City preparing for Starship concert Friday night

WILKES-BARRE — Some 55 years after what many have called the greatest rock concert of all time, Woodstock, the band Starship will perform on Public Square, playing a few songs that were heard in Max Yasgur’s alfalfa field in Bethel, N.Y.

Starship, an American rock band from San Francisco, Calif., initially was a continuation of Jefferson Starship and before that, the original Jefferson Airplane. Starship in its current form has undergone a change in musical direction and a subsequent loss of personnel — no original members remain from Jefferson Airplane.

But lead singer Mickey Thomas has been fronting the band since 1979 and the addition of Cian Coey will take the anticipated crowd of 8,000-plus back to the 1960s sound with her incredible voice that remarkably sounds like Grace Slick.

“Starship is expected to play a lot of the hits of Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and the current Starship,” said Mike Slusser, the city’s special events coordinator/business licensing administrator. “It will be a great concert.”

The City of Wilkes-Barre’s free Summer Concert on Public Square with Starship featuring Mickey Thomas will fill the summer air with great music on Friday night, beginning at 6 p.m.

The Traveling Wilkes-Barreans will be the opening act at 6 p.m. Starship featuring Mickey Thomas will begin their set at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The concert will feature Starship featuring Mickey Thomas’ greatest hits like “We Built This City,” “Jane,” “Sara,” “Nothing’s Going To Stop Us Now,” “Laying It On The Line,” and “Find Your Way Back.” The concert will also include selections from Jefferson Starship and Jefferson Airplane, as a nod to both bands’ beginnings.

Last year’s Free Summer Concert on Public Square, with Guess Who, drew more than 6,000 people to Downtown Wilkes-Barre.

The event will include local food vendors: Bulldog BBQ, Cosenza’s on the Go, Geraldo’s Pizza, Handel’s Ice Cream, Snooks Wings and Things, Tony Thomas Lemonade, Yogi’s Potato Pancakes and more.

Alcohol is not permitted on Public Square during the event. Attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs and blankets to the concert.

Sponsors

The City thanked its sponsors for their contribution toward making this free concert accessible to the community.

• Presenting Sponsors: Diamond City Partnership, Fidelity Bank, Franchelli Enterprises, Visit Luzerne County and the Luzerne Foundation.

• Platinum Sponsors: BHW Construction Consultation Services Inc., M&T Bank, and Pennsylvania American Water.

• Gold Sponsor: Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce and Service Electric Cable TV & Communications.

• Silver Sponsors: Allied Services, Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies, Highmark, PennEastern Engineering, SERVPRO of Kingston & Wilkes-Barre, and Stell Enterprises Inc.

Road closures and parking

For the safety of the public, beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, the streets surrounding Public Square — East Market from Washington Street to Public Square; West Market from Franklin to Public Square; South Main from Northampton to Public Square; and North Main Street from Butler Lane to Public Square — will be closed until the concert concludes and concertgoers disperse from Public Square.

Meters will be bagged and there will be “No Parking” notices posted on East Market from Washington Street to Public Square; South Main from Northampton to Public Square; North Main Street from Union Street to Public Square; and on all parking spaces within Public Square, beginning late afternoon on Thursday, Aug. 15. Vehicles parked at bagged meters will not be ticketed on Thursday.

Ticketing will commence Friday, at 3 p.m. and then towing will commence at 4 p.m. on Public Square, South Main, North Main, and East Market streets.

To avoid towing and fines, motorists are advised to adhere to both public and private “No Parking” zones.

Beginning at 5 p.m., free handicapped-only parking will be available at City Hall’s parking lot, 40 E. Market St. The lot is limited to 50 spots, and is first come, first served. The lot will be monitored, and concert attendees must enter the parking lot from the State Street or North Washington Street entrances.

Starting at 4 p.m., event parking, at the cost of $5, will be available at all downtown parkades. Payment, via credit/debit card only, must be made when entering the parkade.

Locations:

• James F. Conahan Intermodal Garage — entrance at 48 S. Washington St.

• LAZ Parking Central Garage — entrance at 52 S. Main St.

• LAZ Parking Park and Lock North — entrance at 30 N. Main St.

• LAZ Parking Park and Lock East — entrance on 10 North Washington Street.

• Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority Lot — entrance at 25 W. Northampton St.