S. ABINGTON TWP. — Regional band The Merchants of Groove is up next in the Lakeside Wednesday Concerts series at Hillside Park and is set to perform at 6 p.m. Aug. 23, following the Aug. 16 show by Doreen and Friends.

Admission is free and non-perishable donations will be accepted for the Dalton Food Pantry. The concert will be held rain or shine under the park’s lakeside pavilion. The Waverly Masons will offer food for sale, and concertgoers are also welcome to bring their own picnics. People can also enjoy the many outdoor activities available at the park, such as fishing, canoeing, walking/jogging, bocce ball, a playground and more.

The Merchants of Groove is fronted by Paul Lyon on vocals and guitar, Teddy young on lead guitar, Mike Basalyga on drums and Rob “Frog” Fenstermaker on bass. Fenstermaker, formerly of The Blue Sparks from Hell, is the band’s only non-original member. The group, which was first a part of the NEPA blues scene in the late 1980s, disbanded in the early 1990s, when Young left to pursue a solo career that took him all over North America.

“Over the years, Lyon came out occasionally to jam with Young’s band, Teddy Young and the Aces, and kept in touch with Basalyga,” reads the band’s bio. “In 2011, Basalyga showed up at Lyon’s church and the two began talking about playing music again. A few months later, Lyon approached Young about a reunion and rehearsals got under way.”

“I’m a big believer that things happen for a reason,” Lyon said in the bio, “and it just seemed like everything was pointing toward The Merchants getting back together. We scheduled a couple of rehearsals and next thing you know, we were back in business.

“Since reuniting, the band has gotten rave reviews from fans throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, performing at a host of festivals and club venues,” the bio continues. “The Merchants play a wide variety of houserockin’ blues, including some of Lyon’s originals and classics by artists such as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and many others.”

Lyon describes the blues as “leave-your-cares-behind party music,” and the music of The Merchants of Groove as “upbeat and energetic.”

Dancing is encouraged in the concert series, which is presented by the Abington Area Joint Recreation Board and sponsored by local businesses.

The weekly series kicked off June 21 with The Exact Change and will close with a performance by Rogue Chimp on Aug. 30.

Sponsors include Peoples Security Bank, Senator John Blake, Oliver, Price and Rhodes Attorneys at Law, Walmart, the Abington Jr. Comets, Citizens Savings Bank, Toyota of Scranton, The Abington Suburban, Pallman Farms, Abington Journal, Sweda Advertising, the Abington Area Girls Softball League, Abington Youth Soccer League and Lamar Advertising.

For more information, visit hillsidepark.net.

The Merchants of Groove will perform from 6 p.m. to dusk Wednesday, Aug. 23 at Hillside Park. The free show is a part of the Abington Area Joint Recreation Board’s Lakeside Wednesday Concerts series. Non-perishable donations will be accepted for the Dalton Food Pantry.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_ABJ-Groove.jpg.optimal.jpgThe Merchants of Groove will perform from 6 p.m. to dusk Wednesday, Aug. 23 at Hillside Park. The free show is a part of the Abington Area Joint Recreation Board’s Lakeside Wednesday Concerts series. Non-perishable donations will be accepted for the Dalton Food Pantry. Submitted photo

Compiled by Elizabeth Baumeister

ebaumeister@timesleader.com

Reach Elizabeth Baumeister at 570-704-3943 or on Twitter @AbingtonJournal.