Get your lawn chairs and blankets ready. Concerts at the Commons are returning to Broad Commons Park. Every Thursday in May will showcase local artists with various musical backgrounds.
Back for its second year, this event series has been made possible through collaborations between local nonprofit Stage United and the Doylestown Borough. “Once the Broad Commons Park was created, it was in both of our minds to have something like this at the park. It was the next step for both myself and the Borough,” says musician and founder of Stage United, Joe Montone.
The non-profit organization has grown significantly over the past year. Montone reflects, “It’s remarkable to have seen 1,000 plus people each night at last year's Concerts at the Commons, so we’re responding to that with four shows instead of two.”
Night one, May 7, features a folk Americana sound. Headlining is Philadelphia-based songwriter Sug Daniels, with elements of soul and storytelling. Joining her will be Frenchtown, NJ local Clover Stieve, known for merging folk-pop with a 60’s and 70’s vibe.
Prepare for jazz funk on night two, May 14. Doylestown's trio, Colacore, opens the show, with a surprise guest following. Indie meets bluegrass on night three, May 21. Kicking off is fiddler, Katelynn Casper of Serene Green, and coming in from Upstate New York to headline are folk rockers, Driftwood. Closing out the concert series on night four, May 28, will be Philadelphia and Jersey local rock quartet Fat Mezz, and joining the group is soulful rock duo Hay Sugar of Doylestown.
Pet-friendly and perfect for all ages, the events will feature a variety of food trucks for grabbing a bite, and adult beverages provided by Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co. and Main Street Sport & Social.
Stage United culminates over 15 years of producing live concerts in the Bucks County area. Montone says, “The nonprofit is a way to work together as a community and bring live concerts to this area that otherwise would not be possible.”
Montone’s goal is to make music more available not only for local musicians, but local listeners as well. “My roots for booking performances have always been to create opportunities for communities to flourish through live music,” he says,
Doylestown is known for its rich musical environment. Montone expresses, “I want Concerts at the Commons to be a platform for diversity as much as possible, in both the sounds that artists are putting out and in their backgrounds. I think it’s really important to have that exposure for all ages and all backgrounds to inspire them.”
It is a challenge for him to book only four nights due to the vast number of artists he would like to include. He is grateful for the opportunity to honor a handful of local musicians who have been working their tails off. Stage United and the Doylestown Borough are aiming to bring Concerts at the Commons back for another four Thursdays in September. Montone says, “There’s room for all types of music and experiences in this area. It’s an honor to be able to create a stage for that amount of diversity.”
As a life-long Doylestown resident who has been producing shows for half of his life, Montone appreciates where this path has taken him. He marvels, “I’ve had so many opportunities and so many people supporting me. The most rewarding thing is being on stage each night introducing these artists and seeing the crowds grow; seeing people of all ages enjoying these shows right in their backyard.”
Montone thanks the collaboration with Doylestown Borough, specifically Caitlin Hernandez, director of parks and recreation, and all of the sponsors who help make the event possible: Fred Beans Automotive Group, C&N Bank, The Monkey’s Uncle, The Lisa Povlow Team, and Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty.
Don’t miss this unique concert series every Thursday in May. Admission is free, and grounds open at 6 pm in Broad Commons Park, located at 10 Doyle Street.