Café in the Park continues its Live Music in the Park series tonight with a performance from stripped-down blues rockers Hymn For Her. Fresh off a European tour & an appearance on NPR, Hymn For Her marks the third installment for the fledgling series, which previously featured Irish trio Clover's Revenge & the jazzy duo bassist Michael Ross & saxophonist David Pate. The intimate dining shows are just part of Café in the Park owner Simone Steiff-Pollux’s vision for the future of Payne Park.

“It’s just a part of the nature of the park,” said Steiff-Pollux, whose café stands perched atop one of the central swells of the rolling green. Festivals & events come through Payne Park semi-regularly, but Steiff-Pollux wanted more music, & perhaps more importantly, “we wanted [the performance] to be more intimate.”

Depending on the weather, visiting musicians can play either under the outdoor awning or even within the open glassy confines of the café proper, creating a cozy & singular atmosphere for a night dining in the park. “And it won’t be one type of music,” said Steiff-Pollux, who slated Tres guitarist Renecito to perform on Dec. 4. “It will be all types of music.”

Though Live Music in the Park is an intimate affair, Steiff-Pollux imagines it could add to the growing momentum around Payne Park, pointing to November’s Rock For A Cause Battle of the Bands, traditionally held in Five Points Park but relocating to Payne Park this year. No one’s putting a cart before the horse, but a real annual music festival in Payne Park would be just swell, according to Steiff-Pollux.

“Payne Park is a beautiful park & should be one of the main destinations for any tourist or local in Sarasota,” said Steiff-Pollux. “And it’s been completely underutilized. We’re creating a presence.”

Hymn For Her performs at Café in the Park in Payne Park beginning tonight at 7:30pm & running until 9pm. With a limited menu for the event but now serving beer & wine on the premises, Steiff-Pollux is geared for heavy traffic but it could get crowded.