Lifestyle

Open-air acoustics; Summertime, and the music is easy thanks to medley of outdoor concerts

Season's sound track includes medley of outdoor concerts


Published: July 2, 2009

Summer is made for relaxing. And what could be easier than a concert performed in the fresh air. Grab a blanket or lawn chair, head to a local park or the beach and listen to some great music.

If that's your idea of fun (and the rain ever stops), then you've got plenty of opportunities around Greater Newburyport to hear some music while enjoying the outdoors this season. Jazz, blues, rock, country and everything in between are on play lists from Newburyport to Salisbury, Amesbury, West Newbury and Georgetown.

So, pack yourself some sandwiches or snacks and cold drinks, scope out a good spot and then just sit back and tap your toes along to the sound track of summer.

— Sonya Vartabedian, features editor

MAUDSLAY ARTS CENTER

Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons through Aug. 29

Maudslay State Park

Curzon Mill Road, Newburyport

They call it a mini-Tanglewood. And Maudslay Arts Center in Newburyport is thrilled with the reference to the noted outdoor concert site within the Berkshires.

For 17 summers, Maudslay Arts Center's volunteers have been working hard to create a summer musical venue at the outdoor amphitheater nestled into one corner of Maudslay State Park on Curzon Mill Road.

Founders chose this particular section of the park for the arts center's venue because the setting includes a natural amphitheater with noted acoustics for outdoor concerts, and a number of restored outbuildings (including a chicken coop, piggery and cow barn) that house a variety of indoor activities.

Founded in 1983, the nonprofit arts center was freshened up last year, with a new dance area created next to the stage, updated exterior lighting, new window boxes and plantings in the performance areas, re-graded pathways and handicapped parking facilities.

The 2009 series gets underway this weekend, with concerts planned on most Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons through the summer. Concert-goers are invited to bring along a picnic (from simple sandwiches to gourmet meals complete with linen tablecloths and flowers) and take a seat at one of the patio tables or pick a spot on the lawn to spread out a blanket or set up lawn chairs. Desserts and drinks will be for sale.

Barrence Whitfield & the Savages enjoy the leadoff spot this Saturday night with their signature rhythm and blues. Whitfield, aka Barry White, started singing in a gospel church as a young child. When he came to Boston, he was discovered by Peter Greenberg, the founder of the original Savages, and got a taste of the rock 'n' roll life.

Soon, he was traveling all over Europe and making his own records. Whitfield has performed over the years with Bo Diddley, Tina Turner, George Thorogood, Robert Cray, The Rev. Solomon Burke, Los Lobos, Taj Mahal and Richard Thompson.

Saturday concerts, 7 p.m.

July 4: Barrence Whitfield & the Savages, rhythm and blues

July 11: Don Campbell Band, grand prize winner at Grand Ole Opry's Country Showdown

July 18: Aardvark Jazz Orchestra

July 25: Paul Broadnax Quintet, jazz standards

Aug. 8: Shirim Klezmer Orchestra, klezmer jazz band

Aug. 15: New Black Eagle Jazz Band, traditional New Orleans jazz

Aug. 22: Grace Kelly, jazz saxophonist and singer/songwriter

Aug. 29: Jazz vocalist Rebecca Parris

Sunday concerts, 2 p.m.

July 12: Made in the Shade, New Orleans jazz, swing, ethnic folk and original music

July 19: Dave Rowe Trio, folk

Aug. 9: Gerry Barrett Big Swing Band, 16-piece dance band specializing in swing, jazz and standards

Aug. 16: The Mystix, Boston roots band

Aug. 23: John Penny Band, traditional country-western band

Information: Tickets for Saturday concerts are $20 for patio seats and $18 for lawn seats. General admission tickets to Sunday concerts are $10, $8 for seniors. Children 12 and under are always free to the lawn. Gates open one hour before show time. In inclement weather, the concerts take place in the converted barn. Visit www.maudslayartscenter.org or call 978-499-0050.

