Suisun concert series may return

From Daily Republic
By Ian Thompson

SUISUN CITY - Suisun City could have its once-popular Friday night concerts back as early as late June if the City Council decides Tuesday that it likes the idea.

City staffers want council direction before hashing out the details of a deal with the owner of Pepper Belly's Comedy and Variety Theater, the Texas Street comedy club that also books musical groups. The plan is to partner with Pepper Belly's owner, Jim Ignatieff, who will book the performers and handle a lot of the organizing for the events, Suisun City spokesman Scott Corey said.

Even though it's late in the season to start organizing for a summer concert series, the organizers believe a quality concert series can be put together.

The plan, if approved, is to hold six events starting in June at the waterfront plaza. Tickets will be required to attend the concerts because organizers will fence off the plaza.

Suisun City officials pulled the plug on the popular Friday night concerts three years ago because the city didn't have enough staff to handle the growing number of people attending the events.

"It got large and popular, but when you have to do things with a limited staff it was difficult to deal with that," Corey said.Since then, residents bemoaned the loss of the concerts and repeatedly asked city officials and council members if and when the concerts would come back.

"We are now at a point where we have enough staffing to bring back the concerts," Corey said. And with Pepper Belly's handling some of the work, city staff won't have to do as much."

If the council thinks the plan is a good idea, "we are going test it and see how it works," Corey said.

The Suisun City Council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Suisun City Council chamber at 701 Civic Center Blvd.

Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or at ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.