Wheaton TGIF Concert Series, Starting July 7 with the Brass of ‘Black Masala,’ Will Celebrate the 65th Anniversary of Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

For Immediate Release: Thursday, July 6, 2023

The Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District has teamed up with the iconic Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center for this year’s TGIF Summer Concert Series, offering after-work celebrations on Friday evenings. The weekly series, which will start July 7, will feature bands ranging from Black Masala to Jah Works, live artist demonstrations and beverages from Twin Valley Distillers.

The concerts will be at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to the Wheaton Business Triangle and near the Wheaton Metro Station.

Chuck Levin’s has carefully curated a mix of artists for the summer series. Starting the series on July 7 will be brassy Washington DC-based Black Masala. It is part of the new generation of “go-anywhere” brass bands, harnessing all the good times sunk in the Romany, second-line, bhangra and funk horn parts to get the crowds dancing. Black Masala puts on high-energy show

Starting July 7 and on Fridays throughout the summer, the TGIF party will begin on the Plaza at 5 p.m. with a DJ set followed by a live concert at 6 p.m. The weekly after-party will rotate to nearby local bars from 8-9 p.m.  Parking is available in the building at 2425 Reedie Dr.

The remainder of the series will feature:

• July 14: Ricky Wise Trio
• July 21: Sweet Leda
• July 28: The Nighthawks
• Aug. 4: Project Locrea
• Aug. 11: Bobby Thompson’s Blues City Shakedown
• Aug. 18: Quimbao
• Aug. 25: Jah Works

The concert series this year will celebrate the 65th anniversary of Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center, which is an iconic Downtown Wheaton business.

Chuck Levin’s has been a staple in the DMV and the music industry. Opened in 1958 in Washington, D.C., and relocated to Wheaton in 1968, Chuck Levin’s has become a cultural landmark where musicians of all levels congregate to buy, browse and rent equipment. This year’s concert series will celebrate the acclaimed history of the store by showcasing a wide range of regional talent.

The story of Chuck Levin’s includes some of the biggest names in music. It supplied D.C.’s Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown, with his first Gibson guitar. Stevie Wonder has been a regular visitor. Guitar manufacturing legend Paul Reed Smith honed his skills in its repair shop. Drummer Chris Culos of the rock band O.A.R. got his start at Chuck’s after his father worked in Pro Audio for more than 30 years.

In its seventh decade, the store remains focused on the everyday player. Customers still include elementary school kids picking up their first instrument, bedroom hobbyists and professional musicians.

Chuck Levin’s has had a collaborative relationship with the Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District since the district’s inception in 2016.  Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District has become known for its cultural diversity—in people and music, traditional art forms and culinary experiences.

For updated information on the concert series, go to https://www.wheatonmd.org/.

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Release ID: 23-275
Media Contact: Elizabeth Gallauresi, 301-793-2928