by Doug Radunich

STAFF WRITER

Tooele City's Fridays on Vine live entertainment series will kick off this Friday, June 6, with a lineup organizers promise is better than ever.

The series, which is in its third year, will feature 11 performances running through August 29.

"When we first started Friday Nights on Vine in 2006, we mostly just had local groups who volunteered," said Michelle Pitt, administrative assistant to the mayor and entertainment coordinator for Fridays on Vine. "Now we have the Tooele City Arts Council sponsoring us and more funding for the event, so we're able to combine more local acts with other bigger acts from around the state. We have some repeat acts from past years, as well as several new ones."

Pitt said Fridays on Vine will feature performances at both Veterans Memorial Park, located at the corner of Vine and Main streets, and Swimming Pool Park, located next to the Pratt Aquatic Center at 55 North 200 West. All performances will start at 7 p.m.

"We decided to add Swimming Pool Park as a venue because some of the acts required a larger space for them to perform," Pitt said. "I'm excited about our schedule and see a good variety of acts coming. It's always exciting to see live entertainment at our parks, and I hope there will be something for everyone."

Pitt said she has seen attendance at the concerts grow each year since the event began in 2006.

"We've even seen a lot of regulars try to make it out to all of them," she said. "People will bring lawn chairs and blankets and just sit on the grass and listen to the groups. It's really a lot of fun for everyone."

The city's summer Farmer's Market will take place most nights that Fridays on Vine is happening.

"The Farmer's Market will start Friday, June 20, and go until the first Friday in September," she said. "It will run from about 4 p.m. until dusk each Friday, and it will also take place at Veterans Memorial Park."

The Utah County-based, inspirational-country group "Joshua Creek" will kick off Fridays on Vine this Friday at 7 p.m. at Swimming Pool Park. The band performs regularly at church, corporate and civic events throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Their self-titled debut album produced the No. 1 Christian-Country hit "What Kinda Car?"

Jeff Hinton, lead singer and acoustic guitarist for the group, said he is excited to perform at Fridays on Vine.

"We like Tooele and think it's a great town, and the city had been calling us and trying to get us to perform there for couple of years," he said. "We're glad that it finally worked out this year."

Hinton said the group was formed only two years ago and has already released two albums.

"We're currently in the middle of recording our third album, and it should come out in October," he said. "Our music is good, inspirational country music with a family and faith-oriented message."

Pitt said she was glad that a well-known group like Joshua Creek was able to kick off this year's summer concert series.

"Joshua Creek was suggested again by staff members here at the city, and I remember that they had also played at Pioneer Park in Salt Lake," Pitt said. "We're excited to have them come here, as well the other great acts scheduled to come later."

dougrad@tooeletranscript.com