MONROE, CT — Inclement weather postponed last week’s summer concert at Wolfe Park and technical difficulties delayed Raise Your Hands CT’s show for 20 minutes, before the popular Arts in the Park Concert season officially got underway Friday.
Raise Your Hands CT, a tribute to Bon Jovi, is a five person professional cover band performing both hits and deep catalog tracks of the Bon Jovi band that rose to fame in the 80’s. The band consists of lead singer, TJ Simkewicz, guitarists, Nano on bass and David James, drummer, Rob Del Pomo, and keytarist, Chris James.
Parks and Recreation Director Missy Orosz introduced Raise Your Hands CT and First Selectman Terry Rooney made Bon Jovi puns while speaking to the audience. Then the band energized the crowd with the opening song, “Wild in the Streets”.
“It is my first time at the summer concerts, I am a big fan of Bon Jovi,” said Michele Scholz, on of the fans at the park. “I think it’s a cool thing that they put on here during the summer.”
The band was interactive with the crowd, encouraging people to get up on their feet and turning the mics toward the crowd during their second song, “You Give Love a Bad Name”.
This concert is a part of the 36th annual summer concert series at Wolf Park with other concerts taking place on various Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Newtown Savings Bank is the event’s title sponsor. Other sponsors include Connecticut Precast Corp. and
Connex Credit Union.
The remaining shows are as follows:
- July 19: Psychedelic Relics
- July 26: Creative Music Studio Showcase
- Aug. 2: Mass-Conn Fusion Band
- Aug. 9: The Simply Swifties Band
Orosz made an announcement at the start of Friday’s concert explaining the rain date for the previously postponed concert, The Taste of Sheetrock, is still being determined and will be announced at a later date.
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