Inspired by the Lakeport Summer Concert Series, begun in 1991, Spencer Brewer—with Assistant City Manager Candace Horsley, Chamber of Commerce Director Elizabeth Christian and Ukiah Community Services Director Robin Heise—spearheaded the move to put something similar together for Ukiah in the summer of 1992.
Sundays were chosen as the best fit, Todd Grove Park the obvious venue and the small gazebo was chosen as the first stage.
Too small, the Lion's Club built a wooden stage nearby that worked temporarily until they moved it to its present location; but every year they had to rebuild due to the ravages of winter storms.
Larry DeKnoblough, Ukiah's Redevelopment Coordinator, set the ball rolling with City staff, Rainbow Construction, Parnum Paving and Suave Construction, all of whom donated their time, to build a permanent, concrete stage, inaugurated by the Ukiah Symphony Orchestra in 1998.
At about the same time, under a partnership and with donations from John Schaeffer's Real Goods, Jeff Oldham, solar expert and consultant and the City of Ukiah, the event became the country's first solar powered concert series.
In 2018, after completing 25 years of bringing a wide variety of wonderful music to town, Spencer passed the baton to Carter Grissom and Sundays in the Park (with or without George), the long time, beloved community series of musical happenings at Todd Grove Park, is in full swing again this year under the continued, rocking leadership of Carter, talent buyer and promoter, and Jake Burgess, City of Ukiah community services supervisor.
Carter grew up going with his family, played on the very stage with his reggae band, Top Shelf, and now takes his own kids to the event.
"I love bringing this event to the community, on the biggest stage in Ukiah, and to be able to provide so many people with wonderful Sunday afternoons.
"My favorite part is standing behind the stage and watching the crowd, seeing everybody, our community, being together. It's just really fulfilling to be a part of making this happen."
Jake estimates there are between 3-5,000 folks who attend regularly, filling up the 21-acre community park for six events, just about every other weekend, throughout the summer.
While Carter does all the arranging around the music and the bands, Jake overseas the organizational necessities, the nuts and bolts, to make sure the events run smoothly—everything from budgeting to staffing to sponsor recruitment to vendors to coordinating with Carter, the bands and the sound techs.
"This is a fun part of my job," says Jake, "doing something that's almost universally liked by everyone. I enjoy walking around and seeing such big slices of the community—kids, retired people, visitors, all ladders of the economic scale. For our community, socially, it's basically irreplaceable."
This year's series starts off with Diggin Dirt, a West Coast Funk and Soul Band, with Soulevity, on June 9; followed by Chris Cain, Blues Guitar Master, on June 30. For local talent, The Real Sarahs & Alex De Grassi, with Julian Julian, will take the stage on July 14. Mykal Rose, Jamaican Reggae Legend, with Dubcraft, perform on July 27; Blitzen Trapper, Alternative Country & Indie Jam, follow on August 11; and Mustache Harbor, Yacht Rock Forever, finishes the series on Aug. 18.
The band selection committee, led by Carter, meet for a day to review the 60-some bands, both sought and submitted, under consideration for performing.
"We listen and watch all of them and then narrow it down to a manageable number, about 10 or 15.
"You can tell a lot not only by listening but also by watching their performance. We're looking for the right fit, a variety of male and female singers, a variety of genres."
"Some bands are too expensive. Some look cool, but would be better in a nightclub setting. Not every band translates to the park, a big open daytime event," adds Jake.
"We look at so many bands because we want to create the best lineup that we possibly can with our budget and for the diversity of our community."
Some of the bands are returning: Chris Cain performed in 2007; Diggin Dirt in 2021; and the Real Sarahs, who have played as openers a number of times, will be headliners this summer.
Carter then reaches begins arrangements for scheduling, date wise and price wise, and Jake makes arrangements for contracts and deposits, reaches out to sponsors and sets up vendors.
This year they opened up food vendor applications on May 1st; there was a line out the door and by noon they had met their capacity of 15. Each vendor pays 10 per cent of their take.
Scheduling is usually every other Sunday, with exceptions and consideration given to not conflicting with the Mendocino County Fair weekend and the Fourth of July.
Sponsors cover the costs of the annual $40,000 event that includes payment for bands, sound companies, weekend staff workers, band equipment, posters, banners, t-shirts, feeding the bands and miscellaneous supplies
The money is kept in a separate trust account that rolls over; keeping in mind present and future expenditures.
Jake says, "My job is to make sure the fund stays healthy and if we have a year with a downturn in sponsorship, we'll still be able to do next year's concerts."
With different levels of sponsorship, appreciative to all, the presenters include in-kind K-Wine and MAX 93.5 FM who have provided free media advertising for years. Other presenters are Ukiah Valley Athletic Club, Mendocino Wellness and The City of Ukiah.
Thirty-two years later with hundreds of bands having performed and thousands upon thousands of local spectators—eating, drinking, dancing, laughing, socializing, making memories—the free summer series has become an enduring and well-loved part of our summers here in Ukiah and, with a list of over two dozen sponsors, it surely looks good for the future.
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