As children are about to return to school and the temperature is about to drop, the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association invites everyone to Curtis Park for its last Music in the Park of the summer of 2010. On Sunday, August 29th from 6 - 8:30pm the eighteen-acre parcel at the heart of the Curtis Park community will play host to rock, rhythm and blues for adults, songs and games for kids, and an assortment of innovative health and wellness ideas. This free concert is part of the season of events of one of the busiest neighborhood associations in the state of California.

Making his debut performance at Music in the Park will be singer-songwriter G-Whiz, who will present his unique line-up of songs and games for children. With originals like “I Just Put a Spell On You” and “Stinky Mouth” and classics like Shel Silverstein’s “Daddy, What If?” G-Whiz offers children of all ages the opportunity to delight in the magic and absurdities of life. G-Whiz, aka Gary Weinberg, is an actor, writer, musician and composer who has worked in the stage, concert, film, and television mediums for twenty-five years. As a musician Weinberg’s credits include an international tour with the live docudrama company Ironclad Agreement. Weinberg is currently creating a pop musical based on the biblical story of Esther called Whispers Over Persia for the Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory in Cleveland, Ohio.

Moving the concert into the evening is the high-voltage burst of musical moxie called The Bad Catz. Playing their signature mix of rock, blues and r&b, The Bad Catz is a seasoned ensemble of musicians and vocalists whose music has proven impossible to sit still for. The group formed several years ago when two well-established rock-blues bands--Stark Rhythm Maniacs and Blues Farm--decided to merge. The result was The Bad Catz, a crowd-pleasing company of musicians who perform both original compositions and adaptations of musical favorites. Featuring guitar, keyboards, sax, drums, and vocals, The Bad Catz will perform this month at a variety of clubs and events, including Gold Rush Days in Old Sacramento and the McConnell Estates Winery in Elk Grove. The Bad Catz are currently recording their first CD.

A host of health-and-community-minded sponsors are returning to help make this local concert tradition possible. It’s All Yoga has been voted “Best in Sacramento” twice by Sacramento News & Review. Personal trainer and nutritionist Sham Sanghera’s Inspired Wellness Boot Camp enables clients to achieve goals and maintain healthy lifestyles.

Since 1946, SMUD has empowered its customers with solutions that increase energy efficiency, protect the environment, and reduce global warming. D20 Dental, the first green dental office in Sacramento, combines the latest clinical practices and technological innovations in a warm, relaxed atmosphere. Locally-owned since 1973, the Sacramento Natural Foods Coop is a trusted source of natural foods and products, and a reliable resource for consumer information. Farm Fresh to You has been growing mouth-watering organic produce and delivering it to customers since 1976. For twenty-five years Miss Helen has inspired children with developmental activities in the areas of music, crafts, and movement, and Go Solar is a leading provider of solar electric and domestic water systems. The Law Office of R. Andrew Murray prides itself on its personal attention to clients in matters of real estate, business formation, estate planning, and bankruptcy. Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, established in 1977, is a public agency devoted to supporting, promoting and advancing the arts in the region.

Joining SCNA as Music in the Park’s main sponsors are City Councilmember Lauren Hammond, who provided the funding for the event’s updated setting, and Meg, Michael and Melissa Heede of RE/MAX Gold, the number one independently-owned brokerage firm in California.
In accordance with city codes, alcohol will not be permitted at Music in the Park. However, fine beer and wine will be provided in an enclosed garden area. All beverages are available for purchase by concert attendees. Proceeds will benefit the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association and the 2011 season of Music in the Park.

The Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association (SCNA) was formed in the 1970’s to rescue the old Sierra School from demolition. Since then, SCNA has brought neighbors together for a diverse slate of year-round events, and has offered a cohesive voice for community concerns. The restored Sierra 2 Center serves as a focal point for artists, teachers, students, parents, children, and seniors, who gather frequently in its dance studios, gardens, performance spaces, meeting halls and classrooms.