Music in the Park loses sponsor for next event

Monroe's Music in the Park summer concert series at Lake Tye Park has been ongoing throughout July and August. Coordinated by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the eclectic series has featured Cajun rock, a Beatles cover band, classic rock and country.

Last Thursday's performance by "industrial countryGÇ¥ performer Chance McKinney was well-attended. A former math teacher at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, in 2009 McKinney won Country Music Television's Music City Madness competition. Since then, he has opened for performers like Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride and Toby Keith.

The chamber received support from the local business community to fund the free concert series. The goal for the series is to engage the community by giving local families the opportunity to enjoy the park with their kids and four-legged family members. The concerts have typically included a beer garden and concessions.-á

Last Friday, Monroe Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Una Wirkebau learned that her business sponsor for the Thursday, Aug. 20, concert would be unable to facilitate the performance.-á

"When the Monroe Chamber of Commerce heard that our sponsor was not going to be able to come through due to a death in the family, we set out to cancel our Music in the Park series for Aug. 20th,GÇ¥ Wirkebau said. "Sadly, this event was going to be the hit of the summer, with local group Heart By Heart.GÇ¥

Heart by Heart is a Seattle-based Heart tribute band that boasts an all-star lineup. The band includes Heart co-founder and bassist Steve Fossen and original Heart drummer Mike Derosier; both were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

The lineup also includes vocalist Somar Macek, guitarist Randy Hansen, keyboard player and local on-air personality Bob Rivers and guitarist Lizzy Daymont. Also an accomplished bass player, Daymont plays for the Seattle band Pretty Enemy and the top-40 cover band Sway.

In hopes of saving the show, Wirkebau ran a robust social media campaign to bring attention to the funding shortfall. She created a GoFundMe page in hopes of raising the funds necessary to accommodate the performance. As of Sunday, Aug. 16, she had raised nearly half of the $4,000 goal.

"The chamber of commerce Facebook group page has 1,345 members. If just half of these members contributed $3.30 each, we could make up the remaining difference,GÇ¥ Wirkebau said. "Many of the concerts Heart by Heart has in the Northwest are sold out; most have a $20-plus ticket fee. None of those locations allow you to bring your dog, or a picnic, or have a beer garden onsite. We offer all of these attractions.GÇ¥

Wirkebau is hopeful that the show will indeed go on.

"The weather is set to be in the high 70s and glorious,GÇ¥ she said. "It would be an outstanding evening for a free performance.GÇ¥

To support the Heart by Heart concert at Lake Tye Park, visit www.gofundme.com/heartbyheart.