Summer Concert Series Begins With The Caught Off Guards

The summer outdoor concert series was moved into the Oak Park Arms’ historic ballroom due to rain on Friday, May 30, at 408 S. Oak Park Ave. Live music was provided by The Caught Off Guards.

"While we were disappointed mother nature didn’t cooperate with our plans for an outdoor concert, we were thrilled to kick off the summer concert series,” said Renee Steingard, director of leasing and resident engagement at the Oak Park Arms. “We moved the concert inside and had a memorable evening of music, dancing, and community.”

Members of the Caught Off Guards first met at an open-mic event at the NAMI drop-in center in Oak Park. Each musician has a love of Funk, R&B, Soul, Blues, and Jazz. They began as a backing band or live karaoke band for other performers, and in the process of mutual support, the Caught Off Guards emerged as a main act for community events.

Healing through the arts is the reason The Caught off Guards perform. They have performed at the Open-Door Theatre, Unity Temple, the Nineteenth Century Club, Cheney Mansion, and Oak Park’s Thursday Night Out. Band members include Charles Torpe, Carla Taylor, Gary Barkov. Kevin McDermott, Steve Coppola, Sylvester Czaijkowski, Carl Mugavero, and Francesco Forte.

Oak Park Arms Senior Living is a rental retirement community that provides senior housing in the form of independent living. A licensed home care agency is onsite to provide support services for seniors. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month, or longer.

The outdoor concert series is open to the public and future dates will be announced in the near future. For more information call 708-386-4040 or visit https://www.oakparkarms.com/.