Main Street Gainesville’s 2022 First Friday Concert Series continues this week with The Soul Purpose Band performing July 1 on the historic square in downtown Gainesville.
“First Fridays feel like the start of summer on the square; it’s a time where the whole community comes together,” said Main Street Manager Nicole Parham.
The Atlanta-based 11-piece band consisting of a five-piece rhythm section, four-piece horn section and male and female singers will headline the show from 7-10 p.m.
“As the name implies, The Soul Purpose Band is steeped in a true Soul/R&B tradition that offers the audience a combination of dance hits and soulful sounds from the ‘60s to the ‘80s, with an occasional tune from recent current pop charts,” states the band’s website, thesoulpurposeband.com.
Kicking off in June, the 2022 summer concert series continues monthly through September, featuring a different band the first Friday of every month. Events are free and open to the public.
“First Friday concerts are held with the goal of bringing our community downtown to support our small businesses,” Parham said. “Our hope is to give our retailers a boosted night of shoppers, our restaurants a full evening of patrons, and to remind the community about all the great services and businesses that make up the fabric of downtown.”
The Soul Purpose Band also provides the services of a professional sound technician.
“This uniquely talented group of musicians knows how to get your party started, keep the dance floor full and make your event an occasion to remember,” thesoulpurposeband.com states.
Band members include Mark Whitten, lead vocals; Dennis Baldauf, bari/alto sax; Yvette Kleckley, lead vocals; Pete Alvarez, bass/vocals; Dave Penn, keyboards/business manager; Spencer Bean, guitar/vocals; Tom Schwarzer, drums; Daniel Williams, tenor sax; Gary Smith, keyboards; Fritz Siler, trombone; Marion English, trumpet/flugelhorn; and Rick Sargent, sound engineer.
“Soul Purpose is regularly booked to open for groups such as The Tams, Swingin’ Medallions, The Impressions, The Teen Idols Tour and The Beach Boys; playing shows at Stone Mountain’s Yellow Daisy Festival, Macon’s International Cherry Blossom Festival, City of Decatur Arts Festival, Lake Lanier Islands, Six Flags Over Georgia, The Consumers Choice Awards Banquet, Trilogy Restaurant, City of Lawrenceville Moonlight and Music Concert Series and Mall of Georgia Concert Series to name only a few,” thesoulpurposeband.com states.
The main stage will be located at the corner closest to Roosevelt Square, at Bradford and Spring streets. Bradford and Spring streets will close at 2 p.m. to allow crews to set up the stage and other equipment.
"We’ll close parking earlier, but by 5 p.m., Washington and Main streets will be closed to traffic, allowing time for food trucks to get in place," Parham said.
Set up your chairs/blankets on the lawn starting at 6 p.m., then grab a bite and/or beverage downtown or at a nearby vendor.
Be sure to visit with City staff who will be slinging some Gainesville freebies and cool Main Street- and Gainesville-branded merch at the Main Street tent.
Free parking is always available at the Main Street Parking Deck, 301 Main St.; and Hall County Parking Facility, 225 Green St. SE – both within walking distance to the square.
Source: https://www.gainesville.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=334
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