歪歪漫画

BEMIDJI 鈥� If you love music, Bemidji is the place to be this summer. From local songwriters to a national touring band to Elvis Presley music by a symphony orchestra, you will have plenty of options.

It all starts on Sunday, May 25, when young singer Natalie Corcoran takes the amphitheater stage at Lake Bemidji State Park to kick off the Music Under the Pines concert series. And it will wrap up on Sunday, Aug. 31, with the final Music Under the Pines concert featuring Donna and Greg Gaston.

In between, at least 40 more performances are planned from Mississippi Music at the Bemidji Waterfront, the Bemidji Area Community Band and the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra.

The 13-week Bemidji Area Church Musicians recital series has been a popular Wednesday lunchtime attraction for 38 years. The series raises money for the BACM's scholarship program, which helps students pursue music education in college. Last year's recipient, Claire Carlson, will be part of the recital on Aug. 20 at First Lutheran Church.

"We have a loyal following of folks," said series organizer Barbara Fisher. "It's part of what they look forward to through the summer. I don't see a lot of those folks throughout the whole year. And then they come out to the concerts almost every week."

Music Under the Pines weekend concerts are sponsored by the North Country Snowmobile Club of Bemidji and the Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park, so there is no charge, but a Minnesota State Parks permit is required for park entrance. The concert series has been going on since 1996.

鈥淚t gives park visitors and townspeople a chance to enjoy the outdoors under the tall pine trees while listening to a variety of local artists,鈥� said Department of Natural Resources Naturalist Christa Drake, who coordinates the program. 鈥淭his event brings almost one thousand attendees each summer.鈥�

The ninth season of Mississippi Music at the Bemidji Waterfront kicks off June 11 with the folk/rock band Rich Mattson and the Northstars. Mattson is a musician, songwriter and producer living in Sparta, Minn. He began performing in 1980 at the age of 13 and took up songwriting shortly after that. The season will conclude on Aug. 13 with the always popular Known Only Locally from Bemidji.

Rich Mattson and the Northstars are coming off a national tour with indie rock group Built to Spill.

"We鈥檝e had (Mattson) here before and we love having him," said Mississippi Music board member Charlie Pulkrabek. "But I think it鈥檚 just an interesting time to have them. I love watching him play guitar, but I think he鈥檚 one of Minnesota鈥檚 best songwriters, too."

The Bemidji Area Community Band will play four concerts this summer, with Ryan Webber conducting, starting with the traditional Father鈥檚 Day performance on Sunday, June 15.

The Bemidji Symphony Orchestra鈥檚 Summer Pops Concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Bemidji High 歪歪漫画 Auditorium. This year's concert will feature the music of Elvis Presley. Joining the orchestra will be Minneapolis-based entertainer Anthony Shore, 44, who has been performing professionally as Elvis since he was 16.

The 30-minute concerts start at noon on Wednesdays. Free-will donations are accepted to benefit the BACM scholarship program. Concerts are followed by a luncheon at each church, with meal prices to be announced.

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

• June 4: First City Handbell Choir at St. Bartholomew鈥檚 Episcopal, 1800 Irvine Ave. NW.
• June 11: Abbi Cobb, Emily Mathew, Nettie Murray and Elaine Kleinsasser at Church of Christ, 692 Mag Seven Ct. SW.
• June 18: Trinity Musicians at Trinity Lutheran, 123 29th St. NE.
• June 25: St. Philip's Musicians at St. Philip's Catholic, 702 Beltrami Ave. NW.
• July 2: St. Mark鈥檚 Musicians at St. Mark鈥檚 Lutheran, 2220 Anne St. NW.
• July 9: Wade Martin, vocalist, guitar; Amanda Willis-Martin, piano; and Mathison Martin, piano at First Baptist Church, 1555 Paul Bunyan Drive NW.
• July 16: Lois Simonson, piano; Kari Miller, flute; Sanna Gustafson, saxophone; and Janet Pederson, violin at Bemidji Covenant, 5405 Highway 2 West.
• July 23: Glenn Seibel, euphonium; and Wayne Hoff, piano at United Methodist, 924 Beltrami Ave. NW.
• July 30: Calvary Musicians at Calvary Lutheran, 2508 Washington Ave. SE.
• Aug. 6 New Salem Musicians at New Salem Lutheran, 7491 Island View Drive NE, Turtle River.
• Aug. 13: Wayne Hoff, Carol L. Johnson, piano and organ recital; and Jennifer L. Johnson, vocalist at Aardahl Lutheran, 2920 Van Buren Ave. SE.
• Aug 20: Sarah Carlson, Bob Madeson, Merideth Klingbeil and 2024 scholarship recipient Claire Carlson at First Lutheran, 900 Bemidji Ave. N.
• Aug. 27: Darlina Coe, organ; Jennifer Parker, vocalist; Ruth Anderson, piano; and Lee Coe, rattlebones at First Presbyterian, 501 Minnesota Ave. NW.

Concerts are at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Lake Bemidji waterfront and there is no admission charge. Food and beverage trucks will be on site and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Title sponsors are Paul Bunyan Communications and the Bemidji Downtown Alliance.

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

• June 11: Rich Mattson and the Northstars
• June 18: Sam Miltich and Clearwater Hot Club
• July 9: Mike Gunther and the Total Crapshoot
• July 16: Boiled in Lead
• July 23: The New Havoline Supremes
• Aug. 6: The Brothers Burn Mountain
• Aug. 13: Known Only Locally

Sunday, concerts are at 2 p.m.; Saturday, concerts are at 7 p.m. at the Lake Bemidji State Park Amphitheater. A Minnesota State Park permit is required for park entrance. In case of rain, concerts will be held in the Visitor Center.

Pioneer file photo

• Sunday, May 25: Natalie Corcoran
• Sunday, June 1: Doyle Turner
• Sunday, June 8: Caige Jambor
• Sunday, June 15: Aaron Tank
• Sunday, June 22: Not Your Average Family Band
• Saturday, June 28: Bemidji Brass Quintet
• Sunday, June 29: Dean and Peggy
• Saturday, July 5: Paul Nye
• Sunday, July 6: Louis Samsa
• Saturday, July 19: Antonio Arce
• Sunday, July 20: The Fogelsons
• Sunday, July 27: Bemidji Bogtrotters
• Sunday, Aug. 3: Shyanne Kaml
• Sunday, Aug. 10: Bemidji Bogtrotters
• Saturday, Aug. 16: No Rest for the Pickers
• Sunday, Aug. 17: The Clarinet Quartet
• Saturday, Aug. 23: Antonio Arce
• Sunday, Aug. 24: Lance Benson
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Mike and Tom
• Sunday, Aug. 31: Donna and Greg Gaston

Concerts are at 7 p.m. on Sundays on the lawn south of BSU's Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. There is no charge for the concerts; free-will donations are accepted. In case of inclement weather, concerts are moved indoors at Bangsberg.

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

• June 15: Father鈥檚 Day concert, Ryan Webber conducting
• June 29: Patriotic concert, Ryan Webber conducting
• July 20: Third concert, Ryan Webber conducting
• Aug. 3: Final concert, Ryan Webber conducting