The crowd filled the steps of the Fairfax Government Center to take in the bluegrass concert. Photo by Veronica Bruno.
Despite the hurricane warnings and the dismal weather, area residents turned out for the first Ellipse Summer concert at the Fairfax Government Center last Thursday, July 3. Originally planned for the government center “backyard” lawn, the bluegrass band Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie moved to the lobby of the government center instead, proving that the concert would go on come rain or shine.
The Dixie band put on a terrific show and worked the gathering with crowd-pleasing numbers such as “I Haven't Seen Mary in Years,” “I'm Gonna Settle Down,” and “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.”
This was the first concert of Chairman Sharon Bulova's Evenings on the Ellipse Summer Concert Series. Performances will take place every Thursday through Aug. 28 over the summer at the Fairfax Government Center, located at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. The concerts are a free event from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on the green lawn behind the building (unless weather dictates they move indoors to the lobby). There will be food trucks and wine tastings and attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs to taken in the festivities. In addition to the bluegrass heard last week, music acts will include jazz, big band, Latin pop, and many others. While there you can also pick up some fresh produce from the Government Center Farmers Market, which will be located in the “front yard” parking lot.
Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution perform New Orleans party music this Thursday, July 10. Upcoming acts in July will include the United States Air Force “Singing Sergeants” (chorale), Deon CleanCutt (progressive jazz) and the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (classic).