The two most recent performances I attended at the Music in the Park series were quite different musically. On July 14 I heard the alt-country stylings of the local Yale County Jug Band and on July 19 Apollo Suns from Winnipeg gave a performance of jazz, funk and rock fusion. Both shows were excellent!

Yale County Jug Band performed at Music in the Park on the Rotary Park Bandshell. The talented, alt-country band played selections from their catalogue that pleased the large audience. Some of their most popular songs were “Mi Sombrero,” “Big Old Bed,” “Pretty Boots,” “Brianna,” and “Big House.”

YCJB added drummer Eddy Carusi, and their was no washboard player. The regular musicians are Gerry Sherk, guitars and lead vocals, Justin Bentley, guitars and backing vocals and Marie Jackson on backing vocals, percussion and she also performed lead vocals on one song.

Bassist Kelly Bartsch, who usually plays the double bass, played electric bass for this performance. He will be leaving the band and a beautiful cake was presented to him as a farewell gift.

Then on Tuesday July 19 Apollo Sun had their first appearance at Music in the Park.

The Winnipeg band is nearing the end of their North American tour. This seven piece outfit consisting of bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, baritone sax, trumpet and trombone played a mix of funk, jazz and rock. They have a new EP out called A Relationship of Force and played selections from it and previous albums.

Sometimes the arrangements gave a motion picture music feel as in their version of the Mission Impossible theme. In spite of the heat they had people dancing all night! Apollo Suns played and danced throughout their show, too. The brass section had fun choreography going on most of the evening.

Eventually the sun moved behind the trees and it cooled of in Riverside Park. Apollo Suns continued their hot performance on stage. Two great nights of entertainment at Music in the Park in two different genres sent the audiences home happy.