Simply Swing Will Start Tour On Flag Day At Veteran's Park in Berlin

Bigger and Better, that’s how the 2013 Farmington Bank Community Concert Series featuring Simply Swing looks.

“We received so much positive feedback last year that we decided to continue and expand our community concert series featuring Simply Swing from 11 to 15 concerts,” said John J. Patrick, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Farmington Bank. “We’re pleased to play a key role in continuing the wonderful American tradition of free, summer concerts.”

“Budgets in many communities continue to be very tight. Sponsoring events such as these free, public concerts remains important to Farmington Bank. As we continue to grow throughout the region we want to maintain and strengthen our relationships in the communities we serve,” Mr. Patrick added.

Simply Swing is a 10-piece ensemble specializing in the music of Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Count Basie; vocalists Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole and Diana Krall; and high energy Swing Dance favorites. The group recently released its first CD, “Dancing to Simply Swing” featuring music composed for swing and ballroom dancers by Joe LaRosa, the group’s musical director.

“We totally embrace the idea of performing music that encourages people to move,” said Mr. LaRosa. “We love to see toes tapping, audience members swaying in their lawn chairs and singing along. More times than not, if there’s some pavement nearby – we’ll get couples up and dancing,” he added.

For the second straight year the series will kick off with a special Flag Day performance on Friday, June 14, at 7 p.m., at the scenic Veterans Park in Berlin.

“As has become our tradition, we’ll program several patriotic selections in honor of the occasion and veterans,” said Simply Swing’s vocalist, Vivian LaRosa.

“We’re thrilled to have Berlin’s Veterans Park again host Simply Swing’s initial performance of the Farmington Bank Community Concert Series,” said Tina Doyle, Director of the Berlin Senior Center. “This is something we couldn’t do without the bank’s generosity. Simply Swing was marvelous last year and we are looking forward to having them back,” Ms. Doyle added. The Berlin Senior Center will serve as a rain site for the concert.

The series continues June 23 at 7 p.m., at Hubbard Green in Glastonbury; June 27 at 7 p.m., at the Unionville Gazebo in Farmington; June 28 at 6:30 p.m., at the Enes Community Center, South Windsor; July 2 at 6:30 p.m., at Norton Park, Plainville; July 8 at 6:30 p.m., at the Calendar House Pavilion, Southington; July 10 at 7 p.m., at the Darius Miller Band Shell, Walnut Hill Park, New Britain; and July 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Malerbo Recreation Complex, Burlington.

The series resumes August 13 at 7 p.m., at Rockwell Park, Bristol; August 16 at 7 p.m. at the Avon Senior Center; August 19 at 7 p.m. at Westmoor Park, West Hartford; August 22 at 6 p.m., at the Town Green, East Hartford; August 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Prosser Public Library, Bloomfield.

The series will conclude with a pair of performances on September 21, an 11 a.m. concert at the Water Falls Festival in Newington, and a 2 p.m. show at the Corn Fest in Wethersfield. Additional information on concert rain sites and rain dates is available at www.simplyswingmusic.com.