On summer nights, stray notes of live music mingle with the swish of cars on Main Street in Mandan.

Area musicians plug in and play at Dykshoorn Park's bandstand four nights a week. The Bismarck-Mandan Musicians Association schedules 44 concerts there each summer.

This year's series began June 8 and continues through Aug. 20. Bands perform from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.

The musicians association plans the event, but does not limit performance spots to its members.

Local clubs aren't sponsoring live music as consistently as they used to, so some musicians aren't playing as often as they'd like, said Julie Ternes, band shell chair for the musicians association.

"We just wanted to support the local musicians in the area and give them a venue to play at," Ternes said.

Over 44 nights, 37 different acts will perform.

The series plays to various musical tastes and includes marching music, big band, accordion, rock, gospel, country and Caribbean sounds.

"Each band has its loyal group that comes, so throughout the summer we see different faces," Ternes said. "We hand out summer schedules to new people almost every evening."

Some concert attendants are up for anything, she said, and return almost every night, regardless of the style of music.

Bill and Donna Leingang of Bismarck pop open two lawn chairs in the park as often as they can.

Passing trains on tracks that run the length of the park occasionally interrupt songs, but don't seem to disturb the Leingangs, who hold hands and listen intently as shadows grow long on the grass.

"It beats Lawrence Welk," Bill Leingang said. "They offer such a variety of music that it's nice."

(Reach reporter Rachel Albin at 250-8253 or rachel.albin@bismarcktribune.com.)