Music in Malone Park set to begin May 30

SIKESTON -- Historic Downtown Sikeston's merchants are banking on some good music for the community.

Music in Malone Park, which begins on the Friday of the last weekend of May and continues on each Friday in June, has grown to become one of the areas best opportunities for free entertainment.

But unlike other events sponsored by Historic Downtown Sikeston, such as festivals and car shows where there is some revenue coming in from the event to help them break even or make a little bit, "Music in the Park was a cash drain on the organization because of the necessity of us paying the bands," said Lynn Lancaster, executive director of Historic Downtown Sikeston.

This year, however, five local banks have pitched in to help provide the music for this free event.

"That's something new," Lancaster said. "It has really been a help."

This year's Music at Malone Park kicks off at 6 p.m. May 30 with a Montgomery Bank-sponsored set by Old School Hype of Cape Girardeau.

"This is the first time we've done one of these," said Caleb Amelunke, lead guitarist for the band. "It looks like it is going to be a pretty good gig, so we are excited. We have played a few things in Sikeston before like the Jaycees Crawfish Boil."

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