COLUSA, CA (MPG) — The sound of live music once again carried through Veterans Memorial Park this summer, where families gathered on the grass, children danced near the stage, and neighbors shared picnic blankets and lawn chairs.
After 10 weeks of Thursday night concerts, the Levitt AMP Colusa Music Series has wrapped its third season, leaving organizers tired, grateful and already looking ahead.
Series. The free 10-week concert series concluded in August with live music each Thursday in downtown Colusa. Photo courtesy of
Hapa Films, Donovan Lee
For outreach coordinator Milly Lee, the series is more than a summer tradition. It is a year-round effort that starts almost as soon as the last note fades.
“After the final concert, we celebrate the end of the season by throwing a thank-you party for our volunteer crew and complete our grant’s closeout reports,” Lee said. “We typically take the rest of September off and reconvene in October with our first committee meeting to begin planning for the next season.”
Planning for this year began months in advance.
The committee: Lee, Sadie Boggs Ash, LK James, Daniel LoPilato and Fernanda Vanetta, tried a new approach by splitting into two teams. James and LoPilato focused on artist booking and administration, while Lee and Ash worked on volunteers, fundraising and lawn activation. The shift, Lee said, allowed the team to concentrate on specific goals and avoid the last-minute rush of past years.
Even with careful preparation, surprises came. Two weeks before one scheduled performance, an artist pulled out.
“We immediately had to shift into problem-solving mode,” Lee said.
LoPilato quickly found that blues act Tommy Castro and the Painkillers were scheduled to play in Chico the following night. They agreed to add Colusa to their tour.
“They ended up delivering an incredible performance,” Lee said. “Many attendees told us it was their favorite concert of the entire season.”
stepped in after an artist canceled, delivering what many attendees called the highlight of the season. Photo courtesy
of Hapa Films, Donovan Lee
Crowds averaged between 300 and 400 per night, with early summer drawing the biggest turnouts.
The July 3 show, held on the eve of Independence Day, brought one of the highest audiences of the season.
Organizers decorated the park in red, white and blue, and the evening served as a community kickoff to the holiday weekend.
during the Levitt AMP Colusa Music Series. The 10-week
summer series wrapped up its third season with crowds
averaging 300 to 400 people per show. Photo courtesy of Hapa Films,
Donovan Lee
The series also drew new visitors. Guests traveled from nearby Yuba-Sutter and Chico, from the Bay Area, and even as far as Las Vegas. Lee said it was exciting to see new faces discovering Colusa through the concerts.
For local groups, Levitt AMP Colusa offered more than music. Each week nonprofits and community organizations set up booths to share their missions. For the first time, several served meals on a donation basis, using the opportunity to fundraise. The Farmers Market added another layer of activity. Youth groups such as the Cyclones Swim Team, Girl Scout Troop 348, Arbuckle Revitalization Committee, Sound Space and the Girls Softball Team pitched in by helping with set up, décor and fundraising challenges. Some even sold root beer floats.
“It gave our local youth groups a fun and meaningful way to get involved, and they seemed to truly enjoy being part of creating the Levitt AMP Colusa experience,” Lee said.
The music itself reflected the series’ goal of diversity. Each lineup is designed to bring new genres and cultures to the stage.
Lee said that one of her favorite parts of the season was hearing from residents who appreciated that variety.
Stacey Costello and her daughters shared “reviews” after each show, often thanking the organizers for broadening their family’s musical experience.
“I think it’s important for a community to be open to celebrating different cultures and trying new things,” Lee said. “It allows a community to grow in a deeper and richer way.”
Behind the scenes, turnout matters for more than atmosphere. Strong attendance is key to maintaining the Levitt Foundation grant that makes the free series possible. Lee said full audiences show that Colusa has transformed its park into a gathering place that people value.
“By consistently drawing a crowd, we demonstrate that we’ve turned the park into a welcoming environment, a space that naturally invites people of all backgrounds to come together and share in the experience of free, live music,” she said.
The committee is now waiting to hear whether Colusa will be awarded another round of funding. If granted, planning will start again in October. Lee said community support will continue to be essential.
“If we’re awarded, we’ll need the community to continue showing up week after week: dancing, celebrating, and helping us keep the momentum going,” she said.
Volunteers, sponsors and new committee members are welcome. Those interested can contact the organizers at levittamp@colusa-arts.org or visit levittampcolusa.info
For now, the park is quiet again, but the echoes of music and laughter linger. As Lee put it, Levitt AMP Colusa “definitely feels like my second job,” but one she is happy to keep coming back to.