ongoing, Fridays and Saturdays

 Sure, it's out of town - about 40 minutes from Boston - but so is Comcast Center and that can be a headache and a half when you consider traffic/parking/etc. If you like quality music outdoors and on a slightly smaller scale, we heartily recommend the Lowell Summer Music Series. We've seen Richard Thompson, Los Lobos, and recently Amos Lee and have yet to be disappointed by the music or the vibe. It's a bring-your-lawnchairs/bring-your-kids type of place and can seat several thousand folks. It's a summer with Lyle Lovett, the B-52s and the Indigo Girls. Not bad at all. It takes place at Boarding House Park in the center of Lowell. JSInk spoke with programming director Peter Aucella about the series, past and present.

JSInk: How has the Lowell Summer Music Series evolved over time?
PA: I started the Series in 1990 as Boarding House Park construction was completed.  The trees have certainly grown much larger, but the venue is still in great shape as we proceed with our 21st season.  Our initial concept was to do ethnic music similar to the Lowell Folk Festival, but onegenre per night, since the immigrant story is part of the historyinterpreted by the Lowell National Historical Park.  We had a limited budget and free admission, so it was a modest affair.  We realized that it takes just as much work to do this for a smaller audience as it does for a bigger one, so we began to grow the series and the number of name performers steadily each year since then.  I don't think we ever envisioned having acts like the B-52s (in photo), Lyle Lovett, Indigo Girls, Jimmy Cliff and Herbie Hancock but people really love seeing these shows in such anintimate venue.

JSInk: How do you look at your demographic?
PA: We used to see this as very much an adult/baby boomer venue and it is still very much that, but bands like CAKE or Michael Franti & Spearhead or BrandiCarlile work fine here.  In recent years, we've hosted very well established acts like Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Richard Thompson and the Neville Brothers, but have reached out in various directions with Bela Fleck, Derek Trucks Band, The Wailers, and Robert Randolph & the FamilyBand this year.  We are even presenting festival favorites Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams to reach out to their cult following. Should be interesting to see how that works.

JSInk: How far and wide do you find you draw from?
PA: We are primarily a north of Boston/southern NH venue, but we also draw substantially from all over New England and in fact sold some tickets in more than 30 states and four Canadian Provinces in each of the last several years.  We don't aim to grow into anything bigger, but we have 20 years of customers who know to look for us each summer to see what we have to offer.

JSInk: This year's lineup seems one of the most eclectic yet. Can you tell me what the booking philosophy is?
PA: We survey our audiences via our website.  We suggest acts that might be a possibility, but we are always looking for folks to insert their own suggestions.  We really do look at those suggestions, staying roughly in the range of folk, rock, blues, Celtic and some reggae.  Since we have a 20-show season, there is no question that we, as organizers, always have a few shows that we really personally want to get.  But that leaves plenty of room for us to try new things and add some surprises.  I'm not sure folks expected to see Lyle Lovett, the B-52s or Gandalf Murphy here.

JSInk: What does it take to wrench acts away from the Boston proper market?
PA: Over time, we have become friends with a network of independent venues around New England who have each been doing their thing alone for years. We reached out to them and formed a little association of venues that can offer performers a full blown northeast tour by coordinating our offers around a particular part of the summer.  It makes it very easy for agents to say, "yeah, let's do that Northeast run."

JSInk: Can you speak to the vibe at the series, the outdoor atmosphere and what it contributes?
PA: Boarding House Park is a beautiful place, an oasis in the city surrounded by former textile mills and other brick buildings.  It is a very relaxedvibe when you arrive as people are lounging in the grass on blankets and lawn chairs.  Foor prices are pretty low for a concert venue and we very often have sponsors giving away stuff before or after the show.  And do youknow of any other concert venue where kids 12 and under can get in for free?  Save the babysitting cash, bring the kids, if you need to leave early, no big deal. It's a very comfortable and safe environment for kids. No alcohol. 1,000 convenient parking spaces across the street.  We have a lot of folks tell us they think it is a real "find."

JSInk: Want to pick some particular highlights?
PA: Since Boarding House Park is only one acre in size, it is an amazing thing to see a Joan Baez, Levon Helm, Bruce Hornsby, or Joan Armatrading - or whatever performer you happen toon love - up close.  It can take what is often an impersonal concert experience and make it very intimate and special.

Shows start at 7:30. Ticket prices vary. Check website below for prices.

What's left? Last weekend. Robert Randolph & the Family Band Friday Sept. 10 and the 31st Annual Banjor and Fiddle Contest (free) Saturday Sept. 11.

40 French St., Lowell,  978-970-5200 www.lowellsummermusic.com