Seven Wonders has SummerSounds organizer wondering if it's biggest crowd yet

Patrick Varine, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·2 min read

Jun. 3—The music of Fleetwood Mac has something that can appeal to almost anyone. From strident rock anthems to poignant break-up songs, anyone who can appreciate a well-constructed tune can find something to like.

That — plus a beautiful Friday evening in Greensburg — may help explain why the Fleetwood Mac cover group The Seven Wonders brought out what organizer Gene James thought might be the biggest crowd yet for the 2023 SummerSounds opener at St. Clair Park.

"It's definitely the biggest opening crowd," James said. "It might be the biggest concert we've had so far."

Lloyd Kitchen of Greensburg said he likes the variety of genres that the weekly SummerSounds series offers.

"The last couple years they've really mixed things up," Kitchen said. "Jazz, bluegrass, you have the Elton John guy coming back, world music — it's really great."

James said he's looking forward to the return of The Sweet Lizzy Project, a group of Cuban immigrants who defected to the U.S. In a few years, they went from an unknown Nashville rock band to opening for Heart and for Joan Jett in front of 20,000-strong crowds.

"They're such sweet people," James said. "Last year they had a rain-out, and they ended up playing to about 150 people crowded under the stage roof."

Sweet Lizzy Project will return to SummerSounds on July 21.

James said the crowd on Friday night easily rivaled the 2019 attendance for Leonid & Friends, a Russian group that covers the pop-rock sounds of Chicago.

"We have three people counting the whole crowd and we'll average their numbers out," he said. "I bet it's more than 7,000."

Shows take place at 7 p.m. at St. Clair Park, off North Maple Avenue in Greensburg. For a full band schedule, see SummerSounds.com.

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter .