And the bands play on
in Pennypack Park

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Talk about a blast from the past.
Long-haired folks in tie-dyed T-shirts slapped orange beach balls into the air while children played and the band Yasgur’s Farm performed songs reminiscent of Woodstock at the bandshell in Pennypack Park last week.
Another group, Axis, tossed in a little Jimi Hendrix tribute as well.
The concert was one of 10 biweekly concerts being presented this summer as part of the Pennypack Park Music Festival’s seventh season. Local music fan Jean Murray, donning her Woodstock-inspired T-shirt, has caught about half of the summer concerts and plans to close out the season on Sept. 19 by returning for a performance of the band Benny and the Jets and its tribute to Elton John.
"I’ll be back for Elton John," she said of the upcoming tribute band, "and everyone next year."
Founded by Ed Kelly, the former president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and other civic-spirited colleagues, the park concerts actually got their start three decades ago with big-band performances staged at the bandshell near Rowland and Cresco avenues. From 1977 to ’91, the shows included concerts by legendary orchestras once fronted by late bandleaders Harry James and brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.
But the music then faded away — the logistics and costs of presenting the shows became a challenge — and the bandshell became a target of vandals and graffiti. In 2000, after almost a decade of silence, the concerts were resurrected with a devoted group of organizers and the city’s help to restore the bandshell.
These days, solid crowds — ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 concert-goers — enjoy the wide variety of festival acts that perform in Pennypack Park, including the popular Irish group Blackthorn and tribute bands that salute the music of the Beatles, Billy Joel and Santana, among others.
"It’s become a habit for many, a safe place to be," said festival president Glenn McCurdy.
He is proud of the festival organizers and their hard work to grow sponsorship for the community concerts at a time when the Fairmount Park Commission budget is getting tighter, forcing more costs onto the festival.
Although the shows are free, festival leaders suggest a $5 donation to help support the series and other civic projects undertaken by the board of directors.
Some of the festival’s major sponsors — a combination of public and private backers — include state economic grants arranged by Sen. Michael Stack and the support of the Philadelphia Foundation, the Mayfair Community Development Corp., Freedom Bank, Commerce Bank and the city Mural Arts Program, among others.
"It’s the polar opposite of what’s been going on at the Robin Hood Dell," said McCurdy, referring to the city-subsidized concerts whose organizers have come under sharp criticism in recent years for lack of events promotion and low ticket sales.
"Without the terrific cooperation of the park rangers and our incredible audiences, none of this could take place," he added. "Given our recent growth in attendance, all of us, the entire team of festival directors and park rangers, are particularly proud that thus far the new Pennypack Park Festival has had only one serious incident to report in seven years."
Beyond the entertainment, that safety factor helps entice people to the park setting. McCurdy said he’d also like to see more sponsorship entities step up to support the family summer concert venue, enabling festival organizers to make site improvements and give even more back to the community.
Tacony resident Mary Benussi will tell you that the park concerts are the best deal in town.
"It’s a great place," the music fan said. "Where else can you go and see everyone from babies up to great-grandparents all at the same concert?" ••
For more information, call 215-281-7664 or visit www.pennypackpark.com
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com