TURN IT UP

COMIC CRAZY

The Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series is back after a year-long hiatus.

// BY MELISSA PETERSON

Last spring, the City of Ocala, in partnership with the Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA), was primed to kick o another year of the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series when COVID-19 shut down public events throughout our community. Thankfully, they were able to work with the Levitt Foundation and artists originally in the 2020 lineup to bring back the music series starting this month.

Funded in part by a grant through the national Levitt AMP Foundation, cities are selected through an application process that includes community voting to host free, family-friendly concerts for the public. The Ocala series features a concert every Friday night between April 16 and June 25 (excluding May 28 for Memorial Day) from 7-9pm. Concerts will take place at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center. If there happens to be inclement weather, the concerts will move indoors to the E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, which features newly improved acoustics and sound absorption.

Although as of press time the full lineup had not been released, the series will feature a diverse collection of high-caliber talent spanning a variety of musical genres.

“Each night will have an opening band, intermission provided by a local Cultural Arts nonpro t and a headliner,” explains Laura Walker, the City of Ocala’s Cultural Arts and Sciences Division head. “There will be food trucks, including Big Lee’s. It will be a great time for the whole family.” “It brings attention to an underutilized space through creative placemaking, provides community engagement and accessibility and exposure to music in a free, family-friendly environment. There have also been additional infrastructure improvements spurred by the series, including new lighting at Webb Field, upgraded power and other such projects.”

Fortunately for our community, it’s sounds like there will be plenty of free music through the Levitt AMP Music Series in Ocala’s future.

“The city has received four Levitt AMP Music Series Grants over ve years and one Levitt AMP Bridge Grand for the production of the Ocala Black History Mural Guide,” says Laura. “The city can continue to apply; however, due to COVID and delays with the 2020 series across the nation, they have decided to bypass an application process for 2022 and award the same allocation to those already receiving funding. This means Ocala will receive a Levitt AMP Music Series grant again in 2022.”

Attendees should bring their own blankets or chairs, and socially distanced seating through family/social pod circles will be provided. Sanitation stations and procedures to sanitize high-touch areas will take place throughout the series, and face coverings are encouraged.

“Marion Cultural Alliance is proud to partner with the city to bring back the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series in 2021,” says Jaye Baillie, executive director of MCA. “This series has reimagined and injected new life into the historic Webb Field with 10 weeks of free concerts. The diverse lineup features acclaimed, emerging talent to seasoned, award-winning artists on the local, regional and nation circuits.”

One important aspect of the music series is the requirement that the concerts take place in an underutilized public space in an attempt to transform it into a welcoming destination for the community.

“The activation of Webb Field through the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series has brought investment to the surrounding historic neighborhoods and is catalyst to creating one of the city’s three cultural arts hubs on the west side of Ocala,” says Laura. Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series // Fridays from 7-9pm, April 16 through June 25 (excluding May 28 for Memorial Day) // Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation or E.D. Croskey Recreation Center during inclement weather // ocala .org/levittamp or (352) 629-8447 // To learn more about the Levitt AMP organization, visit levittamp.org.