With summer weather and blossoming campus activity in Laramie, the University brought back the Summer Concert Series. Starting Wednesday June 9, UW in conjunction with 7220 Entertainment has been hosting local musical acts in Simpson Plaza across from the Student Union.
The Summer Concert Series has been an annual project of 7220 Entertainment. The event is a joint effort between the University who hosts, 7220 who signs acts to perform, and Dining Services who caters the weekly concerts.
The concert series fell victim to the pandemic last year and had to be cancelled.
“It was disappointing to hold back from something we think students enjoy,” Amanda Kuster, the Student Activities Coordinator for 7220 Entertainment, said. “We look forward to this event and we know students do, so we were glad to be able to pick it up again this year.”
“I attended the Summer Concert Series in 2018 and I loved it right from the get go,” graduate student Ethan Hunner said. “It’s a nice calm environment for people who like the music aspect of concerts, but maybe not the craziness of those concerts.”
“I had an older sister who attended ones in the past and she talked them up a lot. I was disappointed to not be able to experience that in my first year,” freshman Jon Husted said.
The concert series follows the pattern of previous events with some alterations. Every other Wednesday from June 9 to July 28 will see a local act set up in Simpson Plaza. Concerts will be held between 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Students can attend, listen to music, enjoy the weather, and purchase food including hotdogs, burgers, and more.
“Even after COVID, these small little things give campus back some of the life and soul that I love here at UW,” Hunner said.
On June 9, students were witness to a performance by musical artists Gabby and Morgan. The next event on June 23 will host Pat Reedy & The Longtime Goners, a band specializing in “hony-tonk music for the modern world” according to their website.
“I will be attending every single event I can. Especially if I can bring friends,” Husted said.
“I haven’t really heard of any of the acts being hosted, but the fact I get the chance to hear them even though I might not have gotten the chance too anywhere else interests me,” senior Anna Lecher said.
The concert series is planned to have no acts on July 7, but then pick up the following week.
Looking ahead, Simpson Plaza and UW students will see artists Shawn Hess & The Country Skillet on July 14 and Stay Awhile on July 28.
For more information on the 2021 Summer Concert Series, the 7220 Entertainment Facebook page hosts any updates or further details for concert goers.
