WEEDSPORT - Music and Weedsport simply go hand in hand.

From the opera houses that used to have regular performances during the days of the Erie Canal to the summer concerts such as the K-Rock-A-Thon that have been regularly held at the county fairgrounds, there is a long standing tradition of summer music in the village.

On Tuesday night, another of those summer traditions kicked off its 2008 season under the gazebo in the center of town.

Summer Gazebo Gatherings, sponsored by the Weedsport Free Library, have been going on for many years.

“They've been going on since long before I was even working for the library,” said Diane Grant, assistant director of the Weedsport Free Library. “They are just a fun summer tradition.”

The summer concert series, which runs through August, features a wide variety of acts, from rock and roll to jazz to magicians. It is made possible by the support of numerous organizations in the community.

Grant said that library director Cheryl Austin sets up the performances and that the chamber of commerce, town of Brutus, village of Weedsport, First Niagara Bank, and Friends and Junior Friends of the Weedsport Free Library, all help sponsor and support the events.

Tuesday night's show featured local group Too Old 2 Rap, featuring Wendy Bates on vocals and keyboards, Dan Bates on bass, James Marshall on drums, Bill Austin on guitar and vocals, and Andy Bates running the sound board.

The group, which has been together and performing locally for the past three years, ran through a wide variety of genres, from pop to country. They put on a show that had something for everybody.

“Whatever we like, we listen to and figure out and perform,” Wendy said. “It is a show where we have a little bit of something for everybody.”

Too Old 2 Rap was invited to play during last year's concert series, but was the only band to be rained out, which led them to perform inside the Weedsport Free Library.

“We still had a good crowd,” Wendy said. “So we are really looking forward to playing tonight, outside. It is a beautiful night, warm and really nice. A great night to play outside.”

As the band struck up their first notes, many residents set up lawn chairs or blankets and sat on the lawn surrounding the gazebo to relax, listen and enjoy the night.

For many, the concerts and performances are a summer tradition.

Jena Hollfelder, 16, and her friend Christi Quinn, 15, have both been attending the performances since both were young.

“It is a good time,” Hollfelder said. “They play a lot of different music and it is fun to come down here and hang out with your friends and everything.”

This kind of enjoyment is just the kind of thing that organizers hope everyone is able to get out of the summer series.

“It is kind of like an old summer tradition,” Grant said. “The whole outdoors, summer with bands and ice cream right next door and everything. We get good crowds and it is nice to see people out and enjoying these.”

The series will continue at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 22, at the Weedsport Gazebo with the Lock 52 Dixieland Jazz Band.