The air was thick with music in Downtown Aubrey on May 16.
The performers from Dreams Academy, the Ian Tonroy Band then headliner Ryder Grimes helped the city kick off its Summer Music Series with a hot start.
'I always love doing events like this,' Grimes said. 'I love small towns because I come from one. It's really cool to get to see … that small towns are really starting to do stuff like this more and more, and it's just an honor to be a part of it.'
That small town he's from is Poetry, fitting for a singer and songwriter.
His connections with Aubrey's Events and Programs Coordinator Rodney Cagle made it so being part of the Summer Music Series wasn't a question.
'Rodney's my dude, first of all,' Grimes said. '… We've ended up in so many of the same places with Rodney as production contact at different events. It was honestly super easy. They got in touch with my agent, and I said, 'Rodney's booking it. Rodney's working it. Yes, I'm doing it.'' He and Ian Tonroy of the opening band bonded over the train track behind the stage before Grimes went on, talking about how playing with a train rolling by is good luck.
Tonroy, whose band filled in with less than 24-hour notice for a performer who lost his voice, was grateful for the chance to play for the crowd in Aubrey.
'I'm so happy to be here; great town, good people,' he said. 'Any time we're able to come play, it makes me happy. And we're buddies with Ryder, and he's a great guy, too.'
His hometown of Tomball in the Houston area was small while he grew up, but it has since grown along with the rest of the Houston metro area.
'I'm thankful to Aubrey for doing this,' Tonroy said.
Cagle loves to see the growth from Aubrey's first downtown show by Keep Aubrey Beautiful through to this year's Summer Music Series, and he plans to keep that momentum growing.
'The first time we did a show out here with Doug Bruce, it was on a trailer and it was a success,' he said. 'So they thought, 'Hey, build a stage. If you build it, they will come.' Well, my goal is to get more to come.'
The evening included more than just music.
Vendors, food trucks and family-friendly activities lined the edges of the wideopen park.
'It's a community event; bring the kids,' Cagle said. 'We do not want you hiring a babysitter for this.'
Downtown merchant as well as event vendor Marisa Stover said she loves having events downtown that increase the exposure of what Aubrey has to offer.
'I love to see the community come together and just enjoy good, free entertainment,' she said.
Jesse and Tonie Auer, Aubrey residents who live nearby, came out to enjoy the evening.
'We always have a great band and a lot of fun,' he said. 'It's really nice seeing the amount of vendors we have out this year and not that my kids are small any more, but if [they were, I'd] let them burn off some energy here.'
Families came from surrounding communities as
well.
Michelle Arnett from Oak Point said it's 'a fun way to start the summer.'
The Aubrey 380 Area Chamber of Commerce also offered a way for attendees to enjoy beer or wine throughout the evening.
'It makes me feel happy to see everybody come together and the Chamber and the MDD and the city to work together like it should, and then just to see a crowd,' Executive Director Jana Temple said. 'For this to be our first music series of 2025 and the crowd is growing, that's always good.'
Member Jeff Croswell echoed what Temple said.
As the music played, groups of all ages danced on the lawn of the park, from children to couples moved to two-step in the grass.
Grimes beamed near the end of his set when a train rolled by, singing 'Kentucky Bluebird.'
'I had this dream and you should have seen us holding each other and drifting away,' he sang, belting out the away over the sound of the train on the track.
The next Music in the Park event is scheduled for 5 p.m. June 20, featuring Max and Heather Stalling with special guest Tim Lightyear.
