Families Enjoy Summer Music Series In Mamaroneck

MAMARONECK, N.Y. – Classic Rhythm and Blues hits could be heard from Harbor Island Park to as far as Mamaroneck Avenue on Sunday night as the Summer Nights on the Sound Concert series began.

Pocket Change, the seven-piece band performing for the evening, took the stage following a featured appearance by The Soundettes, an all-women’s a capella group. The Soundettes sing at nursing homes and other community events throughout the year.

“We love to sing and we love to sing for people who enjoy it,” said Soundettes director Ellen Dugan.

As the sun began to set over the fields at the park, the Soundettes encouraged the crowd to get up and dance along to “Loco-Motion.” The atmosphere was enjoyable for Bermuda resident Steven Sousa and his daughter, who have been staying in Mamaroneck while visiting friends and family.

“I love it here, I wish we had something like this where we live,” he said about Harbor Island. “You’ve got the park, the softball field, tennis. There’s so much to do to keep the family together and busy.”

Lifelong resident Cheryl Murray heard Pocket Change warming up as she read a book on her boat in the harbor. She decided to set up a chair on the field to watch the band, and ended up running into an old Rye Neck High School friend Cathi Cooper, who now lives in Greenwich, Conn.

“I like being at the harbor and listening to the music,” she said. "And I ran into some old friends, which is nice."

The Summer Nights on the Sound Concert Series is hosted by the Village of Mamaroneck Council of the Arts. The fourth and final concert will have a swing band on Aug. 5, but the show, as always, is subject to the weather. Last week’s concert was cancelled due to strong storms, which came through the area. Rain dates are set for Aug. 12 and 19.

The Gottlibe Family, of Hawthorne, spends their summer weekends traveling to concerts around the county.

“We hit a lot of the concerts in Westchester,” said Larry Gottlibe. “The great thing about Westchester is that we have so many beautiful parks.”

The family said they were especially fond of classic R&B music and couldn’t wait to see Pocket Change live after looking them up online.

“We listened to Pocket Change on their website and they sounded very good,” said Larry Gottlibe. “So we came down to see them.”

 

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