Mikko & Friends to perform at ‘Music in the Park’
Mikko & Friends will present an evening of “songs you know by heart” at the Music in the Park Series in Staples on Sunday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m.
The ensemble consists of duo Mikko Cowdery and Chuck Wencl of the Alexandria area; and percussionist Doug Millaway.
Cowdery and Wencl have performed together at a number of events over the years...from the Twin Cities to the Dakotas. Their repertoire includes old pop, folk and country music, as well as Americana tunes from the heyday of old standards when you could, as Mikko says, “tap your toe to the rhythm, whistle the tune and understand every word that was being sung.”
Mikko plays banjo, guitar, ukulele and assorted instruments along with singing those great old tunes; while Chuck spreads cheer with his sax, clarinet and penny-whistle licks. “The tunes tend to be upbeat and cheery,” Mikko said, mentioning crowd favorites like “Sunny Side of the Street” “That’s Amore” “Sixteen Tons” “Hey Good Lookin’” and “Five Foot Two.”
Mikko & Friends put a lot of emphasis on sing-alongs and laugh-alongs, Mikko said. Be prepared for an evening of fun, as Mikko interweaves his tunes with stories he’s picked up on his musical travels throughout the United States, Canada and Ireland. “It’s our purpose to leave you with a smile on your lips and a song in your heart,” Mikko said.
The Music in the Park Concerts are held in the Northern Pacific (NP) Park on Sunday evenings at 7 p.m. and will run through August 14. For more information on the Music in the Park series as well as the regular concert series, check out www.staplesmotleyarts.org.
Northern Pacific (NP) Park is located at 625 6th St. NE. Go north on 6th St. at the junction of Hwys 10 and 210 and go six blocks. In case of rain, the concerts will be moved to Faith Lutheran Church.
The Music in the Park Series is funded by the Staples Host Lions Club. The Series is organized by the Staples Motley Area Arts Council, with the assistance of the Staples Motley Public Schools and the City of Staples.
