Glen Cove's Annual Downtown Sounds To Take Place Virtually

GLEN COVE, NY — Glen Cove's annual Downtown Sounds concert series will take place in a new virtual format this summer in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic according to the Business Improvement District for the city.

Much like the past 24 summers, music will fill the streets of downtown Glen Cove through the Downtown Sounds concert series beginning July 24 at 7 p.m., Patricia Holman, executive director of the organization, said in a news release. But unlike past years, live concerts and performances will not be held. Instead, the BID and the Downtown Sounds committee arranged for performers to play at a nearby recording studio and for the concerts to be broadcast on large screens so people can listen while strolling around town or enjoying a meal outdoors. The performances will also be streamed on Facebook and recorded for community members to view from home. People joining virtually will be able to interact with the artists and request songs to be performed.

"Our motto this year is accentuate the positive," Holman said. "With current circumstances, we knew there was no way we could accommodate the thousands of people who turn out every summer when we have artists perform live and in person on Friday evenings at the Glen Cove Downtown Village Square."

But this new arrangement, which continues the yearly tradition without jeopardizing public health, is "a win-win if ever there was one," Holman said. A recording of the Friday evening live broadcast will also play on the TV screens during the next evening for those enjoying a Saturday visit to the downtown area.

The line-up for this year’s Downtown Sounds interactive experience is still being finalized, but tribute bands playing homage to the music of The Doobie Brothers (The Doobie Others) and Creedence Clearwater Revival (The John Fogerty Tribute Project) are already confirmed. Jesse Kinch, an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who was the winner of the ABC series of Rising Star, is also scheduled to perform.

The shows will be produced by Fred Guarino and hosted by Holman with show programmer Ray Lambiase and cameraman David Merrill rounding out the production crew.

"I am pleased that we are able to provide downtown diners a novel taste of our traditional Downtown Sounds by offering, through technology, live streaming of bands," Lou-Ann Thompson, manager of Glen Floors and vice president of the BID, said. "This creative approach gives us the opportunity to bring not only the music, but also the visual experience, to our downtown in a safe and responsible way.”

Holman added: "Instead of focusing on what we can’t do this year, we have reinvented Downtown Sounds by introducing a format that is quite different than anything we’ve ever done in the past. And the best part is that we can keep this format in place in future years when crowds can return so that Downtown Sounds can be enjoyed by more people than ever!”

For more information about Downtown Sounds 2020, visit the Glen Cove BID’s facebook page or their website at www.glencovedowntown.org.