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(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Sean McConnell plays for a crowd of listeners at the Summer Concert Series on the Graham downtown square in 2024. His performance and a fireworks show closed out a day of Fourth of July events in Graham. -
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(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Visitors to a the Graham Concert Series stand up and dance in front of the stage where Stoney LaRue was performing in August 2024. Five performers are scheduled for this summer series from June through August.
For a third year, Visit Graham and the Graham Concert Association have partnered to bring five free concerts downtown as part of the Summer Concert Series.
With over 1,500 in attendance at each concert last year, the series has grown into a premier event for the area. Around 7,500 visitors packed the inside of the downtown square for the final concert in 2024 featuring Stoney LaRue.
“These are just things that make us proud to live in Graham,” Visit Graham CEO Cathy Partridge said. “...I met a lot of people the last two years at summer concerts that are not from Graham. ...People from around come spend their dollars here and enjoy the concerts.”
All performances for the concert series are held on the downtown square at 8 p.m. Seating is not provided at the event, so visitors must bring their own lawn chairs or other seating for the concerts.
This year’s series kicks off Saturday, June 14 with a performance by Adam Hood. The other performances in the series will be Saturday, June 28 with The Lady Plainsmen, Saturday, July 12 with The Strike, Saturday, July 26 with Robert Ellis and Saturday, Aug. 9 with Hudson Westbrook.
“We are beyond excited about the last performer coming, Hudson Westbrook,” Partridge said. “...There are people on Facebook saying they’re going to come and camp out on that commission to be sure that they get a good seat, because he would sell out the arena in a short amount of time, much less a free concert.”
The city of Graham joined over 75 cities statewide after being certified by the Texas Music Office as a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community in April. The Summer Concert Series is one part of that goal for Graham to promote music economic development and job creation.
The concert series had its inaugural season in 2023. The concept was made to utilize the downtown square and attract locals and visitors. The concert series was also a way for the Graham Concert Association to promote the musical talent they bring for their regular season.
The nonprofit Graham Concert Association will be celebrating its 80th season this year and the Summer Concert Series provides an addition to their regular season held at Graham Memorial Auditorium.
For more information about the upcoming Summer Concert Series, check visitgrahamtexas.com. For more on the Graham Concert Association, visit grahamconcertassociation.com.
