The clouds cleared and the sun was shining as the melodic sounds of music filled the air around downtown Westfield. Around 6:30 at night on Thursday, the green on the north side of the Westfield train station was the site of light, upbeat, and familiar music. 

The Michael Craig Band was comprised of a keyboard player and guitar player, who both sang. They performed favorite popular culture musical selections as part of the Downtown Westfield Corporation summer concert series.

Thursday's concert was part of the judging for Westfield in Bloom. Westfield in Bloom is part of a larger effort called America in Bloom (AIB), which encourages towns around America to plant flowers to beautify the area. AIB judges Katy Moss Warner and Patrick Bones were in town Thursday and Friday judging Westfield and a special concert was organized for their entertainment.

About seventy-five people attended, and they ranged in age from young children to senior citizens. Age didn’t matter when a familiar song was performed, as a lot of people took to dancing. The two male performers engaged in light-hearted audience interaction, and the people were very responsive and engaged.

Jessica DiBiasi was greatly enjoying the music, as she explained that “it’s nice to see everyone out on a nice night.”

Leslie Melissa felt the concert was a “nice end to a hard days work.”

Song selections included favorites from Sam Cook, Jimmy Buffet, Kenny Chesney, the Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, Billy Joel, John Mayer, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and Huey Lewis.

A short distance away, about 175 people of all ages were enjoying the classical sounds of the Westfield Community Band as they performed in Mindowaskin Park. The musical selections featured traditional orchestral pieces, including slow and up tempo styles. The band was elegantly dressed in white and black and showcased in the gazebo with professional lighting.

The program included a timely patriotic song by Aaron Copeland called “Lincoln Portrait.” The selection was done as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln and was presented in three parts: a somber beginning, upbeat middle meant to signify his election, and a slow ending. Between each section a historical narrative was presented. 

During the intermission in the community band concert, Town Crier Lowell Schatz and Councilman Tom Bigosinski both spoke to the crowd. Schatz, newly appointed to the post, gave a news report from 1780 and Bigosinski discussed his family's immigrant experiences.