Baby boom-generation visitors fondly recall childhood trips to the original Suburban Park, a classic amusement park in Manlius that held magical appeal to kids wearing Keds. The tacky fun house, the zesty pizza, the miniature train, the rock ‘n’ roll bands and the rickety roller coaster made the trip an indispensable part of every kid’s summer. Those former thrill-seeking youngsters are now senior citizens who would like to enjoy entertainment in front of the big stage at the western end of the New York State Fair now known as Suburban Park.

But there’s precious little to inspire the lengthy trek. If this dismal lineup is the future of the stage, it will never live up to the name Suburban Park. The shows booked there have skewed almost exclusively toward much younger fans, who will identify the moniker with ear-shattering, pulsating beats of acts that feature drums as lead instruments. For seniors–really for many folks who love music and value actual singing and playing talent–there’s been little reason to spend a summer evening on the sloping lawn. As usual, that’s especially true for country music fans.