Community gathers for opening night of Slice of Summer

By Peter Zinn, The Canby Chronicle

Lawn chairs were unfolded and blankets unfurled beneath the trees at Wait Park this summer as families settled in for the opening concert of Canby’s Annual Slice of Summer series. More than 40 years after the community tradition of music in the park began, Slice of Summer's mission remains to “create a fun and exciting family-friendly environment” by providing musical performances in a variety of genres, ranging from classic rock and jazz to country. 

For many Canby residents, summer evenings mean gathering at the park with lawn chairs, food, and live music. Local vendors and businesses also support the event by setting up food carts along the block and providing raffle prizes for attendees.

Kicking things off was a short set from the Canby High School Jazz Band, led by Nick Luchterhand. Despite being a few weeks removed from the last week of classes, the band was back together to perform. Luchterhand said, “I routinely have students come back after graduation for public performances.” Luchterhand said. The performers were “committed to the program and committed to music in general,” he added. The program extends well beyond the classroom, Luchterhand noted; locals also support the program and performances through fundraising efforts, including a number of the local fireworks vendors around Canby during the 4th of July season.

After the jazz band’s performance concluded with Joe Garland’s classic “In the Mood,” local group One Eyed Kats took to the stage to continue the event. Among their members was harmonica player and vocalist Paul Rydell, a Canby local who first heard the band performing at Gwynn's Willamette Coffee House. Throughout their performance, a wide assortment of Canby residents showed up in support. Most notable was the band of brigands and buccaneers that were sprinkled throughout the crowd, as the nearby Oregon Renaissance Faire let out for the weekend. Among them, one attendee in a Pac-Man print dress danced through nearly the entire set, adding a splash of personality to an evening already filled with so much. With the help of the audience, the One Eyed Kats kept the energy high with familiar favorites including “Mony Mony” and “Walking on Sunshine,” encouraging the audience to clap along, sing along, and, at least in the case of one Miss Pac Man, dance along.

As the final notes drifted across Wait Park, the mix of returning students, longtime locals, and even the odd pirate drifted away too. The evening offered a reminder that Slice of Summer is about more than live music. Continuing the tradition of 40 years, the Canby series continues to provide a space for the community to gather, celebrate local talent, and enjoy a summer evening together.