Simmons Bank Private Wealth and Springfield Sister Cities Association present Gigs in the Garden, an outdoor concert series at 2 p.m. on Sundays, October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2022. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy a variety of local and regional performance groups in an extraordinary setting.
Admission is free with a $10 suggested donation. Beverages are available for purchase from Shakers Mobile Bartending Service. The concerts take place at the Peace Through People Pavilion located within the beautiful Kay Cummins Finnie Memorial Dogwood Garden at the Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, Mo. Kids will love the playground nearby.
Springfield Community Jazz Ensemble kicks of the series on Sunday, October 2 at 2 p.m. Robert Holden started the group 13 years ago to help keep big band music alive in the Springfield area. Their concerts are typically free of charge to help educate the public about jazz and to provide amateur and professional musicians the opportunity to perform jazz.
Justin Larkin continues the series on Sunday, October 9 at 2 p.m. Larkin is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Springfield with a distinct and hearty blend of roots, soul and rock and roll dubbed “cosmic Ozarkana music.” He’s spent the past 15 years touring the Midwest as a solo act and with various musical groups including Mood Ring Circus.
Casey and the Atta Boys perform on Sunday, October 16 at 2 p.m. They’re an entertaining, forward-moving bluegrass band with roots deep in tradition, willing to move into the unknown. The group features leader Casey Freeland, Kelly Freeland on vocals and guitar, Andrew Morton on fiddle and vocals, Justin George on banjo, and Becca Sein on vocals and mandolin.
On Sunday, October 23 at 2 p.m., Deja Crew brings their unique blend of songs, instruments, genres and witty banter. The trio of friends features Amanda Clark, Chris Schafer and Brian Mattson who have been playing together for a decade. Their setlist is full of hits, some you’ve heard and some you haven’t. “Come for the music, stay for the banter.”
John Depew rounds out the series on Sunday, October 30 at 2 p.m. Depew is a Kansas-based musician, songwriter and traveler with a knack for combining traditional sounds with thoughtful lyrics and intriguing musicality. He is a multi-instrumentalist that has been described as the “midwestern Nick Drake.” He jokingly refers to his music as “progressive old-time.”
In the case of inclement weather, the concerts will move inside the adjacent Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center.
The series is managed by Springfield Sister Cities Association in cooperation with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board.
The Peace Through People Pavilion was constructed in late 2016 to encourage more cultural performances and community events in the Springfield Botanical Gardens.
For more information, please visit peacethroughpeople.org/gigs or call 417-864-1191.
