Jam in the Park Announces Summer Concert Lineup
(Winfield, Kan.) Island Park Productions has announced the lineup of musicians who will take the stage as part of the Duck Jam in the Park concert series this summer. The series, now in its fifth year, will again host free concerts in the evenings at the Island Park Performance Venue throughout the summer.
June 3—Sunny Sweeney – this country singer/songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee, but also versed in the sounds of Texas, will take the stage for a special Saturday concert during the Winfield 150 Celebration Weekend. Savanna Chestnut, a four-time Female Vocalist of the Year at the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards and Valley Falls, Kansas native, will open.
July 6—Monterey Jack – a Wichita high-energy cover band that plays a wide range of favorite hit songs will take the stage for the annual Duck Jam family block party.
July 20—Avey Grouws Band – a band that blends blues, roots, rock, and soul and is two-time top ten Billboard-charting will take the stage with their gritty sound and engaging, pulse-raising show. Opening for Avey Grouws will be Hudspeth & Taylor, a Blues Music Award and two-time Blues Blast nominated duo out of Kansas City.
August 17—Good Morning Bedlam– this four-piece folk band brings beautiful harmonies and lyrical storytelling to the stage first at this dual-headline concert. Pretend Friend, a local bluegrass favorite will take the stage first.
September 28—Mountain Deer Revival – a local Red Dirt favorite, MDR brings crowd-pleasing, energetic performances to the stage. Opening for MDR will be Grody Riggins, a Winfield-based bluegrass band that is steadily gaining popularity.
“It is an exciting year to celebrate Winfield’s 150th birthday in the best way we know how, with excellent music that is accessible to everyone, free of charge, thanks to our generous sponsors that appreciate the importance of music in our local culture,” said Jill Long, who serves as the Island Park Productions chairperson.
The first concert of the year, featuring Sunny Sweeney, will take place on a Saturday and will be a part of the celebration weekend for Winfield’s 150th Birthday. The concert will start at 6:00 PM, with gates opening at 5:00 PM. Food trucks will be in the park starting at noon that day and stay through the concert.
All other concerts will be on Thursdays and begin at 7:00 PM. Gates will open at 6:00 PM. Island Park Productions, the group of volunteers responsible for organizing the concert series, is continuing work to secure sponsorships. Individuals, businesses, and organizations interested in supporting free concerts at Island Park should contact the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce to learn more about remaining sponsorship opportunities.
“In addition to the numerous visitors Duck Jam concerts attract to Winfield, we hope that our friends and neighbors will come out and bring a lawn chair, their cooler, and picnic basket to enjoy five great evenings of commaraderie and outstanding entertainment in the park.” added Long.
Learn more about Duck Jam in the Park concerts on Island Park Production’s Facebook page or at VisitWinfield.com.