Studer Community Institute

Evenings in Olde Seville is back — for now

May 13, 2015
/ Mike Ensley
/ community-dashboard

In 2012, the music almost stopped. The Pensacola Heritage Foundation, which had hosted the Evenings in Olde Seville Square concert series in downtown Pensacola each summer since 1988, announced that without a new sponsor, the series would end. There was an immediate community outcry and massive show of support for the concert series. Events Pensacola, a new nonprofit organization, was formed and with the Heritage Foundation’s blessing, took over the event. “When we agreed to do it, there were welcoming arms everywhere in the community,” said Jehan Clark, event director for Evenings in Olde Seville. “We took over hoping to create a larger draw and also enhance the event.” But three years in, silence once again is looming over Seville Square. “When we took over three years ago, there was definitely a lot of support out there for the event,” said Clark. “But as time has passed, it has been really tough getting sponsors.” Without more sponsors, the future of the concerts beyond this year is in question, Clark said. While the series main sponsor has remained constant, others have come and gone. “Hill-Kelly Dodge has been tremendous in supporting this event,” Clark said. “But it takes more than just what they can offer to pay for it.” Mixing new finds, old favorites Tonight’s kickoff concert features local favorites the McGuire’s Bagpipe Band and the Pensacola Civic Band, beginning at 7 p.m. The new organizers have tried to mix in reverence for the traditions of the 28-year-old concert series with some new sounds. “Local favorites” are a big part of what makes the concert series special, Clark says. “People love to come out and see people they know playing great music,” he said. “It’s great to see The Reunion Band up on the stage.” [sidebar] WHAT: Evenings in Olde Seville Square WHEN: Every Thursday 7:00 p.m. May 14-July 30 WHERE: Seville Square 300 E Government St., Pensacola, FL 32502 COST: FREE DETAILS: eveningsinoldesevillesquare.com The 2015 concert schedule: May 14: McGuires Pipe Band & Pensacola Civic Band May 21: Sarah Mac Band May 28: Megan McMillan June 4: Sasser Band June 11: Not Quite Fab June 18: Nikki Talley June 25: Heritage July 2: Sugarcane Jane July 9: Swinging Dick Tracys July 16: Mass Kunfuzion July 23: Reunion Band July 30: Modern Eldorados [/sidebar] Clark says that diversity is a big part of what the new group has tried to bring to the series. “We really look for different types of music,” Clark said. “We have 12 shows a season and we try to be just as diverse in our act selections – country, reggae, symphonic.” The 2015 series offers evidence to support that enhancement, with bands coming from across the Southeast to play for audiences. “We have artists coming down from Nashville, across Florida and throughout Alabama and Mississippi,” Clark said Among those artists are up-and-coming acts like Tallahassee’s Sarah Mac Band. Mac was recently named to The Alternate Root magazine’s “Top 30 Female Voices Right Now” list alongside artists like Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones and Bonnie Raitt. “These are bands who really want to be a part of what we’re doing here,” said Clark. Searching for sponsors Clark says that Pensacola has so many great events that sometimes it gets hard for businesses to support them all. “It’s tough for them to allocate funds to everything happening in our area,” he said. Attendees also often don’t understand that while admission to the concerts is free, putting on the event isn’t. Clark says the cost for the series is $50,000-$60,000 each year. “Everything associated with the event costs money – the park, police, musicians, insurance – none of it is free,” Clark said. The community has been very supportive in other ways, however. [sidebar] INTERESTED IN HELPING? For information on sponsoring the event, click here. [/sidebar] “We are very appreciative of our volunteers,” said Clark. “Keeping them active was an issue that the Heritage Foundation used to have, but we have not seen that at all.” Clark believes that complacency could be part of the problem. “I hear people say, ‘It was going away, but they brought it back, so we don’t need to worry,’” he said. “We really need the support of sponsors to sustain this event.” Ultimately, it will be up to fans to make sure the tradition of music on Thursday nights under the wide, spreading oaks in Seville Square continues. “We need everyone to get the message out that this is a great event,” Clark said. “Encourage businesses you know to get involved. It’s a great value. They get direct exposure in front of 3,000 people every week and help keep something great for the community alive.”

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Evenings in Olde Seville is back — for now

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