Asbury Park will be living up to its reputation as the city where music lives with free concerts this summer downtown.

Taking their music into the street is how the brass band Ocean Avenue Stompers reached an audience when venues were shuttered during the pandemic.

“We’re connecting with the audience in a very direct way,” says trombonist Ian Gray.

Gray says that he is glad to see that there may be a lot more of that in Asbury Park this summer with the Cookman Ave. Live! series of outdoor acoustic concerts. Gray is curating the series, presented by the Asbury Park Music Foundation.

“There are so many musicians who have not had the opportunity to get out and perform, with venues closed or social distancing in place,” says Eileen Chapman of the Asbury Park Music Foundation.

The concerts are free to the public. The musicians will be compensated for their work as they face a long road back from the pandemic shutdowns.

“There’s a lot of bands being asked to play with less players for less money in clubs that are trying to get back on their feet,” Gray says.

Concerts will take place on Fridays and Sundays during the hours when Cookman Avenue is closed to vehicles. It is one of several music programs that the Asbury Park Music Foundation will put on. The nonprofit provides music education, instruments and technology to children in the areas.

The concerts begin Friday night. They will last through the Labor Day weekend.