By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A summer concert series in downtown St. Joseph has brought the community together since 2013 and returns this weekend for a tenth year.
Imagine 11 began in 2013 in response to a request for live music in Coleman Hawkins Park.
One of the founders Roger Lenander says the mission of the concert series is to show that St. Joseph is a community that care, encourage and support one another.
"We went that direction rather than saying oh let's become that, but we realized, and through United Way has long been our standard bear with that in indicating how generous we are as a community and other organizations, but that's what we are," Lenander tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "From north to south to east to west."
Lenander says the concert series isn't just about listening to music but also supporting that mission.
Lenander says several people come to the concerts simply because they know they'll get a quality event.
"It's surprising, we had some that said oh I don't know Sunday I'm really tired and can't do this, but I came out and then said and now I come because this is the best way to kind of chill, end the week, and start the week on Monday," Lenander says.
A variety of musicians will take the stage for 11 weeks every Sunday evening at 6'o clock.
Pastor of First Lutheran and planner Sami Pfalzgraf says the environment on Sunday evenings is just all-around fun.
"We're just out there to have fun, there's no alcohol, it's a free event, and it's really family friendly we love the kids," Pfalzgraf explains. "We have a group of people who come out and dance, and these guys are really phenomenal dancers, and so great if you want to get up and dance, get up and dance, if the kids want to get up and dance go ahead."
Pfalzgraf says the bands range from cover bands to people that do original songs.
The concert series will begin this Sunday and will run until August 9th.
You can follow Matt on Twitter at @KfeqMatt or follow St. Joseph Post at @StJosephPost
