The 2025 Music in the Park series in Parsons has more concerts lined up for the season, including an old-fashioned jam featuring three tribute bands to close out the series in July.
The free concerts begin Thursday, May 22, and end Thursday, July 31. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Seaton Family Pavilion in Forest Park, 204 S. 13th St. The last concert starts at 6:30 p.m. to make time for the three bands.
A change last year was to add a concert on the Thursday before Katy Days. It’s cooler weather, some vendors are already in place and the concert kicks off the 26th annual Katy Days. This year’s pre-Katy Days concert features The BakBeatz on Thursday, May 22.
This quartet of skilled musicians will perform a selection of classic FM rock tunes sprinkled with groovy arrangements of soul, funk, blues and R&B tunes for good measure.
Todd East will join the BakBeatz. East is a highly recognized artist who has had the honor to perform internationally and with many famous musicians. Blind from birth, East began playing piano and singing at age 3 and initiated his professional career at age 15. After high school, this native New Yorker continued his education, graduating with degrees in music education and theory.
A master of the piano, with vocal skills reminiscent of Stevie Wonder, East is highly sought out for his musical interpretations of classic and contemporary funk, soul and pop selections.
It wouldn’t be Music in the Park without the Parsons Community Orchestra and Chorus in our yearly lineup on Thursday, May 29. A timeless classic offering, the park offers a backdrop for an Orchestra and Chorus Concert in the park, a picture that dates back more than 100 years. The Community Orchestra and Chorus features area musicians and vocalists directed by Scott Nelson.
On Thursday, June 5, Kansas City-based Platinum Express, a fan favorite, will perform. The group will entertain you with its 14-piece band and singers and all the popular tunes of Motown, soul, funk and classic rock with the “Full Steam Horns.”
“Platinum Express has an ability to create a finger- poppin’, heel-clickin’ and flat-out fun dancing and listening experience that keeps the music of the 1960s and 1970s that we love so much alive,” wrote Matt Hoisington, facilities director for the city of Parsons. “Their stage show delivers a genuine, high-energy nostalgic performance that fans exclaim, ‘It’s a blast!’” KC Entertainment Weekly voted the Express the No. 1 band in K.C. for two years running.
On Thursday, June 12, the Blues Doctor scheduled an appointment for Music in the Park to see if their blues and classic rock is the right treatment for what ails you, Hoisington wrote.
Based out of Joplin, Missouri, the Blues Doctors is a five-piece ensemble featuring seasoned musicians who have harnessed their years of experience to present classic and contemporary blues and rock and roll. Although only formed a few short years ago, the Blues Doctors has already established itself as a favorite in the four state region.
On Thursday, June 19, and in conjunction with Juneteenth, prepare to be entertained by Branjae, a Tulsa-based artist, activist, dancer, singer and actress delivering Black American music of classic soul, funk and R&B to the Seaton Family Pavilion.
Having previously performed at the legendary Apollo Theater, BOK Center, Cain’s Ballroom and more, Branjae’s energetic showcase encourages elevated consciousness by connecting with her audiences to create unity and harmony. Born in Detroit, Michigan, and rooted in the city of The Gap Band, Branjae established herself as a full-bodied entertainer, singing, dancing and acting her way into the hearts of audiences across
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the globe. Her voice has been likened to Lauryn Hill, India Arie and Nina Simone; while her stage presence is influenced by Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury.
Not wanting to exclude local talent from getting a chance to perform for the Music in the Park organizers will once again open the stage to spotlight three local bands on Thursday, June 26, for the SEK Music Showcase featuring Grits and Grass String Band, The UnChosen and Good Time Charlie.
Each group will perform a 25-minute set highlighting their talents and musical styles. Here is a brief description of the bands in the order of their performances: — Grits and Grass String Band is a trio of musicians from Parsons that performs a mixture of bluegrass, folk, country and old-timey music performed by Rusty Farran, Dawna Farran and Paul Martin.
— The Unchosen, based out of Chanute, is a three-piece electric/ acoustic ensemble performing an eclectic mix of original and cover material featuring the haunting vocals of Jennifer Luna.
— Good Time Charlie from Independence is a six-piece band that performs hard-rocking covers of your favorite popular tunes and features strong harmony vocals.
Under the direction of Julia McCabe, the Community Band returns with their patriotic celebration on Thursday, July 4, for Independence Day. Enjoy your Fourth of July holiday with some music and then some Fireworks 4 Parsons celebration in Marvel Park.
