Burleson City Council wants to celebrate the city’s 100th birthday with a little funk, a dab of swing and a pinch of retro.
The city’s parks and recreation department has hosted the Hot Sounds of Summer Concert Series for the past 13 years with acts such as Vince Vance and the Valiant’s and The Diamonds.
But this year the city plans to spend about $45,100 on six new bands and artists in this year’s series, which is set to help the city kick off it’s centennial year.
The council unanimously agreed to approve the series on Monday during a regularly scheduled meeting.
This year’s series celebrates Burleson’s centennial by hiring bigger acts that will draw people from over the Metroplex, Recreation Manager David McDowell said.
These concerts will take place at the corner of Ellison and Wilson streets, and the first concert for the centennial year is the Josh Weathers Band on June 1.
These shows are scheduled for each Friday until the culmination of the series with Grammy Award Winners Asleep at the Wheel on July 4.
While these events are free to the public, the spin-off sales in surrounding restaurants has proven to be a success and is supported by those enterprises with either direct cash sponsorships or meals for the entertainers.
Though these dates have been reserved via financial transactions previously approved by city council, the hiring of these bands required a contract agreement between the bands and Burleson.
The performers scheduled to perform include Josh Weathers (rock and funk), Charlie Robison (country), Fast Lane (Eagles tribute) Junior Brown (honky tonk), Spazmatics (’80s retro) and Asleep At The Wheel (western swing).
The Friends of the Burleson Public Library and the Burleson Heritage Foundation also made a public appearance during the meeting.
They partnered to create centennial bookmarks to mark the 100th anniversary of the city’s incorporation.
Dale Dexhimer from the Heritage Foundation gave each council member two centennial bookmarks.
The bookmarks are limited edition, with a new one produced each month.
About 300 will be printed monthly, with 150 distributed at the Burleson Public Library and 150 at the Burleson Visitors Center.
To receive a bookmark, Dexhimer said he only asks that people give a minimum donation of $1.
“These are great,” Mayor Ken Shetter said before donating $5. “That should cover my two bookmarks.”
Each council members decided to one up Shetter by donating between $10 and $20.
“I think we’ve all learned something tonight,” Shetter said. “If you want to raise money from the council, you come baring gifts during elections.”
The centennial bookmarks are available at the library from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 248 S.W. Johnson Ave.
The bookmarks are also available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday at the Burleson Visitors Center, 124 W. Ellison St.
Concert schedule
June 1 Josh Weathers (rock and funk)
June 8 Charlie Robison (country)
June 15 Fast Lane (Eagles tribute)
June 22 Junior Brown (honky tonk)
June 29 Spazmatics (’80s retro)
July 4 Asleep At The Wheel (western swing)
