'Our biggest year yet': Summer Concert Series kicks off Thursday with Appalachian Outlaws

NOTE: This story has been updated to clarify the concert will be held inside Secrest Auditorium.

ZANESVILLE − The 2024 Secrest Summer Concert Series kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Secrest Auditorium with southern rock band Appalachian Outlaws headlining the stage, sponsored by Tire Pros.

“We will announce all the bands we’re bringing to Zanesville this year at the kickoff concert,” said Community Development Director Matt Schley of the Zanesville Community Improvement Corporation. “This is going to be our biggest year ever.”

Other concert dates for 2024 will be May 23, June 6, June 20, July 18, Aug. 1, and Aug. 29. For all concerts, gates open at 4:30 p.m. with music beginning at 6:30 p.m. Blankets and chairs are allowed, but coolers are not.

The family-friendly concerts are free, thanks to all the major sponsors, said Schley. In addition to the stage sponsor, the presenting sponsors are J&E Distributors, Lepi & Associates, Park National Bank, Clearpath Utility Solutions, Coconis Furniture and Mattress 1st, Federal Elite Heating & Cooling, and Patriot Companies.

“(The series) is almost entirely funded by corporate sponsors,” said Schley. “We couldn’t do it without them. They contribute quite a lot to ensure we can pay for high-quality entertainment and bands.”

Schley said the series is in its fourth year. It was started in 2021 to bring people back to downtown Zanesville “in a family friendly community-minded environment.”“Downtown is the lifeblood of the city,” said Schley. “And Zanesville’s downtown is smack dab between the north end and the south end, so it truly is for everybody.”Schley said the 2021 series started small with five shows, expanding to seven this year. It routinely draws 2,500 to 5,000 people to each show.“We’ve been very successful at getting people to show up.”For more information visit coz.org and click on Secrest Summer Concert Series.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: 'Our biggest year yet': Summer Concert Series kicks off Thursday with Appalachian Outlaws