The Missouri River Regional Library cultural concerts will be back on the state Capitol's south lawn next Friday after a two-year hiatus.
Music on the lawn started about 13 years ago as a way to pull people in and show them what the library has to offer, said Taryn Prewitt, MRRL special events coordinator.
Because the library is funded by tax dollars, Prewitt said its leadership wants to reach as many people as possible and music was one way to accomplish that. In the past, the free Friday event attracted an average of 1,200 people. Once people are engaged in the concerts, she said the library has an opportunity to promote its other programs, which patrons sometimes overlook when solely checking out books.
Concerts are "just a way to give people services beyond the books," Prewitt said.
Cultural concerts began as a one-year patron appreciation event, but popularity grew and it developed into a summer series. Past musical acts showcased the Hawaiian, Russian and Latin American cultures, she added. The community's desire led the library to re-introduce them, Prewitt said.
"People were calling and asking, "Why are there no more concerts?'" she said. "They asked for them to come back."
Prewitt said 13 Tibetan monks, dressed in purple robes, once came to Jefferson City, which turned heads. They toured the Capitol building before chanting on the south lawn.
"That's the whole idea - to bring in things people wouldn't see in Jefferson City," Prewitt said.
Miss Jubilee, a St. Louis-based band, will be the first to perform this summer on Friday. Since 2007, the band has played a 1920s-'50s era fusion of hot jazz and rhythm and blues. According to the band's website, its fronted by a "high-energy female vocalist" who leads a horn section. Miss Jubilee attracts swing dancing and jazz music enthusiasts, according to its website.
The Bluegrass Martins will play Aug. 28. Members of the family band were born in Morgan County and have been in the bluegrass music scene since 2001, according to the band's website. The band is an 11-year winner of the instrumental group of the year award from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America.
A jazz group, the Tom Andes Quartet, will perform Sept. 11.
All performances start at 7:30 p.m.