MOUNTAIN AREA — In a normal year, every Friday and Saturday evening during the summer, the Mariposa Arts Council hosts Music on the Green Summer Concert Series in downtown Mariposa’s outdoor Art Park.
These free concerts feature folk, bluegrass, rock, jazz, reggae, country, and world music bands hailing from the Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, and San Francisco bay area, bringing together both local and visiting concertgoers of all ages.
This year the program, produced by Andy Roberts, is trying something different.
“To minimize any possible risk to Mariposa County residents, local and traveling bands, and visitors, we won’t be holding live public concerts at the Mariposa Art Park in 2020,” the council advised.
In the spirit of live performance, they added, four bands will stream Facebook Live concerts through the art council’s Facebook page this summer:
- Scott Patrick on Friday, May 29
- Nicholas Lefler on Saturday, June 13
- Nathan Ignacio on Friday, July 17
- The Jespersons on Saturday, August 15
Live streams will begin at 7 p.m. and people viewing will be able to tip the musicians from a link on the stream.
The Arts Council will direct every penny donated during the concerts to the respective musicians and they “encourage people to tip generously.”
Artists and arts organizations, especially performing artists, have been hit particularly hard by COVID-19, the council noted.
“We hope you can tune in, enjoy some live music in the comfort of your own home, and support our local musicians.”
Performances are made possible by support from Mariposa County, the California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts and local sponsors.