Photo courtesy of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association.

Long Beach residents love their summer concert series. From Summer and Music in Downtown to the Long Beach Municipal Band’s concerts in the park, summer has long been a time where neighbors congregate over music. And for its third year of unconventionally staged concerts along the Atlantic corridor, the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association is expanding its Music in the Park(ing) Lot series.

Music in the Park(ing) Lot was created out of the need for more outdoor music and community-building. Although the beloved Municpal Band has undergone schedule fluctuations in the recent years and has had to trim some of the Municipal Band’s performances, Music in the Park(ing) Lot has picked up the slack for the northside by adding four more shows to its calendar.

“We started hearing rumors that the Municipal Band’s performances were going to be cut and so we decided to supplement,” said Blair Cohn, Executive Director of BKBIA. “Now there are four performances from the Municipal Band and four more on the corridor. It’s always great to have more music in the community.”

The series not only serves an entertainment function, but also an economic one. By staging concerts in spaces otherwise overlooked, Music in the Park(ing) Lot bridges those residents with local small business. Not only does the hosting business benefit from having people on their site, but surrounding restaurants and retailers also get a boon from those in attendance.

With the series growing in popularity every year, the benefit to businesses in Bixby Knolls can only get larger. 

“Residents invite neighbors and people from other areas to attend,” said Cohn. “Word of mouth is a great promotional tool. June’s attendance was about 100 people.”

The series moves up and down the Atlantic corridor every month with the next one occuring Monday, July 22 at Alex Auto Repair and Electric at 3360 Atlantic Blvd. At Monday’s event, families will enjoy the eclectic sounds ofThe King Salmon Band. This event is free and family friendly.

For more information on events in the community, upcoming Music in the Park(ing) Lot location and featured band, visit bixbyknollsinfo.com