Live After Five returns

Downtown Hattiesburg's "Live After Five" concert series kicks off with the Zydeco group the Bluerunners this Friday.

Every Friday in October, the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association will host a free concert in Town Square Park from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Through this series, the association wants to promote interaction in downtown Hattiesburg.

"Downtown Hattiesburg offers so many unique venues for people to experience a variety of activities," said executive director Betsy Rowell. "Live After Five is a wonderful opportunity for people to wind down after a busy day at the office and it is a family friendly event to be enjoyed by all ages."

"Live After Five" was first held last April. Though marred by forced relocations of events due to rain, the shows were successful, boasting over 200 attendees at the final concert. The association hopes to hold the series again next spring, but will decide based on the success of this month's events.

The series will host a diverse variety of acts with a focus on blues and folk music. Upcoming performers are blues musician T-Bone Pruitt Oct. 10, New Orleans bluesman Washboard Chaz Oct. 17, Jewish folk band The New Orleans Klezmer Allstars Oct. 24, and blues harmonica player Lloyd "Hurricane" Munn Oct. 31.