SAUGUS — Summer concerts are making an encore at the Saugus Iron Works.
For decades, spectators brought a chair and a picnic basket to the national park and spent warm summer evenings enjoying tunes by various military bands, high school bands and other regulars. The weeknight concerts began in 1974 and continued into the early 2000s.
Now, a group of rangers are bringing them back.
“This tradition started a long time ago,” said Ranger Mike Parr. “It’s something that several of us rangers on staff remember from years past. We felt it was important to bring back that concert series, and spirit of the art of music, and just get back and meet the neighbors and reconnect through a fun, festive event.”
The series will kick off on Wednesday, July 24 with ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s music by Tony Malionek and Company. The next week, on July 31, Aubrey Atwater of Atwater and Donnelly will perform traditional American and Celtic folk music and dance.
Aug. 7 will be a mix of jazz by the New New Orleans Jazz Band, followed by bluegrass by Fort Point Ramblers on Aug. 14. The next week will be Cajun and zydeco by Squeeze Box Stompers.
Nick Finestone and Shiver, a new age jazz band, will perform on Aug. 28.
To wrap up the series, Tony Malionek and Company will be back with a special performance on Founders Day, Sept. 7 at 4 p.m.
“We’ve got what we think is a good lineup,” said Parr. “The goal is to reinvigorate the concert series and let people know that the Iron Works is still here.”
The concerts are free and open to the public. Alcohol is not allowed in the park.
