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NORWAY -- Music in the Park will welcome a seasoned group of performers who are "back by popular demand" as the River Cities Big Band are set to play at 7 p.m. Thursday at the band shell in downtown Norway.
The River Cities Big Band is a pro-quality group of seasoned performers that draws its members from the greater Marinette-Menominee area, but also has players from as far south as Green Bay and as far east as Escanaba.
The band is under the direction of Greg Hunt, retired Norway-Vulcan Schools band director and former bass trombonist with the band. Under his leadership, the audience will hear a wide variety of big band music, from the great standards of Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and Ray Charles to more contemporary classics from Queen and Earth, Wind and Fire.
In addition to great improvisers in all sections of the band, vocalists Amy Linstad and John Wills will delight the audience with their soulful vocal numbers. Many members are current or former music educators, but the band literally has members from all walks of life playing and bringing lots of joys to listeners.
The RCBB, formerly known as the Community Jazz Ensemble, has performed for many summer concerts in the Menominee-Marinette area over the past 44 years, and in February of 2020 was awarded special recognition by the Menominee Area Arts Council for "Outstanding contribution to the Arts in Music."
They love to interact with their audiences, and look forward to playing at new venues as often as possible. You won't want to miss this outstanding group of performers, who range in age from 35-80. They are truly an inspiration to those that get to hear them perform. The band looks forward to playing for a great Dickinson County audience this week.
"We hope folks that come into Iron Mountain for this week's Out to Lunch concert with Victorious will enjoy the afternoon, have a nice dinner in the area and come on down to beautiful band shell Park in Norway for our ninth free performance of this summer's series, River Cities Big Band is an outstanding modern Big Band, and always brings a wonderful show," MIP Programming Director Carol Sundstrom said.
After storms moved through earlier in the day, a nice summer evening on July 30 saw live music fans flocking to band shell park for a full night of pop, country, oldies and rock tunes as Music Jar came to town.
Music in the Park is grateful for the financial support they have received from several organizations, businesses and individuals this year, without whom this concert series would not be possible. Major sponsors for 2026 include: Jon and Nancy Sundstrom and Norway Township (this week's spotlight sponsors), Jeri's Quilt Shop of Norway, Larry and Kathy Bourdeau, Darleen Asselin in memory of William Asselin, The Norway Senior Center, The Law Offices of Mouw & Celello of Iron Mountain, James Mortier, Jim's Music of Iron Mountain, Preferred Powersports of Norway, Steve and Debbie Tinti, Carrie Toretta-Partello, Coldwell Banker Real Estate of Iron Mountain, The Vulcan/Norway/Loretto Lions Club, The Holmberg General Insurance Agency of Norway, The Tourism Association of Dickinson County, Norway TDS Pharmacy, Loadmaster of Norway, Northern Interstate Bank of Norway, and the Curtis J. Brackett Community Foundation, as well as numerous individual and anonymous sponsors. Music in the Park is also grateful to media partners WJNR-WHTO-WOBE Radio of Iron Mountain, The Daily News and The ADvertiser.
The DayDreamers of Marquette will perform the final concert of the season Aug. 13 at both Out to Lunch in Iron Mountain and Music in the Park in Norway.
In case of inclement weather, concerts will be at the Crossroads Church, Grace United Methodist/Bethany Lutheran, on Odill Drive behind the Norway Historical Museum on the east edge of Norway. Check the Norway Music in the Park Facebook page for updates if the weather is questionable.