Every Saturday night, the Arizona Center offers a free concert series that introduces local musical talent from across the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Artists participating in Live Music Under the Stars perform from 5 to 8 p.m. under the grand staircase for people shopping, dining or passing through the Arizona Center near Fillmore and Third streets.
Jean Ahsmuhs, concert series coordinator, said the free concerts give artists the chance to be publicly viewed, especially since Saturdays are the busiest business days for the Arizona Center.
The artists are paid a flat fee and booked up to two months in advance, though the line-up is tentative, Ahsmuhs said. Hired talent includes local bands, as well as classical musicians such as a cello player that performed in October.
Residents of downtown Phoenix, including Downtown campus students, have attended the concert series.
Journalism junior Kalen Bigger said she enjoys the variety of the audience that the concerts attract.
“I think its cool they have everything,” she said. “Orchestra and other local bands go out and play because they don’t focus on one specific age group.”
Stores and restaurants at the Arizona Center are feeling the benefits of this series as well, said Amber Cesena, manager at 1130 The Restaurant.
Cesena said she sees the concert series as a benefit to the overall business of the Arizona Center and bringing the downtown community closer together in a “small town” feel.
“It is making people want to linger a little bit more and stick around, check out more shopping and restaurants,” Cesena said. “It is nice and relaxing and gives us a hometown feel of a small community versus a big city feel where we live.”
Contact the reporter at lherrige@asu.edu
