It’s July in Prineville and people who love live music and getting outdoors for a relaxing and entertaining evening know what that means.
The annual Picnic in the Park concert series, offered courtesy of Crook County Foundation, kicks off Wednesday, July 17, with free concerts planned nearly every week through late August. People are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs or picnic blankets and feel free to dance if the music moves you.
“As we continue serving the community through Picnic in the Park, our excitement heightens as the time approaches,” said Crook County Foundation board member Jon Soliz. “Twenty years into Picnic in the Park, and this time, we not only have great cover bands but great original music coming your way. We welcome you to join us with bands playing light country, mariachi, southern rock, top hit covers, dance covers, 70s music, 80s music and more.”
The series starts with Casey Parnell & Company. Known to Prineville audiences as the guitarist in Precious Byrd, the group kicks off Picnic in the Park on July 17. Their music is influenced by acoustic pop, blues, folk, rock and gospel. Casey writes for “the wandering heart, the wilderness walker, the lonely soul” and also plays cover hit songs from classics like The Beatles and Johnny Cash to today’s Ed Sheeran.
Los Amigos de la Sierra comes to Picnic in the Park for the first time on July 24. With musical roots from Mexico, the musical group has a Norteño sound that is very familiar in the northern states of México. The band also brings American and world-wide music influences like Elvis, Creedance Clearwater Revival, The Beatles and Bob Marley.
Also joining Picnic in the Park for the first time on July 31 is Eli Howard and the Greater Good. This group brings an alternative country rock sound. Howard enjoys a lot of styles of music, including 90s, folk and 60s and 70s rock-n-roll. About music, he says, “to me, good is good. It doesn’t matter the genre.”
After the Crook County Fair, on Aug. 14, Superball Rock performs bell-bottom rock from the mid-60s to the mid-80s. Comprised of seasoned recording and international touring musicians, the band is recognized for “solid vocals, top-notch musicianship, and no shortage of good material from which to draw.”
Pressure Point closes out the Picnic in the Park series on Aug. 21. Returning for the first time since 2019, the band is comprised of veteran and versatile artists with diverse musical backgrounds. Pressure Point traverses genres from classic rock to jazz, funk and blues, emphasizing intricate melodies and powerful rhythms.
Visitors to the Picnic in the Park concerts will want bring their appetite. The Prineville Lions Clubs will sell hot dogs, hamburgers and other items. According to Crook County Foundation’s executive director, Rebekah Lambert, proceeds from those sales support both the Lions Club’s philanthropic programs and the Foundation’s Holiday Partnership.
“We’re so glad that the Lions Club is joining us for a third summer and grateful for their generosity,” Lambert said. She encourages community members to “enjoy the fun, neat music and a great sense of community under the shady trees of Pioneer Park.”
“As a musician myself, it's rewarding to be part of something that brings a variety of live music to our community,” Soliz added. “Mark your calendars for Wednesdays in July and into August, because Crook County, here we go! Bring your lawn chair and enjoy.”
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