Free summer concert series brings rich cultural music and dance performances

This summer, make sure to set aside Monday nights for free family fun. The Utah Cultural Celebration Center’s sixth annual WorldStage! Outdoor Concert Series is known for its outdoor concerts and cultural dance performances. Come take a seat or spread out a blanket to enjoy the rich talent lined up.

“We offer quality and enjoyable entertainment and also bring a blend of a traditional musical style that intersects with more contemporary cultural expressions,” UCCC Folklorist Michael Christensen said. “What we hope that the end result is an entertaining and enjoyable musical experience.”

The concert series began July 11. The next concert is set for Aug. 1 with the headliner In-Cahoots by Hired Guns. Craig “Creek” Johnson and Lannie "The Marshal" Scopes are two rugged cowboys ready to take the audience on a nostalgic ride through the music of the west. This concert appeals to all audiences due to the fun beat of the songs and great story telling. Large movie screens also capture the frontier of the West. These songs, Johnson said, were once poems written on the trail. They tell of how the songs calmed the cattle out on the range and what the old code of West is all about.

“Cowboys are known for their honesty, integrity, hard work and getting the job done the right no matter what it takes,” Johnson said.

On Aug. 8, World Travelers will hit the stage with traditional folk dance and music from around the world. These performers literally have come from around the globe to perform in Bountiful City’s Summerfest International. The UCCC staff teamed up with Summerfest’s Executive Director Emma Dugal to bring five of the eight groups to WorldStage! These groups will bring a taste of their culture from Indonesia, Basque France, Italy, Israel and Romania.

“This creates a unique cultural exchange wherein international visitors share their culture with members of the Utah community and likewise, they take their impressions of Utah back to their native lands.”

Red Rock Rondo, a six-member ensemble group, will take the stage Aug. 15. The group’s name paints a picture of its true love for Utah’s Southern landscape. The group describes itself as a new Americana chamber folk music band due to the combination of folk music played with chamber or classical instruments.

“Most of us are classically trained, and the use of the oboe and violins give us a more ‘chamber group’ sound then a typical folk group,” Bimstein said. “New Americana shows that many of the songs are grounded in a blend of American roots and American popular styles.”

The group is celebrated for its song “Zion Canyon Song Cycle,” written by Bimstein, who received two regional Emmy Awards.

The Aug. 22 concert is Islands in the Desert, which brings music and traditions of the Pacific Islands. Aug. 29 ends the series with Partners Program Showcase which is a mix of cultural dances from Africa, Peru, The Philippines and Mexico.

For a complete schedule of the concert series, visit www.culturalcelebration.org.