2015 Fountain Park concerts announced

VW independent/submitted information

The announcement Wednesday of this summer’s Fountain Park Summer Music Series entertainment should definitely be enough to get area residents thinking about warmer temperatures. This year’s lineup includes rock icon Ambrosia, as well as tribute bands, the Lima Symphony Pops Orchestra and a couple of unique groups, to say the least.

The season begins the weekend of the Peony Festival on Friday, June 5, with Ambrosia, the Seventies and Eighties rock group that had such top 40 hits as “How Much I Feel”, “Biggest Part of Me,” and “You’re the Only Woman.”

After a week off, the series will have a rare Saturday concert on June 20 with the Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute group Blue Moon Swamp. The concert is on Saturday to accommodate thousands of cyclists coming into town that weekend for the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure.

The group will play a number of Creedence Clearwater hits, including “Lookin’ Out My Backdoor”, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”, “Proud Mary” and “Sweet Hitchhiker.”

On Friday, June 26, enjoy the rhythms, high-energy sounds and spirit of “The Big Easy” with the Hoo Doo Loungers. The band’s sound encompasses traditional New Orleans Jazz, class R&Band funk.

Celebrate America’s birthday on Friday, July 3, when the Lima Symphony Pops Orchestra comes to Fountain Park for its Independence Day concert. Maestro Crafton Beck will lead the orchestra in a variety of patriotic favorites, as well as Broadway hits, movie themes and more.

On Friday, July 17, Shot Gun Wedding comes to Fountain Park with its eclectic mix of twang, rock-n-roll, swing and Country. Group members have worked, and are still working, with performers such as Billy Joel, Shania Twain, Hall and Oates, Bon Jovi, Meat Loaf and Michael Bolton.

On Friday, July 24, the Woodstock Generation — and all those who love the sounds of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young — will get a reprise of the iconic group’s elegant harmonies from CSN Songs: A Tribute to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Songs such as “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Woodstock,” “Teach Your Children” and “Our House” will be among those faithfully reproduced by the tribute group.

The finale for this year’s season will come on Friday, August 7, “Your Generation in Concert, featuring Fifty Amp Fuse.”

Fifty Amp Fuse is a multimedia spectacular that celebrates six decades of American and British pop/rock hits. The group is an international favorite for the celebrity set, corporations, festivals, casinos and private events.

Led by a nine-piece band, the concert takes the audience on “a musical journey through the soundtrack of our lives.”

The concerts are sponsored by The Van Wert County Foundation.