2014 SUMMER SCHEDULE

Skyler, a York native, has performed before audiences of thousands and opened for musicians like the Band Perry and Plain White t’s. He will appear July 24on the lawn of Central School in South Berwick. One of seven groups of professional musicians who will play in South Berwick’s Thursdaynight concert series, the 23-year-old singer songwriter is eager to bring his “pop rock with heart” back to his community.

“I consider it a hometown show because it’s close enough to York,” Skyler said. “I was never asked to play back when I did live around there so now that I’m gone it’s an honor to be asked to come back.”

South Berwick’s annual Hot Summer Nights Concert series will also feature a performance by “Andrea’s Spectacles on July 17, led by Andrea Szirbik, a Spanish teacher in the Marshwood system. The band also includes Kristen Nobel, a South Berwick resident.

See complete scheudle below

Szirbik describes her band as “what would happen if Shakira, Ani DiFranco, Jewel and maybe even Dolly Parton got stuck in an elevator...and then got rescued by a rock band”." Although based in folk, Szirbick’s music frolics through pop, rock, country and bluegrass and bounces between silly and serious.

As always, talented local youth will open for these musicians. Former Hot Summer Nights sensations Julianna Burke and Lane Klossner will be joined by Maren McKenna, for their HSN debut of The Girl Band on July 10, when they will open for local favorite Marty England. Siblings Olivia and Ethan Martin with cousin Isabel Martin, all from South Berwick, will open for Skyler and Ryan Bulger, a recently graduated senior from Marshwood, will open for Andrea’s Spectacles.

Skyler, who now lives in Malden and has been performing around the Seacoast since he was junior high, was taught and nurtured into stardom by the Scharff Brothers, who will also appear on the Hot Summer Nights lawn on Aug.7.

“The first time I played with Skyler on stage I figured out he was going to be a musician of note,” said Adam Scharff of South Berwick, who began teaching Skyler when the eager young musician was 11.

By 17, Skyler was sitting in with the Scharff Brothers band as drummer when the regular drummer was absent. At one point, Skyler was invited to sing a few songs and that was it. His future seemed clear.

“We were bringing him up to sing occasionally and we noticed the crowd reaction,” said Scharff, who notes that Skyler’sje ne sais quoi, his ability to really grab an audience, is critical to his success and hard to describe. 

Teacher and student performed, traveled and produced together for a while, until Skyler went on to a more extensive national touring schedule.

Skyler released his first full-length, all original CD in 9^thgrade, had four more original CDs before high school graduation, has appeared in 20 professional and repertory theatre productions, and done over 300 gigs. He spent a year studying at Berklee College of Music.

His latest CD, “Restless Heart”,was produced by the Scharff Brothers, who also co-wrote many of the songs.

The Hot Summer Nights concerts, with the exception of the final concert on Wednesday, Aug. 20, begin with an opening act at 6:30 p.m.followed by the main performer at 7 p.m.Pizza and other snacks are for sale at the concert and the audience is can bring a picnic with their blanket and chairs. In case of rain the event is held in town hall. The final concert is the Lantern Fest and starts with a picnic on the lawn of Spring Hill Restaurant.

The Hot Summer Nights concerts for 2014 will, as usual, offer a variety of musical styles by local musicians and openers by local youth.

“We have several new and exciting shows this year,” said Josh Allen, a member of the volunteer Hot Summer Nights committee. “And we are bringing back many of the town’s youngest stars, plus introducing several youth talents new to the HSN stage.”

“Each year I am blown away by the amount of talent that sits with the youth in this community,” said Chip Harding, who schedules the opening acts. “To see young musicians put themselves out there and perform continues to be an inspiration,” added Harding, guitar teacher at Berwick Academy.

This year's lineup includes:

■ July 10—Marty England (opener: The Girl Band with Julianna Burke, Lane Klossner and Maren McKenna, who just finished their senior, junior and sophomore years at Marshwood High School)

■ July 17— Andrea’s Spectacles (opener: Ryan Bulger of South Berwick, 2014 Marshwood graduate)

■ July 24— Skyler (opener: siblings Ethan and Olivia Martin, with cousin Isabel Martin, all Marshwood students from South Berwick).

■July 31— Redtail Hawk (opener:Sophia Urquhart of Eliot and Noah Landisof South Berwick, both graduates of Berwick Academy this year).

■Aug. 7— The Scharff Brothers (opener: Sophie Towle, who will be a junior at Marshwood High School next year).

■Aug. 14—Chris Way (opener: Kate Silva and Laura Hoy, both just finished 8th grade at Berwick Academy)

The last concert is the South Berwick Lantern FestWednesday, Aug. 20, with PB&J playing. Young talents Ethan and Olivia Martin of South Berwick are likely to join this South Berwick based band, which includes their dad. Doors open at5 pmand the rain date isAug. 21.

The summer concert series, organized and staffed by a small group of volunteers, raises funds to pay the professional musicians and other expenses associated with the concerts. Hot Summer nights is a program of the local non-profit group, SoBo Central, which was incorporated in Maine in July 2009.

SoBo Central is an umbrella for local organizations dedicated to the community of South Berwick, including Smart Growth South Berwick, the Food Pantry, Keep South Berwick Warm, the Lantern Fest, and Powderhouse Hill, as well as Hot Summer Nights).