It was with great anticipation that organizers of the Levitt AMP Utica Music Series announced on Monday the lineup of artists who will perform as part of this year’s series.

And deservedly so, because the shows do more than entertain hundreds of local folks each week — they bring the community together in ways that only the arts can.

We applaud organizers for not just putting together a truly world-class array of performers in a host of various genres but also for appealing to and highlighting the wonderful diversity of the community.

The 2023 season of the Levitt AMP Utica Music Series will feature headlining artists from Ireland, Wisconsin, Iowa, Toronto, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York.

The concerts — held at Kopernik Park in the heart of Utica’s downtown at 317 Genesee St., at the corner of Eagle Street and Park Avenue — also feature opening local and regional acts as well as many young performers, giving many their first “break” in the industry.

This year’s lineup of high-caliber talent spans a host of genres, from gospel to pop, bluegrass to rock, as well as instrumentals, blues, Irish rock, and soul.

The public is invited to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs to the free concerts. The series will also offer art activities for young concertgoers and food trucks and vendors will be on-site.

The series, according to organizers, “welcomes the most diverse audience in the city, in a family-friendly, non-alcoholic, joyful, welcoming environment,” adding that the shows are a space where social bonding can happen from week to week and the community can share a common experience with free live music as the vehicle.

The concerts help increase communal well-being and connectedness and add a quality of life enhancement that complements the many economic development projects that are happening in Utica, organizers add.

We couldn’t agree more.

The community has embraced inclusive revitalization in a way that few other areas can match, with a keen sense of both cultural richness and community empowerment.

While there is no question that more can and should be done to help the city and the region fulfill their incredible potential, the music series is a welcome reminder of how far we’ve come and what we currently have to offer and enjoy.