GreatNews.Life Student Voices: A summer soundtrack in the heart of Hammond

What’s recently happened?

This June, the Wolf Lake Memorial Park Pavilion (PAV) was filled with music and milestones as it hosted a range of community events.

On June 14, the city hosted its first concert in the Summer Concert Series of the year. The Summer Concert Series features a collection of local artists and musicians who perform at the Wolf Lake Pavilion during the summer months, typically starting at 7 p.m. One group called Second Hand News, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, played at the PAV, offering many iconic Fleetwood Mac songs free of charge.

“The concert was entertaining and quite interesting,” said Arlo Vance, an upcoming junior at Hammond Central High School (HCHS). “The band was very talented, and I hope to come back again.”

Later in the month, the PAV welcomed two more tribute bands: Swift Nation, a Taylor Swift tribute, on June 21, and Hyryder, a Grateful Dead tribute, on June 28. Each performance saw many families and citizens from across the area enjoy the talented musicians who performed.

The PAV will host more free concerts throughout the summer. Check out the full schedule at wolflakepavilion.com.

In addition to music, the PAV also hosted a significant milestone: the graduation ceremony for the HCHS Class of 2025. On June 10, hundreds of students walked the stage with friends and family cheering them on. As students walked the stage, many had strong emotions running through them.

“Graduation for me was such an ethereal moment. It didn’t feel real. I’m not saying I’m dumb, but it felt like I needed more years of high school. Maybe that’s just saying it all happened so fast,” said Brian Ruiz, a HCHS graduate. “For the future, I’m looking forward to working with kids by continuing my education in early childhood. Whenever I work with kids, it always feels like I’m helping a flower grow and bloom to reach its full potential.”

While graduation closes a page in the lives of graduates, it opens a whole new, longer page that allows them to truly find their footing in both their career and in life.

What’s coming up?

As July begins, Hammond residents can look forward to multiple exciting summer events.

Festival of the Lakes will take place from July 16-20 at Wolf Lake. This free event features a carnival, boat rides, food vendors, and live performances from famous musicians every night. Genres range from country to rock to regional Mexican music, offering something for everyone.

Opening the festival on July 16 is John Fogerty, frontman of the ’70s rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. The band is most famous for their songs such as “Have You Ever Seen The Rain,” “Fortunate Son,” and “Bad Moon Rising,” all of which were top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Fogerty is also known for the hit song “Centerfield,” which was released in 1985.

Brantley Gilbert takes the stage on July 17, blending the energy of both southern rock and country lyricism. With hits like “Bottoms Up” and “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” Gilbert’s gritty voice and heartfelt lyrics are perfect for any country fan.

On July 18, attendees can catch Akon, the R&B and hip-hop artist who dominated the 2000s with hits like “Smack That,” “Lonely,” and “Don’t Matter.” With over a billion streams and collaborations with music legends such as Eminem and Snoop Dogg, Akon’s set is sure to bring energy and a nostalgic vibe to the venue.

Rock icons Third Eye Blind headline on July 19, known for their ‘90s alternative songs “Semi-Charmed Life” and “How’s It Going to Be.” This day is perfect for any alternative rock fans looking to discover timeless classics live at the lake.

Closing the festival on July 20 is the renowned La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho, a staple in regional Mexican music. With decades of hits like “Ya Es Muy Tarde” and “Entre Beso y Beso,” they’re sure to bring a fun, high-energy performance that will light up the crowd and give an excellent close to the festival.

For full event times and other details, visit festivalofthelakes.com.

Another anticipated event, Venetian Night, will take place at the Hammond Marina on July 12. This annual event features a dock decorating contest, food vendors, kids’ games, and a concert by the cover band Hello Weekend. This year, boat owners will go out of this world and decorate their boats and docks with creative, interstellar-themed designs. For more details and event times, visit hammondmarina.com.

Community member spotlight:

In downtown Hammond, a series of unusual events combined with a man’s undying creativity and perseverance transformed a fading business into a community landmark.

David Mueller, former owner of a hardware and automotive paint store, launched Paul Henry’s Art Gallery, an art gallery and live music space that has become a hub for artistic expression and community connection.

“We were in the business for a long time,” Mueller said. “Before I opened the gallery around 130 years ago we had a hardware store and an automotive paint store that ran for 62 years, but with the demise of downtown Hammond, the hardware store went off the rails. It was essentially just a museum open for business for a long time due to the downfall of downtown Hammond.”

The story of how it became a gallery is compelling and slightly bizarre. It involves a customer with a painting and a pistol. 

“I told him ‘I’m not an art gallery. I’ve got stuff all the way to the ceiling here. There’s products, promotional posters, and everything. There’s no wall space. I can’t hang it up.’” Mueller said.

The customer insisted for Mueller to hang it up, so much so that he pulled a pistol out of his pocket to point at him. It was shocking, but Mueller was persuaded that it would be a good idea to do so.

After this incident, Mueller had the idea to make the space a gallery. He and his wife Rita visited various art openings, shows, and exhibits from Michigan City to Chesterton to downtown Chicago. 

After consulting an art advisor from Houston, the professional told him that under no circumstances should Mueller get into this business. Defying professional advice, however, he opened the gallery in 2008. When the initial gallery excitement faded, things seemed grim.

“At about the eight-month mark, things began to really slow down,” he said. “We weren’t able to meet expenses, and it looked like we had to give it up.”

The solution came through live music and open mic nights, transforming the space from a quiet gallery to a vibrant community center. Mueller credits this to Lee Watson, Dave Dolak, and Mike Kaysen, all of whom recommended that the gallery have live music. The idea was a huge success, and events quickly gained popularity, growing from once a month to every Thursday.

“My advice for entrepreneurs interested in getting involved in the community is don’t go into business just because you want to be part of the community. First, have a good business idea and get grounded in it. Then reach out to the community,” Mueller said.

Reflecting on Hammond’s changing landscape, Mueller has seen changes, and hopes the ideas of the community continue to work.

“We may not know exactly what the community needs,” Mueller said. “However, we offer a range of activities and ideas. You have to take care of what the business needs first, then expand into the community.”

Paul Henry’s Art Gallery is located at 416 Sibley St. in Hammond, Indiana. They have acoustic open mics every Thursday at 7 p.m. Other events and gallery opening receptions are on its Facebook page. Everyone of all ages is welcome.