Soulful guitar and folksy vocals radiated from the Porter Health Amphitheater in Central Park Plaza Wednesday evening for Switchback’s performance in the Valparaiso Events' Summer Rhapsody Music series. Music lovers of all ages flooded the park to take in the Celtic harmonies.
Switchback is a duo made up of musicians Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack. A unique blend of American roots and Celtic soul, Switchback wowed audiences with their authentic Irish songs and charismatic stage presence.
“Their Celtic and upbeat music is pretty good,” said Doug Gray, who traveled with his wife from Mishawaka to see Switchback perform.
“They started playing at some of the local areas around South Bend, and we starting watching them, and we became real great friends,” added Heidi Gray, who has even traveled to Ireland with the band. “We hope everyone has a real great evening and becomes Switchback fans!”
Community members brought blankets and lawn chairs to take full advantage of the beautiful July night by soaking in some summer tunes.
“We see attendees use the concerts as a venue to gather with friends for an evening picnic in the park or as mid-week date night,” said Valparaiso Events Marketing Director Jennifer Peek. “The convenience and quality of performances are a constant draw.”
Located in Central Park Plaza in the heart of downtown Valparaiso, the concert series allows music lovers to enjoy an evening of cuisine, culture, and community.
“We work to select a diverse array of music to please a variety of audiences,” said Peek.
Over the last few months, the Summer Rhapsody series has highlighted everything from classical to classic rock. See the list below for more summer concerts:
- Valparaiso Community University Concert Band: Wednesday, July 16 - 7 p.m.
- Middle School Concert Band: Wednesday, July 23 - 6:30 p.m.
- Spazmatics: Friday, August 1 - 8 p.m.
- Mozart in the Park: Friday, August 8
- Highway Band: Friday, August 15 - 8 p.m.
“Valparaiso Events provides 80 days of events in the park each year,” said Peek. “The majority of our events are free and family friendly, which is a great way for families to spend regular quality time together.”
