The Reston Town Center pavilion was filled with guests who enjoyed the sound and soul of David Akers and the Soul Shakers. Photos by Erin Murphy/The Connection
David Akers and the Soul Shakers performed Saturday, June 4 as part of a series called “Concerts on the Town” at Reston Town Center Pavilion. The summer concerts, primarily host to jazz and swing performers, will take place every Saturday beginning June 4 and running until Aug. 27.
The Saturday night concerts host a medley of jazz, blues and swing performers during the summer. The Town Center fills with locals of all ages, ready to enjoy the cheerful atmosphere. Rain or shine, the concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. and have visitors dancing and singing along until 10 p.m. The stage itself located at the Reston Town Center Pavilion allows visitors easy access to the many restaurants populating Reston Town Center.
David Akers and the Soul Shakers had visitors clapping and singing along to hits like “Brickhouse,” “Proud Mary,” “Rock Steady,” “At Last” and “September” and “Sweet Caroline.”
“We hope you enjoy our song. It is the most beautiful song ever written,” said Akers as he began to serenade those gathered with “What a Wonderful World” and brought “skies of blue” to the otherwise grey and rainy night.
Locals can look forward to the sounds of “Hard Day’s Night Magic Mystery Tour,” “Big Joe & The DynaFlows, Let’s Boogie,” “Bio Ritmo, Sizzlin’ Salsa,” “Unity Reggae Band, Jammin’ to the Beat” and “Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, Jambalaya on the Bayou” in addition to many other performers set to perform throughout the summer concert series.
Akers is a member of the D.C. Legendary Musicians Band, whose members are all professional musicians and have played alongside performers including Elvis Pressley, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Chuck Brown and Al Green. Akers himself is a native Washingtonian and one of the founding members of the D.C. Legendary Musicians. He has performed across the globe as both a trumpeter and a lead vocalist.