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Concert series is a big hit MT file photo Charlie Doggett plays congas with the Britt Jazz Institute Band, which opened Medford's summer series of concerts in Bear Creek Park on June 20. Poll shows folks enjoy Medford's park series By BILL VARBLE Medford's 1999 Bear Creek Park concert series drew generally good reviews in informal poll results released by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. Warren Whistler and the Big Picture Band topped the list as audience favorites. The Caribbean Super Stars, a Tacoma, Wash.,-based steel drum band, drew the largest crowd, an estimated 2,200 people -- about the same as a capacity house at the Britt Festivals. Attendance figures are estimates, since admission is free. parks officials estimate about 13,900 people saw the shows, up from 8,500 people for 10 shows last year. Concertgoers called for booking acts from obscure bluegrass bands to The Beach Boys to heavy metal rockers Megadeath. Most praised the series. "I took note that there was an effort to increase the quality of the performers," said Tom Olbrich, who presents concerts for Southern Oregon University in Ashland. "I know that takes money and people working pretty hard to make it happen." Bev Power, a secretary at the parks department, said many concertgoers seemed to feel that way. "It's nice to come in Monday morning and have people say, `Thanks for the show,"' she said. Each summer, with help from local businesses, parks and recreation presents a series of Sunday concerts in the park ranging from bluegrass to jazz, R&B, barbershop, blues and rock. A dozen shows were presented this year, with more than two dozen businesses coughing up more than $11,000 to pay the musicians, sound technicians, sound and light equipment and advertising -- a 60 percent increase in support from 1998. The city gave out evaluation forms the last two concerts. Of those responding (152 men, 208 women), about three-quarters lived in Medford and about three-quarters were age 41 and over. Parks and Recreation Department Director Tom Hilton said audiences' next favorite groups, in order, were the Caribbean Super Stars, Portland-based blues veterans the Lloyd Jones Struggle and acoustic blues guitarist Terry Robb. Many respondents called for more sun protection for performers. Other suggestions ranged adding stage lighting to hot dog stands to doing something about hungry yellowjackets buzzing around the hillside. The acts were booked this year for the first time by a part-time, seasonal employee, Dave Stehnike, of Grants Pass. Stehnike went outside the area to book bands that perform around the Northwest. In the past, the series had focused on local entertainers. The survey also found that parking continues to be a problem. About 80 percent of those surveyed said they would use Little League parking if a pedestrian bridge over Bear Creek were available to get to the amphitheater. Hilton said one goal being considered for next year's series is to have a sponsor and a Parks and Recreation Commission member take part in choosing concert performers. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA