We’re sorry to report that we’re forced to cancel the 2020 Summer Concert Series due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Summer Concert Series has been a staple of the Claverack community for the past nine years, offering free concerts by top local bands Thursday nights in July and August at the Claverack Town Park.

In making the announcement, Club vice-president Charles Schram said the group had been grappling with ways to alter the program to bring it into compliance with CDC guidelines for reducing the transmission of the Covid-19 virus, which has virtually shut down huge segments of the country’s economy, particularly the dining and entertainment segments, since March.

“There was simply no way to make it work,” Schram said, “given the nature of the venue and the close interaction required.”

In mid-March, the Claverack Town Board announced that it was closing the park ‪through July 29‬ and would re-evaluate the closure decision at that time, possibly extending it into August or beyond.

“That effectively eliminated half of our season,” Schram said. “It made the decision for us.”

Schram noted that the bands had already been booked for the season and a number of corporate donations had been received.

“The bands have been great,” he said. “They understand what we’re going through. There really was no other choice. I’m sure this was not the only gig they’ve lost because of Covid-19.”

Schram said the monetary donations have all been returned.

The club will begin planning for the 2021 season at the first of the year.
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“There is no way to plan ahead with this thing,” he said. “This is all new territory. We just have to take it as it comes.”