Top of the pops

It’s barely spring, but some folks already have summer on the mind. On June 4, the Lansing Symphony takes over Adado Riverfront Park in downtown Lansing for its Summer Pops Concert, an evening of free orchestral music under the setting sun. This will be the event’s second year.

“The crowd was fabulous last year,” said Rachel Santorelli, spokeswoman for the Lansing Symphony. “We hope to see it grow this summer.”

To get the community involved, event organizers are once again allowing the people — that’s you — to choose this year’s theme.

They’ve narrowed the music selections down to three categories: Music of the ‘60s, with songs like “Hey Jude,” “Respect” and “La Bamba”; Off to the Movies, featuring works by John Williams and guest vocalists singing selections from the Rodgers & Hammerstein catalogue; and Classic Rock All the Way, which would include “Dream On,” “Dust in the Wind” and “Kashmir.” (There’s nothing like a full string section going to town on a Led Zeppelin tune.)

New this year is a VIP tent, which includes reserved seating, dinner and a cash bar. Those tickets go on sale today for $30 per person.

Voting starts today at the symphony´s website, lansingsymphony.com. Click on the Lansing Summer Pops button and place your vote. Do you want to hear the “Star Wars” theme blasted out across the Grand River or a little Motown action? The choice is yours. And you can vote as much as you like until April 23, when the final decision will be made.