Leach Garden ‘Summer Concert’ features Cuban music

INCLUDES TUNEFUL VIDEO | Discover what you missed it you didn’t attend this great outer East Portland concert at the Leach Botanical Garden’s Tree Walk. And, learn about their last concert, coming up on September 22 …

In the Pleasant Valley neighborhood, at the Leach Botanical Garden Upper Garden, guests enjoy this Summer Concert on the Tree Walk concert, seated along the Aerial Tree Walk.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The Summer Concert on the Tree Walk series at Leach Botanical Garden got off to a good start on Monday evening, August 28.

This was another concert event set in the Upper Garden, Arbor, and Aerial Tree Walk area. As you may recall, the “Flutes in the Garden” concert on July 9 was first to use the Aerial Tree Walk for guest seating. CLICK HERE to read about, and view a video of that concert.

Ready to enjoy the concert are Leach Gardens’ Lisa Santo, and husband Brian Santo.

“This is the first of two concerts we’re calling “Under the Canopy”; and tonight we are overjoyed to be featuring Xavier Tavera & The Classic Band, who play Cuban music from the 40s, 50s and 60s,” informed Leach Botanical Garden Operations Manager Lisa Santo before the show began.

Xavier Tavera (center) and his “Classic Band” pose for us before the concert starts.

Retired Leach Botanical Garden Executive Director David Porter (second in back, left) sits with guests, as the concert opens.

Chairs were set up for guests in the Arbor. However, most attendees opted to bring their own thick blankets and beach chairs to place under the canopy of tall fir trees, on this particular warm summer evening, to enjoy the lively Latin music filtering through the trees.

Serving sangria, here are Leach Event Specialist Janae Toalepai and Program Director Jami LeBaron.

“To help set the mood, we’re serving sangria to our guests in the Arbor at this sold-out concert.” Santo told East Portland News.

“We had a concert like this last year, right around the same time, and it went really well!” Santo informed. “So, we thought it would be a good idea to expand into having two concerts this season.”

Here’s a sampling of what it’s like to enjoy an outdoor concert along, and around, the Aerial Tree Walk:

Producing and hosting attractions like this helps the overall mission of Leach Botanical Garden, Santo observed – “Because it’s getting people to visit who haven’t been here before.”

Enjoying watermelon on the Aerial Tree Walk, while listening to the concert, here’s Odessa in the lap of her dad, Dan Renn.

“Hopefully enjoying the music, in this unique and beautiful setting, will encourage first-timers to return, and perhaps become a Leach Garden Friends members!

“And, we’d like to expand our outreach to a more diverse community,” Santos added. “So, we’re trying out new event ideas to discover what works.”

You, too, could be enjoying a concert here at Leach Botanical Garden, even this late in the year.

September 22:
Summer Concert on the Tree Walk features
The Resolectrics

From 5 until 8 p.m., The Resolectrics present an unforgettable summer musical evening (on the official last day of summer) under the shady canopy of the Garden’s majestic fir trees. Enjoy this rock & soul power trio “exploring the vast landscapes of roots music with layered harmonies, multi-tonal guitar tracks, and ambitious arrangements”.

Bring your own blanket and low concert chairs. There is no food or beverage service; bring your own non-alcoholic beverages, picnic supper, or snacks – and a garbage container to pack it all out.

TICKETS: Adults $25 | Kids $15 | 2/younger Free; lower prices for Leach Garden Friends members. You must purchase tickets in advance; CLICK HERE to do so online. Leach Botanical Garden is located at 6704 SE 122nd Avenue, 97236; a block south of SE Foster Road.

© 2023 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™

 

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