Julie Huss
One thing I love about summer is the wonderful opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of area artisans and musicians as they take to area stages to perform and offer their talents.
As the weather continues to warm up, a full slate of free summertime concerts is planned for both Derry and Londonderry park stages.
I will first focus on the Summer Concerts on the Common series in Londonderry, which began in earnest this week with a performance of the Londonderry High School Jazz Ensemble, an award-winning group that has performed at Berklee College of Music's Jazz Festival and other venues. The night also featured the Jazz Lab band and Londonderry's Middle School Jazz Ensemble.
As the summer continues, other popular faces and return acts will grace the Common stage in Londonderry. All shows are free and open to the public.
The following is a schedule of summertime concert events: All concerts begin at 7 p.m. and are held Wednesdays.
ÔÇæ June 17, Nutfield Sessions musicians take the Common stage performing acoustic numbers, popular cover tunes and original songs. The Sessions "Invitational" event, hosted by longtime friends and musicians Larry Casey and Greg Descoteaux, offers area musicians a chance to perform on stage in front of their peers for listening and performing pleasure.
ÔÇæ June 24, Blues on White comes to the stage. This three-piece band offers a night of great blues music under the summer stars.
ÔÇæ July 1 brings folk singer Liz Longley to town for acoustic and folk sounds. The award-winning songwriter is a stellar performer, featured on www.Garageband.com with her talents.
ÔÇæ July 9. No concert scheduled.
ÔÇæ July 15 brings the Jason Spooner Trio with bluegrass and folk sounds. This top-notch, award-winning guitarist songwriter has international recognition and has toured through some of the nation's most prestigious folk and bluegrass events and venues.
ÔÇæ July 22 offers the Russell Hill Band to the Common stage.
ÔÇæ July 29 brings 20-year-old Seth Glier to the Common stage with his timeless, modern sound. Glier was raised listening to Joni Mitchell and Martin Sexton and credits his autistic brother as one of his biggest inspirations for his music.
ÔÇæ Aug. 5, Nyte Shift takes the stage. The band, a new group out of Londonderry performs covers of popular songs from the 70s and 80s, including songs by Boston, Def Leppard, Rush, and Bon Jovi.
The summer concert series in Londonderry is hosted by the Londonderry Arts Council. The Londonderry High Math Club offers refreshments during the concerts. Bring your chairs, spread your blankets, and enjoy great music under the summertime skies. For information, visit online at www.londonderryculture.org.
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Julie Huss is a staff writer for the Derry News. Her column focusing on the local arts scene appears weekly. To contact her, call 421-3847 or send an e-mail to jhuss@derrynews.com.
