Despite the Rain the Band Plays on at Falls Twp. Concert

A sudden summer rain couldn’t stop the many residents, families and live-music lovers from attending the June 23 Summer Concert at the Falls Township Community Park.

Featured during the second free concert of the summer concert series was the Chester County Concert Band (CCCB).

According to Bill Reese, Falls Township Parks and Recreation director, the summer concert series has been a been a popular staple of the township for the last 12 years. He said that the concerts can attract around 200 people.

“We wanted to give something back to the community,” Reese said. “These are free concerts for them.”

He said that families typically attend the concerts, and that the concerts are a particular favorite of senior citizens.

“It’s nice that the township does this for us,” John Dubell, a Falls Township resident said.

Dubell, who was with his wife Debbie and their puppy, said that his family has been attending the concerts for five consecutive years. He said he certainly didn’t mind the rain, and enjoyed the music of the CCCB.

The band played an eclectic mix of popular musical selections from yesteryear. Such selections ranged from the playful  “Spanish Flea” by Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass to a rousing rendition of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” during which CCCB conductor, David Reif, invited the audience to sing a chorus of the patriotic song.

“It’s good to get people singing,” Reif said.

Speaking during the concert’s intermission along with CCCB president Leslie Bornick, Reif said that the West Chester-based band travels throughout the Delaware Valley region and beyond in order to keep live music alive in communities.

“We really want to expand,” Bornick said.

“For me, it is with live music that you really get an in-the-moment performance,” Reif said.

The Falls Township concerts take place at Falls Community Park, located at the 9125 Mill Creek Road in Levittown, from 6 – 8 p.m.

According to Reese, one the most anticipated bands to perform at the summer concert series is the Dennis Ostopwicz Band, who perform favorite Polka numbers, and will be appearing on July 8 and Aug. 12. The next concert will take place July 1 with the Society Music Makers.

The following is the remaining summer concert music schedule:

• July 1 – Society Music Makers
• July 8 – Dennis Ostopowicz Band
• July 15 – Chester County Concert Band
• July 22 – Big Band From the Valley
• July 29 – Barbone Street Jazz Band
• Aug. 5 – First Time Around
• Aug. 12 – Dennis Ostopowicz Band
• Aug. 19 – Daisy Jug Band
• Aug. 26 – Uptown String Band

A rain date of Sept. 2 is scheduled for any cancelled concerts. Participants are encouraged to bring their own chairs to the free concerts.

For more information, visit www.fallstwp.com/ or call 215-949-9000, ext. 226 or 221 or 222.

For more information about the Chester County Concert Band, visit www.cccband.org.