Warm weather ushers in Summer’s Fifth Night to Utica Square for its 27th year. The weekly concert series welcomes local musicians to the stage each Thursday from May 31 to Aug. 30. Producer Jon Terry says the event’s history is one of rapid growth and community support.
“Walt Helmerich was the genesis behind Summer’s Fifth Night. Brothers & Company named it, designed the logo and launched it, but it was a Walt Helmerich-inspired concept that he also funded,” Terry says. “Summer’s Fifth Night began as a presentation of mostly jazz music to be a promotional draw to Utica Square. It proved to be the perfect mix of a fashionable setting and a showcase of Tulsa’s very talented musicians, all for free. It was the audiences that kept growing that caused the demand for enhanced production to allow for even larger crowds.”
This month’s offerings include a staple act to the series, The Fabulous Mid Life Crisis Band, on June 7.
“Mid Life Crisis has played Summer’s Fifth Night every year since the ’90s,” Terry says. “Steeped in danceable classic rock, this group … never fails to provide a memorable night.”
Other musical samplings this month are Retro Rockets, June 14; Zodiac, June 21; and Bradio, June 28. Retro Rockets started as a revival band of the ’80s group Eddie and the Ecclectics. The group jams out with space-age rock, doo wop and everything in between. Zodiac brings precision pop rock, and Bradio is a beloved, nine-piece Beatles-cover group.
Attendees can win prizes provided by the merchants association and enjoy Utica Square restaurants and shops before, during and after the shows. All concerts run from 7 to 9 p.m. For a full listing, visit uticasquare.com.
