It's been several years (too long!) since we played in our hometown of Holland as part of its summer concert series at beautiful Kollen Park on Lake Macatawa. Thanks to FP's lead guitarist John A, who still lives in Holland, we have a commitment for a Franklin Park 60s music show next summer, on Friday, June 18, 2027. We will confirm this show and put it on the “Shows” page in early 2027.
But if you're already planning Summer 2027 (who isn't?) please put June 18 on your calendar!
Thank you, Marquette 60s music fans, for your now long-running and enthusiastic support! Our two shows at historic Lake Superior Theater in August sold out again this year, this time in only 4 days. When we first played Marquette at LST in 2021, we never imagined that we would could later add a second show and that both would sell out so fast. We are all looking forward to our 6th (!) trip to the UP's queen city for great scenery, great hiking, great food, great beer and great music and your great support.
As a summer-only band, after the long Fall and Winter pause, it's great to get together again each Spring. For the tenth year in a row, Franklin Park will gather for several days on the shores of Big Whitefish Lake, Pierson, MI for what we call “band camp”. With no shows immediately after, it's a great time for blowing the rust off last year's set list and practicing 60s songs that are “new” to us for this year's set list. Some fun golf and boating are also likely.
If you're in the area, our rehearsal days are May 27-28. Feel free to stop by, say hi, and listen for a while!
Loaded in, all set up, ready for Gardens sound check and ….Gardens show cancelled!
Meijer Gardens staff made the right call. Later weather radar shows what came through Grand Rapids. Disappointment for all. Safety for all. Safety wins. Special thanks to the early arriving fans who said hi before we all evacuated the Gardens amphitheater.
See you next year!
Please join Franklin Park for our 5th annual trip to the UP's great city of Marquette (with Blackrocks and Oredocks breweries and The Honorable Distillery, under the Nordic marquee) and for our two great 60s music shows at the historic Lake Superior Theater on Marquette Harbor. Great beer, drinks, food and music, in the UP's queen city. And if all that isn't enough, stay the weekend for Marquette's fun HarborFest.
If it's summer it's time for great concerts at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Franklin Park is very honored to be asked to again play the great music of the 60s in the Gardens' beautiful amphitheater this coming summer. Our 7th Tuesday Evening Music Club show is scheduled for August 12, 2025 at 700pm. It's a ticketed event, free to Gardens members.
After two very fun sold-out shows (with unfilled waiting lists) at historic Lake Superior Theater, on Marquette's Lower Harbor, Franklin Park concluded its 2024 summer schedule with a special performance for the Marquette Graveraet High School Class of 1964 Reunion. Three shows in 5 days was “a lot” for the 6 “old guys” in the band, but the enthusiasm of the slightly older reunion attendees got us through, with lots of fun for all. Marquette is a great town, with great (and knowledgeable) music fans. We hope to get an opportunity to return next year.
We were honored to once again play the great music of the 60's in the Gardens beautiful amphitheater. The crowd of nearly 2000 sang along, danced and cheered these great songs. And seeing nearly all of them on their feet, dancing at their seats for show closer “Twist and Shout” was very special.
Here's a picture of 6 happy old guys after the show and a couple brief videos from the show:
Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight (from Abbey Road Album)
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/987941657
The End (from Abbey Road album)
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/987942417
As a summer-only band, Franklin Park's guys really look forward to shaking off the “rust” that accumulates since the prior summer's shows. We do that each year with an overnight get-together and rehearsal at Big Whitefish Lake in Pierson, MI. We call that “Band Camp”. It's always fun to return to the prior year's set list and rehearse together for the first time the “new” songs we have worked on throughout the Winter and Spring.
If you're in the vicinity of Whitefish Lake/Pierson on June 4 and 5, stop by, listen and say hello!
As always, our sold-out shows in the historic Lake Superior Theater in Marquette were great fun. The standing ovation for the Abbey Road (Beatles) medley was very much appreciated. And it was great to see the entire theater on their feet dancing at their seats for Twist and Shout and Gimme Some Lovin' which closed our show.
Also very special was the unexpected TV coverage we received. Thanks to the local CBS affiliate WZMQ's Scott Minshall, we now have yet another way to tell the Franklin Park story. If you're interested it's right here: Lower Michigan band formed in 1968 performs in Marquette (wzmq19.com)
4 Weeks!!! Tuesday, August 14, 700pm! All the guys are working hard preparing for our August 10-11 rehearsal for the biggest show in FP history!
Franklin Park "Deja Vu"? Well, we didn't play that song (it's from 1970, not the 60s!) but we were all back again at Big Whitefish Lake's annual social event, which had record attendance (due to FP show? :>) ). Much fun in an outdoor setting on a nice evening with lots of good people.
At its October 20 rehearsal in Holland, Franklin Park auditioned for Ted Bufkin of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. We were very excited to learn from Ted that the Gardens had selected Franklin Park to play in its beautiful amphitheater next summer as part of its very popular Tuesday Evening Music Club. Hope to see many family, friends and classmates there along with the 1,000+ Gardens members that attend these shows. Will be FUN!!!
With the long distance between our homes and that UP winter weather, FP has decided to do one show a year.
Our show on June 23 for the annual Big Whitefish Lake Association event at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course's beautiful clubhouse and restaurant was attended by over 100 people, most of whom knew nearly every one of our 60's music songs. Many highlights, including a full Beatles set of 8 songs and one encore, the first appearance of the "Franklin Park Dancers" and Mike R's great organ solo on a new song to us (and 50-years old this summer) A Whiter Shade of Pale. Good job Mike R, and Bernie, and Jim too, with that song's seeming ever-descending bass line.