Published: June 16, 2009 11:32 pm      

CONCERTS: Lovin’ Spoonful rounds out Gateway series

The Lovin’ Spoonful will be spending one day of this summer in the City of North Tonawanda.

The band is the final act to be publicized for this summer’s Gateway Harbor series, set for Saturday nights throughout June, July and August. Firefall kicks off the series this Saturday.

Spoonful, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members famous for a string of hits including “Summer in the City” and “Do You Believe in Magic,” appeared in Western New York last year as well, making a stop at the Wheatfield town picnic. But the band’s contract with Gateway Harbor Inc. wouldn’t allow the city to announce the appearance until after the band played a paid show in Niagara Falls, Ontario on June 13. A similar conflict undermined the booking of Joan Jett for last year’s series and eventually ended with the show’s cancellation.

The band’s appearance will be announced officially today on WBEN radio between 3 and 4 p.m. Then starting at 6 p.m. on the North Tonawanda side of the canal, The Strangers and The Diva Show will begin this year’s summer concert season. While the Saturday series often steals the show, Rhonda Ried, vice president of Gateway Harbor Inc., said the Wednesday and Friday series draw nearly as many people.

And since the promoters got involved with little time to spare, there was some concern that booking acts would become difficult. But Ried said she’s heard more good than bad comments about the lineup, and credited Ed Smith with coming through in a pinch to find nationally recognized acts. The timing even proved beneficial.

“It actually might have helped us to a certain extent, because it allowed us to make better deals with bands because they had already booked everything else,” Ried said.

Even more good news could be in store for the series according to a letter from Assemblyman Robin Schimminger. He’s started the process of getting $100,000 in state funding to buy Gateway Harbor Inc. a stage for the concerts. City of Tonawanda Mayor Ron Pilozzi said the cities are currently renting a stage for each performance at $4,000 to $5,000 per event.

“We probably won’t have it this year, but we’ll probably get it next year. Once we do, it could help us book bigger bands,” Pilozzi said.

Contact reporter Daniel Pyeat 693-1000, ext. 158.