Surfside Live! Concert Series

Saturdays through Sept. 5, 7 to 10 p.m.

Beachfront Stage

Top of Broadway, Salisbury Beach

Salisbury has assembled the perfect summer night: music, fireworks and the beach. Every Saturday night, the town is hosting a concert on its new beachfront stage at the top of Broadway followed by fireworks set off from a barge, with the colorful display exploding over the ocean. And it's all free. Bring along chairs and blankets and enjoy the night.

The series is organized by the Salisbury Beach Partnership and Salisbury Chamber of Commerce and presented in partnership with Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, N.H.

A bonus concert takes place tomorrow night as part of the Sand Sculpting Spectacular. Fat City Band will perform from 7 to 10 p.m.

July 4: Bruce Marshall Group

July 11: Haverhill pop vocalist Chad Perrone

July 18: Amesbury quartet The Brew

July 25: Bellevue Cadillac

Aug. 1: The Fools

Aug. 8: The Alternate Routes, indie rock-pop band

Aug. 15: Ernie & The Automatics, Boston rockers

Aug. 22: deSol, rock, pop and Latin-influenced band

Aug. 29: Farrenheit Reunion Show, led by lead singer Charlie Farren

Sept. 5: Adam Ezra Group

Information: www.beachfests.org, 978-462-SBPI (7274).

Riverfront Music Festival

Saturday, July 11, 2 to 7 p.m.

Market Landing Park

Newburyport waterfront

The eighth annual Newburyport Waterfront Music Festival takes over Newburyport for a free afternoon of music on Saturday, July 11, from 2 to 7 p.m.

Fastball, whose hits include "The Way," headlines the bill with Eric Hutchinson, Sam Roberts Band and Kate Herzig filling out the lineup.

Arrive early to get a good seat. People start spreading out their blankets and setting up their lawn chairs hours before the first note plays.

The annual concert is presented by WXRV-92.5 The River radio and the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The Bud Light Beer Garden will be open, and food vendors will be offering up fare throughout the day.

Information: www.wxrv.com, www.newburyportchamber.org.

West Newbury Community Bandstand Series

Thursdays, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Gazebo behind 1910 Building

381 Main St., West Newbury

Classic folk music mixed in with some country and jazz highlights the West Newbury Summer Community Bandstand Series. The free weekly concerts take place every Thursday night through Aug. 27 at the gazebo behind the 1910 Town Office Building on Main Street.

Bring a chair or blanket (and some bug spray) and settle in for 90 minutes of music. Food and beverages are available. In the event of rain, the concerts are held in the nearby annex.

Tonight, Arlington native Jesse Dee highlights his forthcoming debut solo disc, "Bittersweet Batch," featuring his original collection of bittersweet and upbeat tunes. Dee's music is influenced by the classic soul greats like Otis Redding, Etta James and Al Green as well as the new wave of rootsy artists.

As is tradition, the 35-member Merrimack Valley Concert Band caps off the series Aug. 27 with Broadway numbers, patriotic music, marches, dance tunes and more. Also on the schedule this season:

July 2: Singer-songwriter and recording artist Jesse Dee

July 9: Thomas Machine Works Band, six-piece rock/country

July 16: Folk singer-songwriter Bill Staines

July 23: Singer/songwriter Bill Morrissey

July 30: Nick Goumas Quartet, jazz

Aug. 6: Guitar X3 featuring Mark Marquis, acoustic guitar trio

Aug. 13: Singer/songwriter Don White

Aug. 20: Angela West and Showdown, country

Aug. 27: Merrimack Valley Concert Band, American variety

Information: www.town.west-newbury.ma.us.

Georgetown Summer Concert Series

Sundays through Aug. 2, 5 to 7 p.m.