On July 10, Pittsburg-based The Bonnie Situation will take the stage at the pavilion, playing 1990s music they grew up listening to and enjoyed. They are all things 1990s, even the band’s name is a reference to a scene in the 1994 movie “Pulp Fiction.” A typical performance of The Bonnie Situation features Foo Fighters, Eve 6, Pearl Jam, Collective Soul and more. This band, comprised of veteran area musicians, will play the noisy rock, grunge, punk and alternative that made the 1990s great.
Fans of real country music are in for a treat on Thursday, July 17, as the Predator Country Show Band and Revue visits the pavilion. Originally formed in 1985, and active through 2007, Predator Country established itself as one of the best bands in the region.
If you went to any bar, roadhouse, or music venue during that time, you were bound to experience their sensational musicianship and vocal harmonies. The dedication to their craft led them to regular tours throughout the Midwest, and they shared the stage in concert performances with some of the biggest names in country music, Hoisington wrote.
After a 14-year hiatus, Predator Country Show Band and Revue was reformed by longtime band leader Barry Manley, and the band continues to this day to perform classic country favorites with a little rock thrown in, for their fans, both old and new. Although the band lineup has changed over the years, Predator Country now features some of the best area musicians supplying strong male and female vocals, and all the sights and sounds you expect from a true country band.
On Thursday, July 24, Haymakers takes the concept of the string band and plugs it into a broad swath of acoustic music that stretches from Americana to bluegrass, Appalachian folk music to bluesy western swing, and even into the realm of the jam band with an array of grooves that go in and outside the box of traditional acoustic music. The Wichita-based group formed in 2012 and gradually honed its sound through steady gigs around the Sunflower State before releasing its debut, self-titled album in 2017. Since then, the band has released three additional albums and toured steadily throughout the Midwest and beyond, playing everywhere from major festivals to rowdy bars to living rooms. Over the years, they have cultivated a loyal fan base and developed a reputation for lively performances that blend a variety of original and traditional songs performed in their unique style.
Hoisington said the city is trying something new for this year’s series finale on Thursday, July 31, presenting the first “PK Jam ’25,” featuring three tribute bands. He said Forest Park will be turned into a mini oneday festival site mimicking the large-scale concert events that dominated the summers of the late 1970s and 1980s.
“PK Jam ’25” will feature performances by Just What I Needed, a tribute to the Cars, Ridin’ the Storm Out, a tribute to REO Speedwagon, and Bob Jovi, a tribute to 1980s Bon Jovi. Spectators will be treated to over three hours of some of your favorite songs from the pre- and post-MTV era, faithfully recreated on the stage of the Seaton Family Pavilion.
Just What I Needed faithfully reproduces the sights and sounds of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band The Cars. The Cars formed in Boston in 1976 and quickly rose to prominence with the release of their debut album. Emerging from the New Wave scene, The Cars blended guitar-oriented rock with pop synthesizer sounds to carve out their unique sound.
Ridin’ The Storm Out features five Kansas City area musicians with a love for REO Speedwagon and a drive to recreate the energy and excitement of an REO Speedwagon concert. REO Speedwagon was one of the few 1970s arena rock giants to transition and embrace the MTV influence of the early 1980s and reinvent their sound and success.
Closing out the “PK Jam ’25” will be a performance of one of the best tributes to the 1980s-era icon Bon Jovi, Bob Jovi. Bob Jovi has been voted as one of the best authentic tributes to Bon Jovi. Bob Jovi isn’t just about the music; it’s an immersive experience. The stage production, complete with iconic 1980s aesthetics and larger-than-life stage presence, transports audiences to the era of big hair, leather jackets and pure rock ‘n’ roll decadence.
The starting time for the “PK Jam ‘25” will be 6:30 p.m. and the music goes all the way to 10 p.m. There will be additional concessionaires in the park, as well as extra activities planned to include inflatable bounce houses for the kids and music trivia with prizes.
The Music in the Park concert series is managed by the city of Parsons. Promotional assistance has been provided by Labette County Tourism and Parsons Chamber of Commerce. Individual show sponsors are Alexander Manufacturing, makers of the Woodhaven, American Original Firewood Rack, Taco Mayo, Tom Davis Auto Group, Grand True Value Rental, Wright Signs, Outsider’s Tacos and Inflatables-To-Go.
