2017 Sunset Beach Concert Series Kicks Off Feb. 2

TARPON SPRINGS, FL – A volunteer effort to enjoy live music on the beach has morphed into a free concert series with a beautiful backdrop.

The 2017 Sunset Beach Concert Series is set to kick off Thursday, Feb. 2 with Rusty Trumpet. The concerts run from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month from February to November. The event also features a bonfire during the February, March, October and November concerts, weather permitting.

“We picked the first Thursday to try to coincide with the full moon,” said Ashley Harter, the special events and volunteer coordinator with Tarpon Springs Recreation Division. “The full moon brightens up the beach.”

Harter said the bands generally take a brief intermission that usually coincides with the sunset so concertgoers can watch and take photos. There is a full view of the sunset from the concert pavilion, which is on the west side of Sunset Beach, 1715 Gulf Road.

There are no set themes for the concert series each year. Instead, Harter said they choose a variety of local bands to perform. This year’s lineup includes:

• Feb. 2: Rusty Trumpet
• March 2: Comfort Zone
• April 6: Tarpon Springs High School Jazz Ensemble
• May 4: Shakes Society
• June 1: Trop Rock Junkies
• July 6: Tail Spin
• Aug. 3: Pap CrawDaddy and the Bronx Mafia
• Sept. 7: Yesterdayze
• Oct. 5: Saltwater Cowboys
• Nov. 2: The Defendants

The Sunset Beach Concert Series has been steadily growing since volunteers of the Tarpon Springs Recreation Division started meeting in 1999 with ideas to propose concerts.

“The concerts started out once a year for a few years until they started having them more often,” Harter said. “The past few years have been 10 concerts a year.”

Harter said the effort started in earnest when the volunteers contacted the recreation department, discussed ideas and came up with a plan. The program was originally called Music on the Beach, and the volunteers called themselves the MOB (or Friends of Music On the Beach).

The concerts started out sporadically on sheets of plywood until the MOB decided to start raising money to build a pavilion, Harter said. The project was complete in 2010 with the help from sponsors and concert supporters.

“The pavilion was dedicated on April 29, 2010, and provided a great foundation for the concert series,” Harter said.

As in years past, there will be a shuttle service running to and from Tarpon Springs High School, 1411 Gulf Road, from 6 to 9 p.m. each month. Concessions will be available to purchase, and alcohol and pets are prohibited.

While the Sunset Beach Concert Series has grown over the years, Harter said there are two things that have not changed: its volunteer roots and no charge to attend.

“The concerts are free to attend thanks to our generous sponsors: Ferman Chevrolet of Tarpon Springs and Florida Hospital North Pinellas,” Harter said.

For more information, visit http://www.ctsfl.us/recreation/events.htm.

Image courtesy of the Tarpon Springs Recreation Division