THURSDAYS

Lock 20 Thursdays:

Betsy the Barge concerts stay afloat for 19 years

Wed, Jun 29, 2005

KIM NEDERHAND
Observer-Dispatch

O-D archive / 2004

Irish music balladeer Vince Colgan performs last September at the Betsy the Barge Irish Day at Canal Lock 20 Park in Marcy.

Frank Gruenewald always is excited when the Betsy the Barge concert series kicks off each year.

The series begins its 19th year at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Erie Canal's Lock 20 Park in Marcy.

"I started this because I wanted to give back to the community," said Gruenewald, chairman of the Erie Canal Lock 20 Committee. "It's a fun thing to do."

Nineteen years ago, New York State purchased a barge for the use of area towns and villages along the Erie Canal. At the time, Gruenewald, who named the barge Betsy, had the idea of incorporating the barge and Marcy's Lock 20 Park as a way of bringing together families and entertainment.

"Seeing all the people again is an enjoyable thing," Gruenewald said.

Since Gruenewald's initiative, thousands of concertgoers flock to the park with blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the sounds of local entertainers performing from Betsy's stage.

In 1996, a park pavilion was built that provided a covered stage so performances can take place even in bad weather.

Today, the concert series continues to run entirely through volunteer efforts and funding and attracts a variety of people across all generations.

"We're completely family oriented," Gruenewald said. "We appeal to a good many seniors, but some of the groups are catered to younger people."

Thursday's kickoff starts with the big band sound of The New York Express, a local 10-member horn band that performs a range stretching from the Sinatra era to Chicago-style music.

"It's a very nice setting, one of the best in the area," said August LaMonica, the organizer and leader for the New York Express. "For a small town, it really has it all."

The band has been performing in the concert series for the past four years. This Thursday they will be accompanied by guest vocalists Phil Anthony and Rick Montalbano.

BETSY THE BARGE SCHEDULE

The free concerts are at the Erie Canal's Lock 20 Park in Marcy.

Thursday: 6:30 p.m., The New York Express.

July 7: 6:30 p.m., Good Vibrations.

July 14: 6:30 p.m., Memories of Elvis with Joe Angerosa.

July 15: 6:30 p.m., The Mark Bolos Band, Song of Solomon Featuring Dean Blask & Vinnie Esposito (Sponsored by Big Apple Music).

July 21: 6:30 p.m., No Name Ragtime Dixieland Swing Band.

July 22: 6:30 p.m., Courtney & Quintessence featuring a Variety of Jazz, Latin and Pops.

July 28: 6:30 p.m., The Clef Dwellers with Don Cantwell Featuring the vocals of T.K. Howard.

July 29: 6:30 p.m., The Enchanting Song Stylings of Pick 'n EZ.

July 31: 6:30 p.m., The Country and Western Sounds of Ronnie Smith.

Aug. 4: 6:30 p.m., Big Band Sounds of Sal Alberico.

Aug. 11: 6:30 p.m., Abby Road presents the History of Rock and Roll.

Aug. 12: 6:30 p.m., Heartland Rock and Roll featuring All-Jacked Up.

Aug. 18: 6 p.m., Double Image.

Aug. 19: 6 p.m., The Eagles-Polka Band.

Aug. 25: 6 p.m., Join the Fun with Fritz's Polka Band (Sponsored by Jagermeister).

Aug. 26: 6 p.m., Song of Solomon with Mark Anthony Bolos.

Sept. 1: 6 p.m., The Black River Ramblers.

Sept. 5: 2 p.m., Irish Day on Betsy featuring a variety of musical performances followed by a fireworks extravaganza at dusk.