The concerts will be at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to the Wheaton Business Triangle and near the Wheaton Metro Station. The events will feature live artist demonstrations and beverages from Twin Valley Distillers.
Ricky Wise is a Baltimore-based musician playing full time with several of the area’s best bands and musicians. Growing up on the music of the '40s and '50s from his grandparents, classic rock from the '60s through the '80s from his dad, and dance, Motown and disco hits from the '60s through today from his mom, he had a wide range of musical knowledge to pull from when he became a full-time musician. Ricky still enjoys digging through the archives and learning tunes of the past, as well as working on original music in his spare time.
Each 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
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/.
