The Concert Truck — a traveling music venue complete with its own lights, sound system and piano — is rolling into Greater Akron neighborhoods in late August for a series of free outdoor concerts.
Presented by Tuesday Musical, the genre-bending concerts will feature classical, jazz, world music, Broadway show tunes, and more performed by pianists Susan Zhang and Maxim Lando. Plus, local musicians will perform before and during some of the concerts to create truly Akron-centric experiences.
In 2016, classically trained pianists Nick Luby and Susan Zhang converted a 16-foot box truck into a fully functioning mobile concert hall. Since then, The Concert Truck has presented concerts across the country in city streets, music and arts festivals, schools, parks, and more. In short, anywhere you can park a truck.
“The Concert Truck shares Tuesday Musical’s mission to redefine the concert experience and make live music accessible to all,” explains Austin Ferguson, Tuesday Musical’s Director of Artistic Operations and Educational Engagement. “We’ve loved partnering with neighborhood organizations and venues throughout our community to make the concerts happen.”
Support for the project comes from the Ohio Arts Council and ArtsForward, a grant program of ArtsNow Akron. The partnering organizations include Let’s Grow Akron, Summit Metroparks, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, 915 N. Main/First Congregational Church of Hudson, North Hill CDC, Akron Urban League, Cascade Locks Parks Association, Mainstreet Barberton, and Magical Theatre Company.
The Concert Truck schedule:
Tuesday, August 26, 4 p.m. — Summit Lake Farmers Market
380 W. Crosier Ave., Akron
Wednesday, August 27, 6 p.m. — 915 N. Main Community Hub in Akron’s North Hill
915 N. Main St., Akron
Includes musicians from the Himalayan Arts Language & Cultural Academy.
Thursday, August 28, 12:30 p.m. — Akron Urban League
440 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron
Friday, August 29, noon — Mustill Store Museum
57 W. North St., Akron
Includes young pianist Saya Uejima, a member of Tuesday Musical’s Brahms Allegro Junior Music Club.
Friday, August 29, 7 p.m. — The historic Barder House in Highland Square
1041 W. Market St., Akron (site of Tuesday Musical’s office)
Includes young pianist Luca Rozo, a member of Tuesday Musical’s Brahms Allegro Junior Music Club.
Saturday, August 30, 5 p.m. — Lake Anna Park in Downtown Barberton
535 W Park Ave, Barberton
The concerts will run 60- to 90-minutes. No rain dates. For the most current schedule and updates, including additional local musicians, visit www.tuesdaymusical.org/theconcerttruck.