Picnic in the Park @ Succop Nature Park featuring Hawthorne Project

Pack a picnic and join us for our annual FREE summer concert series!

Grab your friends and family, brings some snacks or pack a picnic dinner and drinks, and plan some fun time together; dogs on leashes welcome too. Bring a blanket and chairs to spread out on the lawn as you enjoy the beauty of the grounds and some great local talent; there is limited seating under the pavilion if you prefer! There are two entrances into Succop Nature Park, use either to find parking and then make your way to the pavilion and lawn area for the concert.

For our last concert of the season, we weclome Hawthorne Project and will enjoy the sounds of Bluegrass - we can't wait to see you there!

Meet The Hawthorne Project:

Gary Cocco – vocals and bass - Started singing as early as he can remember. Joined the school choir in the eighth grade. In the 1990s he met group of Guitar players, who “jammed” every week and started singing a few songs with them in the basement. After a year or so, someone found an old bass guitar and gave it to him. He continued with them, the most patient musicians ever, and they formed the T-bone Rocker Band. Variations of the original group transformed into H-Street Blues Band, H 3 0, and now The Hawthorne Project. He also played with the Crossfire band for over ten years. Provides the vocals for blues songs, along with harmonies in several others.

Paul Dvorchak – vocals, and guitars - Been playing guitar since the early seventies, mostly in friends’ basement bands. He also played mandolin in the Bluegrass band Nine Mile Run and guitar in Fern Hollow. As a member of these bands, he has busked on Pittsburgh’s streets and different bar and private party gigs. He also organized and performed in Bluegrass Benefit concerts for the Hill District’s St. Joseph House of Hospitality for twenty years. Provides the vocals for the “americana” songs, as well as harmonizing on others.

Roy Briere – harmonica - Started out on the harmonica in junior high. He began playing in public at Blues Jams in Ithaca, NY and Pittsburgh, and then found a comfortable fit with the Hawthorne Project just before COVID set in. He also teaches a course on Physics of Musical Sound, on staff for 18 years at CMU. 

Randy Kovitz – drums/percussion - Started playing drums at the age of eight. He’s played in orchestras, concert bands, pit bands, rock, blues, funk and dance bands, done bar gigs, casuals, and played in stage film and TV productions as an actor/drummer. He led own band, Lies Like Truth from 1990 – 2005, playing and recording in L.A. and NY. Provides the vocals for harmonies in several songs.

Al Bowers – guitars, lead and rhythm - Been playing guitars for over 45 years. Been in many bands over the years, acoustic and electric, country, alternative, blues, americana, Buffet tribute…… you name it, he’s played in it! Several boutique amps, and archtops, along with player’s grade electrics. Currently in Hawthorne Project for over 15 years.