The Northeast Louisiana Arts Council presents the outdoor Brown Bag Concert Series that will last throughout the month of October. Every Wednesday at 12 p.m, there will be a different musician in downtown Monroe's Anna Gray Noe Park at 251 Oak Street, Monroe, in front of St. Francis Hospital. All concerts are free to the public.
The Brown Bag Concert Series started back in 1994 as a way to bring the community together with music and food. The tradition has continued ever since, and has become a popular event in Northeast Louisiana.
Georgia Street, a representative of the Arts Council, is excited to be involved in the concert series again this year. Street says that, "The whole point of this when it started all those years ago in 1994 was to showcase our local talent." She cannot wait to see what new and old talents NELA has to offer this year.
This concert series has five different acts in the lineup. Each of the performances feature slight differences in genre that ultimately gives the series a diverse range of music. There will be everything from Denene Stringfellow's gospel and show tunes to the pop tunes and group acts of the Odens and their West Monroe High School students.
During the concert, complementary cookies and the choice between water and lemonade will be provided. The only things needed are lunch and a picnic blanket or lawn chair for comfortable seating in the park. If it rains, the concert will be moved into First Baptist Church Monroe.
The concert series schedule is as follows.
Every Wednesday at 12 p.m.
Oct. 2: Denene Stringfellow
Oct. 9: Josh Madden
Oct. 16: Mason Granade
Oct. 23: Oden Family and West Monroe High School Students
Oct. 30: Mike McKenzie
More information about the concert series is available at the Arts Council's office (318) 396-9520 or their webpage.