The Bensalem concert series begins this week.
By Matt Schickling
Wire Staff Writer
Bucks County locals will not need a time machine to revisit the past this summer. The past is coming to them with the 15th year of the Bensalem Summer Concert Series.
Starting on June 4, TD Bank Amphitheater, located just behind the Bensalem Municipal Complex on 2400 Byberry Road, will host tribute concerts on almost every Wednesday through Aug. 27. The finale to the series, Shadows of the ’60s, a Motown concert including tributes to The Temptations, The Supremes and The Four Tops, will take place a month later on Sept. 27.
“People seem to really go for the tributes because they’re reliving their memories,” Dawn Davis, Bensalem’s community and public affairs manager, said. “But a lot of the performers are so good that when I say they’re tribute bands, you might feel like it’s the real thing.”
Bensalem has even brought back bands from previous years like Almost Queen, a tribute to Queen, Mike Delguidice and Big Shot, a Billy Joel tribute and Bad Medicine, a tribute to Bon Jovi.
Though the events are not free, the cost is minimal: $5 general admission, $2.50 for seniors, and children ages 12 and under can attend for free. “We had to start charging because of the exponential cost of higher talent,” Davis said. “You can’t even go to the movies for $5 anymore.”
This does not deter people from coming back every week since the township started charging for entry five years ago. Bensalem offered the option for a season pass at a lower cost, but all 1,500 sold out quickly.
The series kicks off this Wednesday, June 4, with The British Invasion tribute, which will focus not only on the Beatles, but on 50 years of British music that became popular in America. Songs by bands like The Zombies, The Rolling Stones,
The Moody Blues and many others are included in the band’s arsenal. They also feature the American response to the British Invasion by playing songs by The Monkees, The Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel and more.
On concert nights, the gates open at 6 p.m. and the bands play from 7 until about 9:30. There is some stationary seating available, but most people bring their own chairs or spread out on a blanket, Davis said.
There will be a few vendors serving food and beverages including Chef Johnny Bravo’s crab cakes, Old City Kettle Corn and the “tried and true” snack stand run by the Boy Scouts that includes pretzels, hot dogs, pizza, soda and other traditional items.
The venue does not allow alcohol or pets. It is handicap accessible and has designated smoking areas toward the back of the venue, away from the stage. There is also an “ultimate” 50–50 raffle, which in the past has built winnings as high as $1,600.
Though the crowd is always packed, many Bensalem locals do not attend the concerts.
“The crowd is really made up of more people than Bensalem residents. They come, but it’s not the percentage you would think when it’s in their own backyard,” Davis said. “We have this awesome amphitheater, people need to see what we have and come over in their own community.”
Of the 2,500 people who regularly attend, Davis estimates that about 300 of them are Bensalem locals. And, she hopes that more of them find out what they’ve been missing.
“I encourage people to just let go, be entertained, have a good time and get up and dance,” said Davis.
For information or to view the calendar for the Bensalem Summer Concert Series, visit www.tdbankamphitheater.com.
