For 30 summers, Carbondale residents have come together Thursday evenings to enjoy each other and live music.

Today marks the 31st anniversary of these gatherings with the beginning of the city’s annual Sunset Concert Series.

The Ark Band will bring its reggae grooves to the steps of Shryock Auditorium for the second time, after the band performed in 2007, according to the Student Programming Council’s website.

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The shows will begin at 7 p.m.each Thursday the shows will begin at 7 p.m. and last for two hours, alternating venues between outside Shryock and Turley Park on Carbondale’s west side.

The concert series will run for seven weeks until July 30 and is free of charge to the public.

The bands performing at this summer’s concerts:

‘ The Ark Band

The band has been together for 22 years and is stationed in Columbus, Ohio. The band plays roots reggae, soca and calypso music with ‘heavenly harmonies’ and ‘tight crisp performances’ according to the band’s Web site.

www.thearkband.com

Roman Candle

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Paste Magazine hailed the Chapel Hill, N.C. group’s latest release a ‘modern rock masterpiece.’ The band has been together for 12 years and is signed to major label V2.

www.romancandlemusic.com

The NK Band

Many genres are used together to create the band’s music. ‘NK Band soars seamlessly across a world of influences, lifting listeners onto a plane of joy and positivity,’ reads the band’s bio on its Web site. Elements of rock, reggae, funk and calypso can be found in the group’s ep and full-length records.

www.nkband.com

Vince Herman and Friends

Herman is a veteran of the jam band scene as he founded veteran group, Leftover Salmon. That group is on hiatus as Herman is on the road playing a ‘Cajun Americana sound with a hysterical mix of improvised lyrics and unique originals,’ according to his Web site.

www.vinceherman.com

Mississippi Heat

Led by harmonica player/ band leader/ primary songwriter Pierre Lacocque, the blues outfit has released 8 albums and one live DVD. The five-piece band has been together since 1991 according to its Web site.

www.mississipiheat.net

Greensky Bluegrass

In 2006, the Michigan bluegrass group was winner of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Contest. The band plays more than 170 shows per year and has released four albums, according to the band’s Web site.

www.greenskybluegrass.com

Space Capone

Space Capone hails from Nashville, Tenn., playing his own brand of funk and has been called ‘the real deal’ by ‘The Tennessean.’

www.myspace.com/spacecapone

For more information on this summer’s Sunset Concerts visit The Student Programming Council’s Web site at www.spc4fun.com.

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