Scott Lightcap screwed the stem onto his portable wineglass and filled it before sitting back to enjoy the last Music on the Half Shell concert of the season Tuesday.

The eighth and final performance of the summer at Nichols Band Shell in Stewart Park — featuring blues singer Shemekia Copeland — was bittersweet, the Roseburg resident said.

“I'm sorry to see this end because that means school and rain are just around the corner,” he said.

Like others attending the free concert Tuesday, Lightcap was sad another season of concerts had come and gone. The concerts were an opportunity to socialize, soak in the sun and break out the dance moves.

Lightcap shared a blanket and prime view with his wife, Deb, and 15-year-old daughter, Katie.

“When you get to sit in the park on a nice warm day and listen to music, what's not to like?” Deb Lightcap asked.

She said the family went to about half the concerts and enjoyed every one. Scott Lightcap said Portland-based singer Storm Large's July 19th performance stood out.

“She was interesting. We had never heard of her,” he said. “It was fun the way she played with the audience.”

Sutherlin resident Mary Herrera, 54, said the season's first performance by the blues band Taj Mahal Trio was her favorite. She also singled out the big band swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. “That was awesome,” she said.

A blues fan who saw Buddy Guy at the Douglas County Fair last week, Herrera said that although she was less familiar with Copeland, she liked what she was hearing.

“She's good,” she said.

Overall, it was a great season, said Herrera, a veterinarian whose clinic in Sutherlin helps sponsor the concerts.

“I've had a wonderful time,” she said. “Best thing about Roseburg, Douglas County.

“It's a really nice way to spend the summer and end the summer.”

Teresa Rondeau, 51, said she recently moved to Sutherlin from Crescent City, Calif., but even before coming to Douglas County, she didn't miss a Half Shell concert. On Tuesday, she danced gleefully with her nieces, Hannah Vallier, 8, and Brionna Vallier, 9.

“I come every chance I get no matter what state I live in,” she said. “I love it.”

As she danced, Nellie Montaņo, 85, of Winston said she attended every Half Shell concert this summer.

“I just love the music and the atmosphere and the people,” she said. “This has been wonderful this year.”

Montaņo, who's Puerto Rican, said she especially enjoyed Puerto Rican band Plena Libre on July 12.

“I'm partial to Latin music,” she said.

Jesi Morin, 19, and Sean Cleveland, 20, both of Roseburg, held hands and bobbed their heads in time to the music.

“I like how the community gets together,” Morin said.

Portland band Pink Martini's performance July 26 was an obvious crowd-pleaser, she said.

“Pink Martini was really, really good,” Morin said. “They had really, really good stage presence and the whole crowd was really into them. You could just feel the energy around.”

Cleveland said that while growing up in Roseburg he didn't appreciate the concert series as much as he does now.

“When I was younger, I only came to fraternize,” he said. “Now, I really like music, and I really like to listen to live music.”

Wayne Dodge, 59, of Winchester said he helped organize concerts when the series was getting started 20 years ago. He said he likes how the Half Shell draws people out.

“I don't know of another place that has this type of gathering with such a large portion of the city being here at one time,” he said.

Copeland also praised the Half Shell concert series.

“How about it for the Music on the Half Shell,” she urged the crowd. “I've been all over the world and this is about the coolest thing I've seen — and all this is free.”

The crowd cheered loudly.

“I think I'm going to have to move to this city to go to the free concerts,” Copeland said.

• You can reach reporter Inka Bajandas at 541-957-4202 or by email at ibajandas@nrtoday.com.