The Deane Center’s free outdoor summer concert series kicks off this Friday, July 12 and ends on Friday, Aug. 30 on the outdoor stage at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro. The outdoor stage is located on the Central Avenue side of the building. 

The series is made possible thanks to the support and generosity of its sponsors. They are: the EQT Foundation, Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, and the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Featured are concerts by seven different artists.

The first concert is being presented by the Boston-based Ruta Beggars this Friday, July 12 at 6 p.m. 

Appealing to traditional and progressive acoustic music fans alike, The Ruta Beggars combine bluegrass and early swing to create a timeless act filled with intricate vocal harmonies, fiery instrumentals, and plenty of fun. They have been praised for their creative yet tasteful arrangements and charming performances. 

Since 2018, The Ruta Beggars have brought the joy of their live show to audiences across the US and Canada, from festival stages to storied folk listening rooms and as support for legacy acts Lyle Lovett and Ricky Skaggs. 

The Ruta Beggars are 2019 Thomas Point band competition winners, 2023 IBMA official showcasing artists, Freshgrass Foundation commissioned composers, Freshgrass Award finalists, and Skyline Records artists.

Best-of-friends since the inception of The Ruta Beggars are Micah Nicol on guitar, Trevin Nelson on banjo, Noah Harrington on bass, Sam Stage on fiddle, and Jean-Baptiste Cardineau on mandolin. They met while studying in Berklee College of Music’s American Roots Program. 

Audience members are welcome to bring lawn chairs and sit on the grassy area in front of the outdoor stage or on Central Avenue, which will be closed to traffic between Main Street and the Warehouse Theatre from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If weather becomes an issue, this free concert will be moved indoors into the Deane Center’s Coolidge Theatre. Donations are always appreciated. 

There is no series concert on Friday, July 19. The other six concerts in the free outdoor series are on consecutive Fridays at 6 p.m. They are: 

July 26 — The five-member band Drowsy Maggie performing a mix of Americana, old-time, folk, bluegrass and Celtic music, both instrumental and vocal arrangements; 

August 2 — The Hey! Makers, a ramped-up acoustic Americana trio with Joshua Roth on bass guitar; lead vocalist Kris West on guitar and banjo; and Dave Loomis on percussion, playing a toe-tappin’, thigh-slappin’ mix of country, rock and roll, bluegrass, and soul; 

August 9 — The Wildwoods, a folk/Americana trio from Nebraska; 

August 16 – solo artist Logan Route on guitar; 

August 23 – Cold Chocolate, Ethan Robbins on guitar and mandolin and Ariel Bernstein on drums and banjo;

August 30 – Yetsu, a five-member band performing their rock to roots, blues to country, pop to indie original music. 

For more information about the free concert series, call the Deane Center at 570-724-6220, email office@deanecenter.com or visit deanecenter.com.