HAYWARD — The bandstand at the Hayward Plunge and Memorial Park will be booming nearly every Sunday this summer, beginning with this weekend’s kickoff concerts that feature rock music Saturday and the city’s traditional band the next day.
The first event will start a series of concerts aimed at raising money for local nonprofits. The music is free, but those attending will be encouraged to make a donation to the Sun Gallery. Future shows will benefit other groups.
Performers from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday will include Razor Train, Hecka Dang, Shape Shifters, Crooked Monkeys and The Vigilantes, and there will be art displays and chess matches. It is sponsored by the Hayward Odd Fellows Sycamore Lodge No. 129 in a partnership with the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District.
Sunday’s event, which will begin at 2:30 p.m., is the continuance of summer concerts at the park dating to 1957. The Hayward Municipal Band, which found out this week that it won’t be a budget cut casualty, will perform classical, popular, big band, jazz, Latin and musical numbers at the Tony Morelli Bandstand, named after its late conductor.
“Band concerts in a park are a family unifying event,” said Lolita Morelli, whose daughter now leads the band. “Little kids can come, they can be noisy, and the sound does not matter. And we have quality performers.”
There will be a total of six performances by the Hayward Municipal Band, on each Sunday through July 24. That will be followed by more Sunday concerts of various musical styles sponsored by the Odd Fellows.
The park is at 24176 Mission Blvd. The stage is behind and to the right of the Hayward Plunge building.
Contact Eric Kurhi at 510-293-2473. Follow him at Twitter.com/erickurhi. Read his blog at IBAbuzz.com/hayword.
