Hilltop Plants and Records will be hosting two live bands this May, beginning with a band during Chalk the Walk weekend.

“We’ve been wanting to put the space to good use,” said Stefanie Bray, co-owner of the shop. “There’s room for events (more than 2,500 square feet total in the shop) and we already have the sound equipment. We’ve hosted a few birthday parties, a karaoke event, and couple of live shows at the store. Our most recent event was a Jazz Jam that featured local musicians at the beginning of April.”

Stefanie had mentioned the possibility of featuring some live music at the store to another business owner who recommended looking into a grant from Mount Vernon Area Arts Council.

“Michael and I both love live music and are excited to bring more performances to our community,” Stefanie said. “In fact, our (Mike & I) first date was going to a bluegrass jam in Eugene, Ore., where we lived at the time. It’s something we love to go do in our spare time and are appreciative that we live in a community with such strong support of arts.”

The first band, Golden Alexander, will perform Saturday, May 3, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. (Chalk the Walk weekend.)

Golden Alexander is a band rooted in vintage rock and roll, with vibrant influences of Americana and power pop.

Flash in a Pan, a collective of Iowa folk, bluegrass, oldtime and Americana music, will perform Friday, May 16, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The Iowa City-based quartet has released two studio albums Off the Rails (2017) and Folklore (2018) and have recently been working on a new album.

“It will be exciting to hear some of the new material they’ve been working on,” Stefanie said.

Both concerts are free and open to the public at 113 First Street North East, Suite C.