'Thursdays on the Water' announces summer music lineup

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

At a press conference on Thursday, Niagara County Legislator Jesse Gooch announced this year’s lineup for the ninth annual “Thursdays on the Water” North Tonawanda concert series. He organizes the weekly event through his Jesse Gooch Productions entertainment business.

Themes and performers include:

•July 9 – “Hippie Night” with opener Workingman’s Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at 6 p.m., and headliner The Thurman Brothers (Allman Brothers tribute) at 7:30 p.m. for a “Fillmore East”-inspired concert.

•July 16 – “Summer St. Patrick’s Day Bash” with The Irish Wake Band at 6 p.m., and headliner Desire (U2 tribute) at 7:30 p.m.

•July 23 – No show due to Canal Fest week.

•July 30 – “Thursday on the Water” featured night with Apple Jacks at 6 p.m., and headliner Strictly Hip at 7:30 p.m.

•Aug. 6 – “Bills Mafia Night” with Sliver at 6 p.m., and headliner Hurricane (Scorpions tribute) at 7:30 p.m.

•Aug. 13 – “Outlaw Music Night” with Cold Beer Creek at 6 p.m., and headliner Edge of Sundown at 7:30 p.m.

•Aug. 20 – “Award-Winning ’80s & ’90s Party” with Sector 7G at 6 p.m., and headliner Nerds Gone Wild at 7:30 p.m.

•Aug. 27 – “Classic Rock Night” with The Floyd Concept presenting two full sets of Pink Floyd classics starting at 6 p.m.

Free, live concerts are held from 6-10 p.m. (“doors” at 5 p.m.) at Gratwick Park, 1300 River Road. Food and drink is available, and classic cars are on display.

Organizers shared, “Bring your family, friends, lawn chairs, and enjoy an amazing summer concert series right on the water.”

Gooch said, “We've been doing these theme nights for several years now, and that's kind of one of our feature things that we like to do that makes us unique and special with some other events around the area, and we pride ourselves on that. So, this year we have some unique theme nights.”

As for the music, he explained, “We appreciate all the bands. We're huge supporters of local music, and regional music – just live music in general.”

He added, “We have a backlog – there's a lot of bands and musicians that want to get on our stage and perform with us, but doing seven shows it makes it difficult. So, we're trying to get to some of the bands that we had promised a couple years ago to get on. They keep getting scooted a little bit; so, I try to fit some bands that we've been eyeing up over the years.”

Also unique to “Thursdays on the Water” is that, each week, a different charity is featured and funds are raised for said group.

City of North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec is joined by sponsors, representatives of charitable organizations, and local musicians.

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City of North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec said, “This annual event is one of the biggest events we have here at the park. … North Tonawanda loves to see this event every year. Fantastic artists. Fantastic sponsors. Fantastic vendors. Money goes to a lot of great causes here, as well. And, really, it’s just a wonderful way to utilize the largest park we have here in North Tonawanda.”

He added, “This is a great economic booster for our city. We bring in people from all across the state, the region, to come to our city; and really, we can't be more excited than we are.”

WGRF-FM “97 Rock” sponsors the concert series. “Rock Jock” Carl Russo said, “We have a seriously great crowd of people that come from all walks of life that come down here – people from the neighborhoods, people from Canada, some snowbirds come up from Florida, motorcycle enthusiasts. I hope to be riding a Harley down here on some of these nights. Looking forward to a great season.”

For more information, visit thursdaysonthewater.com.