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Music in the Park returns to Trail Thursday

George Cappelletto is the man behind the sound of the annual concert series.

When Music in the Park comes to the stage Thursday evening, a local musician will once again be working behind-the-scenes to bring quality sound to a quality performance.

George Cappelletto, a rhythm and blues-based guitarist from Rivervale, has been setting up sound systems at the outdoor venue for a number of years at the behest of the Trail and District Arts Council.

“I used to do sound at the Charles Bailey Theatre,” he explained. “When that was done they approached me to run their sound system and I have been doing it ever since.”

Cappelletto arrives at Gyro Park at 5 p.m. to set up for the Thursday night performances and to complete sound checks before the acts kick off the show at 7 p.m.

“I do the check so they are happy on stage and can hear what they want to hear,” he said. “Then about an hour and a half later when they are done, I tear everything until the next time.”

When the outdoor music season opens with a performance by the Trail Maple Leaf Band under the direction of Joe Fuoco Thursday, Cappelletto said he’s in for an easy night.

“Some shows take longer to setup,” he continued. “But when we set up for the Maple Leaf Band and then the Trail Pipe Band the following week, they’re easy with only one microphone and one small PA.”

Throughout the summer, local talents and out-of-towners will bring a variety of musical genres to the Trail stage, ranging from resonating bag pipes and big band sounds to fiddling and smooth jazz.

On June 26, locals Ray Bouliane and Don Birtch will croon the country blues, followed by a July 3 performance by Whispering Polly, a country rock and blues funk band.

Next in line on July 10 is Darlene Ketchum, a Delta-based jazz, soul and gospel singer, accompanied by her husband Kelvin on piano.

The concert series is held every Thursday night with the exception of the ever popular Kootenay Fiddle Workshop, this year slated for July 15.

That night, performers and instructors from across Canada will show up with guitars and fiddles in hand to jam on strings, accompanied by keyboards.

On July 17, Nice Verdes, a Vancouver-based duo will take the stage, performing traditional songs and original compositions showcasing African and Latin American influences.

The Jason Thomas Group, a local country rock band is slated for July 24, and is an act that Cappelletto is looking forward to working with.

“I really enjoyed working with Jason, he used to play in my band,” he said. “But this summer he’ll be performing his own music on the stage.”

Additional acts include rhythm and blues with Clinton Swanson and Friends with drummer Tony Ferraro July 31; a bluegrass quintet, Mountain Station Aug. 7; folk singer Sarah Burton Aug. 14; Sunshine Drive on Aug. 21; and Walter Crockett’s Old Time Fiddler’s will close the season on Aug. 28.

Admission is by donation at the gazebo in Gyro Park. For more information, visit trail-arts.com.



Sheri Regnier

About the Author: Sheri Regnier

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