Since 1991, Performance (formerly known as Transperformance) at Look Park has garnered the attention of people from all over the Pioneer Valley looking to enjoy musical performances from over 20 bands and artists, with a new theme every year.

Themes that have been showcased throughout the years at the iconic outdoor concert include the elements, the 1990s, New York, and body parts. This year’s theme is “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.”

On Tuesday, Aug. 20, from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., Performance 34 will host over 20 acts, each performing 10-to-13-minute sets in tribute to bands with a form of transportation in their name. Performances will include Dave Hayes & The Weather Nuts as Stone Temple Pilots, The Mellow J All-Stars as The Cars, Jamie Turn Around (students from Northampton High School) as Jefferson Airplane, Alex Johnson as Van Morrison, The Suitcase Junket as Journey, and Love Crumbs as Fleetwood Mac, among others.

According to Steve Sanderson, producer for the Northampton Arts Countil, Performance was started 34 years ago by a group of concerned individuals in Northampton after a $19 million budget cut was made to the statewide arts programs. This same group also created the Northampton Arts Council, which is based on the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

“It’s kind of like Halloween for musicians. Everybody puts so much work into it. The tributes are always fantastic,” Sanderson said.

This year’s show will be benefiting the Northampton Public Schools art programs and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).

“Every slice of pizza you buy and every kombucha you buy goes to Northampton Public Schools PTO. That money is for the arts enrichment programs. We get anywhere from 1,200 to 2,000 people every year,” Sanderson said. “It’s also around the time when school is going back so it’s a great place for all the parents and students who are going back to school to congregate and get together again.”

The Northampton Arts Council recruits artists for Performance by word of mouth, asking their email list of over 1,000 people for recommendations, and also issuing calls for artists.

Sanderson is always looking for new and fresh talent, and makes sure he goes to as many live shows as possible.

“Is it everybody’s cup of tea? No, but we’re trying to serve as many cups of tea as possible,” Sanderson said about the concert series. “Sometimes we’re not looking at a straight-up tribute. We’re looking at kind of a transformation of the music into the style of the artist. Those tend to be my favorite.”

Tickets are available at http://www.freshtix.com/events/performance, by calling 678-701-6114, and can be purchased in-person at State Street Fruit Store in Northampton and Cooper’s Corner in Florence (in-person tickets incur no fees). Ticket are $11 for adults, $9 for seniors, students and vets, and free for children 8 and under.

Tickets will also be available at the Pines Theater box office on the day of the show starting at 3:30 p.m. Day-of-show tickets are $2 more expensive.

Food will be available from Bueno y Sano, Herrell’s Ice Cream, Joe’s Cafe, Starr Pizza, Big Y and Domino’s. A2Z Science and Learning Store will set up a KidsZone inside Pines Theater with various children’s activities. Pets, coolers and outside beverages on not permitted. Look Park charges a $10 special events entry fee for all vehicles without a season pass.

UMass Amherst journalism student Paige Hanson is Arts & Features intern for the Gazette and Recorder.