Mcmullen_beach

Jeff Green | Aug 20, 2009

Still Standin’ performed at the last concert in the “Music in the Park”, l to r: Dennis Pacheco, Ryan Bowes, Bill Landsdell and Curtis Campbell

The local band Still Standin’ performed on the afternoon of Sunday August 16 at McMullen beach in Verona, wrapping up “Music in the Park”, a series of three free concerts put on by the Verona Community Association (VCA).

For the final concert close to 200 music lovers lined the beach-front park on Rock Lake, tapping their toes to the ’70s and ’80s rock and rockabilly classics that lead singer Dennis Pacheco and the band cranked out with skill and energy.

According to 30-year musical veteran Bill Lansdell who plays bass and vocals in the band, “This concert gives a new meaning to the name ‘Rock Lake‘”.

Two earlier concerts, one by the Confederation Jazz Band in June, and one by Red Rose Express in July, were equally well attended.

VCA member Joyce Casement, who organized and founded the concert series, was thrilled to see a long-time dream finally become a reality. “I’d been hoping to do something like this for years but we just never had the right type of venue.”

Joyce credited the Portland District Recreation Committee and specifically last year’s completion of the McMullen Park beach house as instrumental in allowing this kind of event to take place. Joyce explained, “The older cottage did not have enough of an overhang to protect a band nor was there enough power. And there were no washrooms either.”

The venue is perfect for holding concerts and judging by the turnout Casement hopes to see the series continue on into the future. “People in the community are really enjoying it and we are also seeing people coming out from all over. Boaters on the lake even drop their anchors to listen. “

Marcel Quenneville, president of the VCA, was also pleased with the turnout. “It’s really wonderful. These concerts are creating memories and history in Verona and it’s really all about community spirit.” Quenneville also hopes to see the series continue. He explained, “We (the VCA) will be reviewing the concert series at our next meeting and basically if we have the volunteers willing to do it I see no reason why the series would not continue.”

Meanwhile Joyce has already been planning for next summer and mentioned that local band Crooked Wood was interested in making an appearance.

For participating bands the venue is proving to be an enjoyable one. What could be better than playing music outdoors on a beautiful summer day with a shimmering lake as a backdrop to an enthusiastic crowd?