Editor’s Note: The Valparaiso Events Summer Concert Series will be streamed LIVE on the Valparaiso Events Facebook Page!
Teachers Credit Union is again giving back to the community by serving as the presenting sponsor of Valparaiso Events’ 2020 Summer Concert Series. Held on Thursday nights in July and August at the Porter Health Amphitheater in Central Park Plaza, the concerts are free — but ticketed due to coronavirus concerns — and will be streamed over the Internet.
“Serving as the presenting sponsor has always been important to TCU, but the importance of events like this has never been more clear,” said Nicole Alcorn, TCU’s Chief Member Experience Officer. “Although a limited number of residents can physically be present this year, everyone can access the live music by streaming the concerts online.”
Although performances seen via platforms like Facebook can’t replicate the energy of being there in person, successfully blending various ways to view each show provides an uplifting experience that puts everyone a little more at ease with their situation — and comfort level.
The series aims to financially and creatively support artists, while also keeping residents engaged. As Alcorn said, these shows “adapt to the circumstances while still creating a sense of community which serves as a collective mood boost.”
“Being a credit union, we dedicate ourselves first and foremost to our members, which also means contributing to the local communities where we all live and work,” Alcorn said. “The benefits of bringing people together, in person or virtually, are immeasurable.”
Although the Summer Concert Series is nice entertainment, for many it’s also a source of inspiration that feels even more vital now. The series maintains a connection for both the artists and the audience.
“TCU sponsors this event because we love the concerts,” Alcorn said. “Great music creates a festive spirit and that atmosphere carries over from the performances into our everyday lives. And we encourage residents to stream the shows and sway along in a lawn chair or dance on the porch as they listen to the live music from home.”
This year’s concert series is a combination of returning and new performers, with The Crawpuppies, an alt-rock band hailing from northwest Indiana, as the first headlining performance of the 2020 season.
The series features different musical genres each week — from country to disco to pop and more.
Alcorn said Valparaiso Events has taken steps to ensure everyone feels safe during the Summer Concert Series.
Additionally, Alcorn says anyone unable to attend the concert on Thursdays can live stream the events by going to Valparaiso Events’ Facebook page.
The weekly concerts are free, but tickets are required and are limited for each performance to allow for social distancing. Tickets for each concert are available the Monday before each show at eventbrite.com/e/summer-concert-series-tickets-109212136440.
All concerts begin at 7 pm with gates open at 5:30 pm.
“Supporting local events and businesses is central to life in Valpo and at the heart of TCU’s mission, so our goal is to be a good citizen and do our part to make the community the best it can be,” Alcorn says. “This year, the Summer Concert Series serves to lift us up in the middle of a difficult time for many and remind us of all the good we have right in our midst, with more to look forward to in the future.”
For a complete list of this year’s performances, visit Valparaiso Event’s Summer Concert Series website.