American Legion Park

Off Prospect Street, Georgetown

Bluegrass, brass and soul top the schedule of free concerts that begin Sunday at the Kiwanis Ice House Pavilion at American Legion Park in Georgetown. While funding has reduced the number of concerts from the typical eight to five this year, organizers are hoping to secure some additional funding to add a sixth show to the schedule.

Local nonprofits will trade off manning the food booths to raise funds and awareness about their organizations. The rain location is the Penn Brook Elementary School on Elm Street in Georgetown. The series is presented by the Georgetown Cultural Council and Georgetown Kiwanis Club, with support from local businesses.

July 5: Quintessential Brass

July 12: Hot Day at the Zoo, rockin' blues

July 19: Michael and Marisa, rock originals and covers by the Topsfield tweens

July 26: Alley's Blues, blues, ballads and contemporary music

Aug. 2: Jesse Dee, soul, roots, rhythm and blues

Information: www.gtownculture.org.

Moseley Woods Concerts in the Park

Occasional Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Moseley Woods

Intersection Spofford and Merrimac streets, Newburyport

Enjoy some popular music amidst the smell of the woods and views of the Merrimack River during three Wednesday night concerts planned this summer at the Newburyport park.

Admission is free, but the Friends of Moseley Woods will collect donations to support the ongoing maintenance of the park. The series, which kicks off next week, is sponsored by the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank.

July 8: Overboard Vocals, all-male a cappella group based in Boston whose repertoire consists of covers of contemporary pop/rock artists, including Fall Out Boy, Justin Timberlake and Rascal Flatts, plus some a cappella standards.

July 22: Kirsten & Dave, acoustic music of all types accompanied by various instruments.

Aug. 12: Newburyport singer/songwriter and guitarist Chris Richard in a joint fundraiser for Let's March Against Cancer in memory of Richard's wife.

Information: www.moseleywoods.com/concerts.html.

Music in the Millyard

Occasional Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m.

Upper Millyard Amphitheater

Downtown Amesbury

This third annual free concert series is aimed at bringing people to downtown Amesbury for a night. Admission is free, but the public is asked to donate food pantry items for Our Neighbors' Table in Amesbury, especially cereal, baby food and juice boxes. The series is sponsored by the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank and The Flatbread Co.

July 9: All Together Now, Beatles tribute band

July 16: Amesbury's Bill Plante with Liz Frame and The Kickers

July 23: Soul Robot, Newburyport-based youth rock, funk and alternative quartet

Information: Inclement weather may force a rescheduling. Call 978-388-3178 or visit www.amesburychamber.com.

Waterfront Concert Series

Friday, Aug. 14, time TBD

Market Landing Park

Newburyport waterfront

As of this week, the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce has been able to secure funding for just one Friday night concert. So organizers decided to make it a great one, inviting Don't Call Me Shirley, which played at the Spring Fest in May, back to perform a free Friday night concert Aug. 14.

The band, which plays contemporary, classic and popular hits from the 1960s to today, was a hit with the Spring Fest crowd, said Pam Marrese, special events and tourism coordinator. The concert is being sponsored by Lombardi Oil. Marrese said if additional sponsors come forward, more free Friday night concerts may be scheduled on the waterfront.

Information: www.newburyportchamber.org.

Yankee Homecoming Waterfront Concerts

Nightly, July 26 through Aug. 1

Market Landing Park

Newburyport waterfront

The free waterfront concerts have been a mainstay of Yankee Homecoming, Newburyport's annual summer celebration. And this year will be no different. Several favorites are returning to the stage at Market Landing Park starting the opening Sunday of the festival, July 26, through Saturday, Aug. 1, with the traditional fireworks show capping off the final concert.

July 26: Byfield fiddler EJ Ouellette and Crazy Maggie

July 27: Country Mile Band

July 28: Compaq Big Band

July 29: Beatlejuice

July 30: Entrain

July 31: James Montgomery Band

Aug. 1: U.S. Air Force Band of Liberty

Information: www.yankeehomecoming.com.