The Chenango Blues Association has announced the line-up for the 2013 Free Summer Concert Series - four consecutive performances in East Park in downtown Norwich that lead up to the 21st Annual Chenango Blues Festival in August.

Each show begins at 7 p.m. in the park. In the event of rain, shows will be held at the Chenango County Council of the Arts on 27 West Main Street.

Said Eric Larsen of the Chenango Blues Association Committee, “We really feel fortunate to be able to bring some great world class musical talent to the park downtown.”

American country rock band and local favorites New Riders of the Purple Sage will take the stage July 11 to kick-off the summer series. Also referred to as a “psychedelic cowboy band,” the New Riders formed in the summer of 1969 and while the members have changed throughout the years, the band released its latest album - 17 Pine Avenue - in 2012. The New Riders are no strangers to Chenango County, having performed previously in the Summer Concert Series on more than one occasion and at the Chenango Blues Festival.

The following Thursday, July 18, Progressive American Roots band Hot Day at the Zoo (HDATZ) will provide the entertainment. The quintet mixes folk, blues, jazz, rag-time, bluegrass and Americana-infused rock-n-roll into a combination the band coins as “zoograss.” The band has performed alongside Levon Helm, moe., Railroad Earth, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and the Ryan Montbleau Band. HDATZ was recognized in 2012 with the Folk/Americana/Roots Act of the Year by the New England Music Awards. This will be the Massachusetts-based band’s first performance in Norwich.

Eric Lindell and The Sunliners will hit the park’s stage on July 25. Lindell is no stranger to the area and has grown in popularity nationwide since his first performance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2005. Lindell performed at the Chenango Blues Festival first in 2007, again in 2008 and kicked-off the Summer Concert Series back in 2011 - and has remained a favorite of both festival organizers and fans. The blue-eyed soul singer, songwriter and guitarist is pairing up with Texas blues master Anson Funderburgh for the show in the park.