Free Concert in the Park back this Sunday

One of Ahwatukee Foothills’ most popular family concert series returns this Sunday to entertain everyone in the cul-de-sac - for absolutely no cost.

Randy Fitch, a local real estate agent with the Fitch Group of Keller Williams Realty, will kick off this year’s Concert in the Park series from 5 to 7:30 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 21, with a performance by Mike & T Band. The two subsequent Sundays, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, also from 5 to 7:30 p.m., will feature Psychedelic Mooj and the popular Dr. Ron and the Painkillers respectively.

“Grab the kids, grab a blanket, grab some chairs,” Fitch said. “People barbecue, some people picnic; there’s all kinds of things.”

The Concert in the Park series, held in conjunction with the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, will take place all three Sundays at Desert Foothills Park, 1010 Market Place Way SW (or at the southwest corner of Chandler Boulevard and Desert Foothills Parkway).

Past series have drawn around 1,000 attendees and the next is expected to draw similar numbers of folks enjoying the music and nice weather.

“It’s a community service,” Fitch said. “It’s giving back to the community from real estate agents in that it’s a fun event for families. There’s just not enough of them in Ahwatukee put on by people who live here.”

Giving back, indeed. In addition to the free tunes, event organizers will also be handing out gratis popcorn, water and snow cones.

All the bands performing at this year’s Concert in the Park have local ties. Dr. Ron and the Painkillers (www.painkillersmusic.com), playing Nov. 4, are fronted by Ahwatukee Foothills dentist Ron Walker, who has lived here 16 years and worked on teeth for 12.

Psychedelic Mooj, playing Oct. 28, has ties to the Foothills as well.

“They actually live locally,” Fitch said. “They’re pretty much all local Ahwatukee residents in the band. They also play all-original music, mostly blues.”

The Web site of Psychedelic Mooj (www.psychedelicmooj.com) describes the band’s sound as a “fusion of rock, funk, soul and jazz all in one melting pot of psychedelic blues.” For the record, the site also explains that a “mooj” is “something that can represent anything and everything. It’s blues, it’s rock, it’s soul, jazz, country or whatever you want it to be.”

The Mike & T Band (www.mikeandt.com), playing this Sunday, is a duo with strong country backgrounds. They were added by request, Fitch said.

“We put out a questionnaire at the park to see what people wanted to hear, and they said country,” he explained. “We’re trying to accommodate that.”

The Mike & T Band are Mike and Teriney Smith. Teriney Smith said their sound goes beyond just country.

“We do an incredible variety, not just country,” she said. “We do oldies, smooth jazz, original stuff and Top 40. We mostly perform for corporate functions in the Valley and private events and weddings, so we have something for everyone.”

For information on Concert in the Park, visit www.thefitchgroupaz.com or call Randy Fitch at (602) 570-6732.

Jason Ludwig can be reached at (480) 898-7916 or jludwig@aztrib.com.