The tunes from an 80s cover song drifted through the streets of downtown last Friday as several LSU students mingled with members of the Baton Rouge community.
The Downtown Merchant’s Association kicked off its Live After Five concert series to the tune of the Molly Ringwalds, an 80s cover band.
The series continues today with the sounds of the Rebirth Brass Band from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the corner of Third Street and Florida Boulevard.
Therese Bourgeois, a sociology senior, said she enjoyed the return of the downtown concert series.
“I think they need to try to get more people to come downtown,” she said.
She said the band selection is very good and the atmosphere reminds her of a city nearby with a rich music and heritage festival.
“It’s similar to New Orleans,” she said.
Jason Peak, an English senior, said he likes the opportunity to hang out downtown.
Peak said he usually does not venture to the city because it is inconvenient.
While downtown is only two miles away from campus, most students have no reason to travel in that direction.
“Usually there’s nothing going on downtown,” Peak said. “It’s cool to have all these people out.”
Scott Levy, a civil engineering senior, said the concert series is good for students, the Baton Rouge community and local businesses.
“I’m glad it brings the Baton Rouge community together,” he said. “I think they should have events like this more frequently.”
Levy also is looking forward to tonight’s show featuring the Rebirth Brass Band.
“They take jazz and they bring it to different audiences,” Levy said. “They’re the only bluegrass band most college students know of.”
The merchants surrounding the concert extended their hours to accommodate the crowd.
Barbara Means, manager of Mortorano’s Italian Restaurant, echoed the students’ appreciation of this event.
“We love it when the bands are right near us,” she said.
Means said she wishes the events were more frequent, because they are both entertaining and good for downtown businesses.
“I think it is wonderful that they’re doing this for everybody,” she said.
Jeff Fluhr, assistant director of the Downtown Development District, said the concerts have been going on since 1998.
Last week’s crowd of about 3,500 was much larger than the crowd at the first concert in 1998, when attendance was closer to 500.
The selection of bands performing also has improved, with the Downtown Merchant’s Association working to get better acts, Fluhr said.
“The whole goal here is to get the people downtown,” he said. “Things are really happening.”
The Downtown Merchant’s Association is a group of downtown businesses that sponsors the concert series.
Fluhr said proceeds from the concerts go to bring more events downtown, improve streets and support local nonprofit organizations.
The concert series will continue into
May. For more information, visit www.brgov.com/dept/ddd.