Sunday music showcase set to go live

A tireless musician, songwriter, producer and record collector, Lynn Russwurm now wears another musical hat: organizer of the summer showcase concert series at the bandshell in Elmira’s Gore Park.

Live music will be presented Sunday nights starting July 4 and running through the Labour Day weekend.
To fill the schedule, the Floradale resident had only to turn to the long list of artists he’s worked with over more than 60 years in the music business. The lineup will feature bluegrass, gospel and country acts.

Floradale's Lynn Russwurm will be busy on stage and behind the scenes as the summer concert series kicks off July 4 at the bandshell in Elmira's Gore Park.

The concert series opens and closes with Crossover Junction, the band Russwurm recently joined, producing its first album last year. At 79, he’s not tired of any aspects of the music industry.

Other acts on tap include those from around the region such as Maryhill’s Paul Weber, but extends to bands from Woodstock, Mount Forest and Hanover.

“I know all of them personally. These are entertaining musicians,” Russwurm said.

Having played one of the shows at last summer’s concert series in the park, he said the mix of musicians will fit right in with the audience who turns out at the bandstand.

“When we played there last summer, there must have been more than 200 people. They were having a great time.”

Often drawing an older crowd, the concerts ideally provide the kind of music they can sing along with, or at least clap and tap their toes in time with.

“These are the songs that many of us grew up with.”

For the Crossover Junction shows, for instance, many of the songs will be old gospel standards such as those featured on the band’s debut album. Of course, they’ll also play some of the tracks penned by Russwurm himself; he’s been writing since he was a teen, and many of the hundreds now in his catalogue have been recorded by other artists.

The goal for each of the concerts this summer is to get people out to enjoy live shows, music at its most infectious.

The showcase series runs Sunday evening, 7-9 p.m., in Gore Park.

Now, all that remains is keeping his fingers crossed for good weather this summer: “I hope the Sundays at least will be OK,” he laughed.