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The fourth Berrett Lane Block Party kicks off autumn

Schuffert and Mazairz scheduled to perform

Fourth Berrett Lane Block Party

  • When: 4-8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9
  • Where: Prospector Square
  • Cost: Free
Mary Beth Maziarz will make her Berrett Lane Block Party debut on Saturday, Sept. 9.
Photo by Mark Maziarz

The Prospector Square Owners Association will say goodbye to the summer with its fourth Berrett Lane Block Party.

The event, which will run from 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, along the pedestrian walkway that runs from Kearns Boulevard to the intersection of Sidewinder Drive and Prospector Avenue, will feature food, drinks, face painting for the kids and live music by Park City-based songwriters “Classic Steve” Schuffert and Mary Beth Maziarz, said Craig Dennis, Prospector Square Owners Association executive director.

“In between we’ll have certified Zumba and fitness instructor Kathyrn Blanken lead a Zumba session, while the musicians switch out their equipment,” he said. 



Schuffert, the leader of the Steve Schuffert Band, whose career includes playing with Polydor Recording artist Left End and former Styx guitarist and singer Glen Burtnik, will perform from 4-6 p.m.

“They called me and gave me a choice, and the old man in me chose to go first,” he said with a laugh. “But I’ll hang around, because I’ll be handling the sound system.”



Schuffert will perform an acoustic set, which is something he started doing when he first moved to Park City from Nashville more than 15 years ago.

“I’ll have a looper going, so it will sound like two guitarists in one,” he said.

Schuffert’s set will include some covers and his own originals. One of those originals, “Best Wishes,” is from his upcoming album, “Utah.”

“I’m a rock, blues and electric guitar player, but this song is already an acoustic-type song that is embellished on the CD,” he said. “I have been playing it around town, and it has gotten some really strong reactions. When I play, people say, ‘Hey, who wrote that?'”

“Utah” will be released later this month on all streaming services, according to Schuffert.

“I’ll also print some CDs, because I’m the kind of person who wants something physical as a representation of all the work I put into it,” he said.

Playing acoustically is very different from the rock and Nashville world that Schuffert called home.

“I found playing acoustically is very intimate with smaller crowds,” he said. “But I get to interact with the people more.”

These acoustic performances also give Schuffert space to experiment.

“I’ve been doing this now for 10 years, and a lot of the things I do is improvisation, depending on how creative I feel on a given night,” he said. “That is a lot of fun.”

“Classic Steve” Schuffert will put his electric guitar down and play and acoustic set at the Berrett Lane Block Party on Saturday.
Photo by JC DeYoung

Schuffert also enjoys playing covers.

“That’s great, because I can play all of these Beatles songs I love, and it’s a lot of fun to play ‘Here Comes the Sun,’ which is a favorite of mine,” he said. “There is a lot of joy in what I do, because it’s a whole different presentation of myself, and I’ve been around a long time.”

Schuffert played his first gig in 1974, so he’s closing in on his 50th anniversary in the business.

“I feel like I’m holding up well,” he said. “And I’m lucky that people still want to hear me play.”

This weekend’s block party also marks the first time Maziarz will perform on Berrett Lane.

“I’ve heard about the event for a while, and I’ve heard it’s such a blast and a locals’ party,” she said. “So I’m eager to go and thrilled to be a part of it.”

When Dennis first approached Maziarz about performing, she thought he was asking her to perform at a neighborhood cul-de-sac party.

“Then, I realized it was a much bigger thing,” she said. “So I got extra excited, because it’s a wonderful community project. And I love supporting community projects.”

Maziarz plans to play some originals and covers on her portable keyboard, and also hopes her 10-year-old son, Foster, will join on a couple of songs.

“Foster has a little band called Skraps, and they are so devoted to playing music,” she said. “I don’t think the other band members are available, but Foster may come up and be a guest on his electric guitar on some of my songs.”

Maziarz, whose music can be heard on TV programs such as “Dawson’s Creek,” “Everwood” and “Broken Hearts Club,” among others, hosts a young musician’s camp during the summer. She has also beefed up her custom-song commissions over the past few years.

“If people have an anniversary, special birthday, wedding or another pivotal milestone they want to remember, they can contact me through my website (marybethmusic.com),” she said. 

After someone reaches out to Maziaarz, she sends them an in-depth questionnaire to get a feel of what she is going to write.

“If it’s for a wedding or anniversary, I may talk with several members of the family and their friends to get funny stories and inside jokes that I can work into the songs,” she said.

Writing these custom songs is challenging, but interesting, according to Maziarz.

“It is cool to learn fascinating things about people, including total strangers, and write a song that has this overarching theme that means something to them,” she said. “I record the song in a professional studio, so they will have it. And I can’t tell you how thrilling it is to see people’s responses. I’m so honored to be a part of people’s special times in their lives.”

Maziarz, who is working on a new original album, said writing songs in other people’s perceptions stretches her as an artist.

“It’s a way for me to look outside of my own life and see the lives of other people,” she said. “It makes me a better writer, I hope.”

Dennis said this block party is scheduled a few weeks earlier than last year’s event.

“We did the last fall block party in early October, and we had an issue with rain,” he said. “This year, the 10-day forecast looks wonderful.”

As they have since the first Berrett Lane Block Party, Este Pizza and Salt Box will prepare some special dishes, according to Dennis.

“It means a lot to have them partner with us,” he said. “There will be seating for people who will buy food at these places, but if people want to just come for the music, we encourage them to bring their own fold-up seating.”

In addition to the food, the party will feature a cash bar and lots of bike racks, Dennis said.

“It amazed me at how many people rode their bikes to these events,” he said with laugh.

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