The soon-to-be 14-acre Des Moines Botanical Garden closed out its fifteen-week outdoor summer concert series last night with a Frank Sinatra themed show. Social Irrigation, it’s ironically called, started two years ago that lasts the duration of the summer season. This year, in order to bring a little more of a varied audience out, they’ve started diversifying the artists they invite, says Caryline Clark, the public engagement manager.
Other artists featured this summer include Tony Valdez and the Rockets (a 60s and 70s cover band), Big Time Grain Company (rock-country group from Kansas City, MO), Parrenderos Latin Combo (salsa and Latin dance group) and the Max Wellman and Annie Booth Trio, which boasted a piano-centered and lively jazz sound which resonated on the outdoor patio space.
Complementing the weekly Thursday night sounds, The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden hosts local activities and vendors from the area to promote other local businesses. Last night, Upstream, a local apple orchard was featured. They gave out samples of fresh apple cider while the sounds of a Frank Sinatra cover band played in the background.
Although the last concert of the series was last night, no need to fret. They also have a thirteen-week Winter Series called Botanical Blues starting on the first of the new year. Each week, they invite different blues groups from around the country to perform inside the conservatory. Last year, they were bringing in up to six hundred people per week. The sounds of live blues probably float around the lofty conservatory space, making it a more striking and dramatic experience for its visitors.
The music of the outdoor shows travels across the expansive park, so you can take your drink to-go, play a game of croquet on the lawn or go for a stroll underneath the waterfall, all the while in earshot of your favorite Frank Sinatra cover band.
It may not be a loud, in your face live rock show, but a quieter night with local artists, innovative cocktails and views of the river and skyline prove for the perfect live music experience.
xoxo,
s
Samantha Miller (@samantharachelmiller) is a freelance writer from Chicago. She prides herself on her scary pulse on internet culture, her growing record collection and the amount of coffee she can consume before combusting. Follow Samantha Miller's work on Linkedin, and sign up for updates on her blog.
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