Music series increases arts presence | Features

The Music in March series returns to Peoria for its third year, bringing with it a variety of local artists spanning different genres. 

“It’s a great way to see live music in what’s an amazingly beautiful, natural setting,” said Richard Schultz, program coordinator for arts, culture and library services. 

The series takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. on each Sunday of the month at Paloma Community Park in North Peoria. 

The idea for the series, according to Schultz, came from a combination of sources realizing that although North Peoria is booming, there isn’t much representation of the arts. 

“One of the interests I know that Mary Lou Stephens, our director, heard from the community, was they were looking for a greater arts presence,” Schultz said. “So, this became an effort to start to bring more arts into North Peoria, and Paloma is the city’s newest community park, so it became a perfect setting to combine that interest in more arts opportunities with this new area of Peoria that’s just booming.” 

The first performance of the series took place on March 3, and Schultz, who’s only been with the city since October, said staff told him it was the largest crowd they had seen at the series. 

“My goal is always to talk to the audience before and after the concert, because that’s where you see the greatest difference,” Schultz said. “They (attendees) come in and they’re looking forward to it, then at the end they’re like, ‘What’s next?’ So that’s what I find so exciting, the audience being taken with the artist and the artists sharing who they are and what they do.”

The lineup for the rest of the series consists of Peter Pancrazi, a vocalist and guitarist, on March 17. Pancrazi will play a mix of original jazz compositions and Latin jazz classics. Then, on March 24, Desert Dixie, a five-piece band fronted by husband-and-wife duo J.T. Hubbell and Cody Lynn, will perform hot new country, country classics, originals, blues, rock and Top 40 hits. 

In addition to the entertainment, the series will have food trucks that will rotate each week for residents to try. 

The importance of the series, Schultz said, is that it supports what Peoria did in 2022 when it passed its arts and culture plan. 

“One of the provisions is to really ramp up the arts, both visual and performing, throughout the city, and so this series certainly speaks to that,” Schultz said. “And then we’re reaching out to all the different audiences, the different neighborhoods and the different communities bringing arts experiences. … And so, it’s really about creating a higher profile for the arts citywide, so that’s how the concerts really support that effort.” 

The most gratifying component of the series for Schultz is the variety of people he sees in attendance bonding over the arts. 

“When I looked at the audience this past Sunday, I saw a multi-generational crowd,” Schultz said. “And I think my favorite part is so many people brought their dogs and you see the animals there as part of family units, couple units, and they’re all enjoying music with their loved ones.” 

With this being the series’ third year, it is still in its infancy, but Schultz hopes that it will expand to have more concerts throughout the calendar year and to other parks throughout Peoria. 

Schultz emphasized that the concert series is a great family experience, as well as a chance for residents to explore parts of Peoria they might not have been to. 

“The arts really truly are starting to become, in Peoria, more of everyday and everywhere, and I think that the series symbolizes that,” Schultz said.