By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Duke Tumatoe kicked off Decatur’s 2024 concert series Thursday night before a nice-sized crowd amid ideal weather on the Madison St. Plaza.
It was quite a contrast to the last time the native Chicagoan opened a concert series here, in 2020.
The now-abandoned water treatment plant near Riverside Center provided the backdrop as Tumatoe and his band got the summer series going that year.
Adhering to state guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic, Chamber of Commerce officials held the concert in the Riverside Center parking lot, with people asked to stay in and/or near their vehicles.
Rain the previous night had scrapped the original plans to hold the concert in the grassy area north of the Center.
Approximately 40-50 vehicles (including golf carts) showed up, scattered around the large parking lot.
Four years later, Tumato and a full horn section brought a blend of blues, rock, and R&B to the plaza to begin this year’s series.
The self-taught guitarist, age 77 this month, performed for three hours, with only one break, kicking off the 13-week series.
ALSO:
* The Chamber of Commerce, which handles all aspects of the series – including fundraising, scheduling, etc. – is still in need of sponsors for this year’s series.
* Thursday’s opener marked the start of the seventh season of concerts on the plaza. (In 2020, after some concerts on the parking lot, the scene shifted back to the plaza.)
* Hubie Ashcraft will be here next Thursday, with another 6 p.m. start.
