As I amble toward Konrad Square, the unmistakably sweet sound of steel drums swirls about me, laying down the perfect vibes for a picturesque summer night.
After being rained out in May, the evening of Caribbean flavor from the Fishtown Neighborhood Association’s Music in the Park summer series of concerts took place on June 20.
Entertainment for the evening was provided by musician Raymond Charles, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, where the steel drum itself originated. Hence the impeccable steel drum timbre that drew me to the park as if it were a distant siren’s call.
Charles is not only well versed in the music of the Caribbean, but also plays contemporary/smooth jazz and classic R&B and soul. He’s a
well-rounded musician who – over the course of his long career – has performed with and arranged for the Starlift Steel in Trinidad and Tobago and Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestras.
He has also performed extensively at local and state festivals throughout the U.S., including the renowned Harborview Festival in Baltimore, and has frequently toured throughout Montana’s Flathead Valley.
Fishtown’s Konrad Square was filled with Caribbean flavor to kick off part of the Fishtown Neighborhood Association’s Music in the Park summer concert series.
When asked about his music and local events like Music in the Park, Charles opined: “I play. I play because I like to. So I don’t ever get tired of it, you know. It’s great for people to have access to this type of music and these concerts. So, it’s beautiful.
“You know, it’s a little different here, though, compared to my home in Trinidad-Tobago,” he observed in his naturally rhythmic island accent. “For the local audiences back in the Caribbean, I play more calypso and probably reggae, too.
“But for this audience, you try to spread it out. Make the actions, dancing and singing a little more diverse to try to reach the entire audience.”
Amy Czervik’s toddler, Ethan, was bopping along to the smooth beats.
“These (concerts) are just a fantastic way to break up the day and get out of the house for a bit,” noted his mother, a neighborhood resident. “It sure is nice to get away from the Cocomelon and Bluey songs for a while.”
It’s hard to beat the simple joy of this kind of neighborhood gathering. Families dotted the lawn on picnic blankets and kids darted around with sticky fingers and Mr. Softee soft-serve ice cream cones dripping down their fingers and faces.
A few parents unpacked pizza boxes, sharing slices between conversation and laughter. Dogs lazed in the shade or begged for crusts. There was no hurrying during the hour-long program, no screens glowing in tiny hands, just neighbors leaning back, tapping feet and letting the music wash over them.
It felt like a snapshot of what summer evenings should be: uncomplicated, warm and full of small delights that linger long after the final note fades. In a city that can sometimes feel too fast and too loud, these little park concerts slow everything down and are a reminder of how good it feels to gather with a 100 or so of your neighbors and just be.
Upcoming dates for Music in the Park on Konrad Square, 2200 E. Daupin St., include the following 6 p.m. shows:
- Aug. 15 – Cordelia Blue (jazz)
- Sept. 19 – The StoneThrowers (Americana)
- Oct. 17 – Sidearm Duo (Acoustic Hits)
