The American Federation of Musicians Local 159 in Mansfield has announced its 2025 “Music in the Parks” schedule of free concerts.
This summer’s concerts will offer everything from a 55-member Concert Band, 18-member Big Jazz Band, a traditional country band, a brass quintet, and several bands performing jazz and rock.
Members of the Mansfield Federation of Musicians include professional musicians, educators, businesspeople, and students from the Mansfield area, as well as Ashland, Wooster, Galion, Bellville, Lexington, and many other communities.
Funding for these free concerts is provided through a grant from the Music Performance Trust Fund and the American Federation of Musicians, along with the generous donations from area supporters. The names of the local supporters will be announced at each concert.
Mansfield will host nine concerts in the beautiful pavilion at the Mansfield Art Center on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Shelby will host eight concerts at the spacious Black Fork Commons pavilion on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Additional concerts will be held in Ashland, Crestline, Galion, and Lexington.
For more information, please visit the organization’s website at www.afmlocal159.com.
Here is the complete schedule of the Summer Concerts.
Mansfield Art Center — All shows on Thursdays at 7 p.m.
June 12 — Stardust Band
June 19 — AFM 159 Concert Band
June 26 — David Berry Band
July 10 — Redemption Jazz Band
July 17 — AFM 159 Big Jazz Band
July 24 — Steve Brown & Friends
July 31 — Abstraction
Aug. 7 — Percy Hall Band
Aug. 14 — Suburban Brass
Shelby Black Fork Commons — All shows on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
June 18 — AFM Concert Band
June 25 — Steve Brown & Friends
July 2 — Stardust Band
July 9 — AFM 159 Big Jazz Band
July 16 — Suburban Brass
July 23 — Redemption Jazz Band
July 30 — Abstractions
Aug. 6 — David Berry Band
Downtown Crestline — All shows on Thursdays at 6 p.m.
June 26 — AFM Concert Band (corner of Seltzer and Scott)
July 24 — AFM 159 Big Jazz Band (corner of Seltzer and Scott)
Aug. 21 — David Berry Band (Crestline Eagles)
Other community shows
June 20 — AFM 159 Concert Band, downtown Galion, 6 p.m.
June 27 — AFM 159 Concert Band, Lexington Village Plaza, 6 p.m.
July 3 — AFM 159 Big Jazz Band, Ashland Brookside Park Bandshell, 8 p.m.
Here are the AFM Local 159 bands:
AFM Local 159 Concert Band — The 55-member Concert Band, under the direction of Michael Grady, performs traditional marches, overtures, show tunes and light classics. Members of the band include professional musicians, educators, businessmen and women and students from the surrounding area.
AFM Local 159 Big Jazz Band — Under the direction of Shelby resident Paul Martin, the 17-piece Big Jazz Band performs the music of Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Glenn Miller and many others. The group also features original compositions and arrangements by Martin and other members of the band.
Suburban Brass — Led by Ken Holzworth, this is a brass quintet plus one and includes two trumpets, French Horn, trombone, tuba and percussion. They will play light classical and instrumental pop. All are current or former members of the Mansfield Symphony.
Steve Brown & Friends — Led by local educator and keyboard player/vocalist Steve Brown, this 6-piece band will perform jazz standards, 50’s rock and roll and mellow classic rock of the 60’s and 70’s.
Stardust Band — Also led by Paul Martin, Stardust performs jazz standards from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. This self-described “mini-big Big Band” consists of three trombones, two saxes and rhythm section.
David Berry Band — David Berry is a young guitar player and singer from Ashland who normally performs traditional country music as a solo artist. For this concert he will be joined by four other musicians. If you like the music of Merle Haggard, George Jones, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, you will love this group.
Percy Hall Band — We welcome back to Mansfield the Percy Hall Dance Orchestra. Since the passing of legendary Percy Hall several years ago, his son, John Hall from Columbus, is now leading this band. This 7-piece group performs tunes from the 30’s-50’s and feature all of Percy’s original arrangements.
Redemption Jass Band — Led by trombonist Damian Boyd, this 5-piece group Dixieland band will delight the audience with the music of New Orleans.
Abstractions — Led by Shelby resident McCray Martin, the band showcases his original
compositions as well as other different genres of music including jazz, jazz fusion, soul, funk, disco, and progressive rock.
