Caledon's summer concert season is officially underway. The Town of Caledon's Music in the Park series launched on July 2 at Dennison Park in Southfields Village, and free Thursday evening performances are set to continue each week through Aug. 20.

The opening night ran from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and featured back-to-back performances, with residents filling benches in the outdoor seating area despite the high temperatures, according to the Caledon Citizen.

The first set came from Wilson and The Cast Aways, an indie-folk band whose story-driven songs are supported by banjos, acoustic guitars, mandolin and more. After their hour-long performance, Caledon-based singer-songwriter Shelagh Haney took the stage at 7 p.m., performing songs from her albums while playing guitar.

For Haney, who grew up in Caledon, the show was a homecoming.

It is really cool to come and play back on the familiar grounds.

She told the Caledon Citizen she skipped some of the material she might otherwise have played, including "the Eagles and modern songs," because she was feeling "a little bit more sentimental than rocking out." She describes her style as "Canadiana," a blend of country, folk and Americana with an emphasis on storytelling.

"It's like a mixture of country, folk, and Americana—I call it Canadiana because it's got more storytelling; I feel like there's a Canadian element to that," she said.

Audience members were just as enthusiastic. Lorie Harron, a Caledon resident who has attended the weekly series for the past three years, called the event a good reflection of the community and praised its range of performers, from very young musicians to senior citizens.

There is a wide variety of music displayed, so I find it's a very good repertoire.

"It's a wonderful way to create some new friendships," she said. "I think music is something that's universal and joins people together in love, harmony and sharing."

Harron said the opening-night acts left an impression, noting the first group's "beautiful harmonies" and a set list that mixed familiar songs with original material from performers who are "songwriters in their own right."

A summer lineup of local talent

Between now and the final date on Aug. 20, the series is set to feature a rotating lineup of musicians, including the Caledon Concert Band, The Trio Kings, Inka's Band, Nix Ironstone, No Refunds and Friends, Holli Ward and others.

Sofia Clements, a member of the Town of Caledon's organizing team, said the series proves a small community can offer the kind of live music experience more often associated with big cities like Toronto.

I am really happy that a much smaller community is doing it too… I think that what's important about it is… there doesn't have to be a million people to bring a community together. I just think that something small and intimate like this has just as much value.

Concerts run Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dennison Park through the end of August. Residents can check the Town of Caledon's channels for the weekly performer schedule.