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Dirty Water News, Feature >>
Summer Music Series brings legends to Lowell
From the work songs of the historic Bread and Roses strike to the world-famous Folk Festival, the Greater Lowell area has long been a center for great music and important musical messages.
This summer, that tradition continues with the latest version of the Lowell Summer Music Series (www.lowellsummermusic.org).
Based at Boardinghouse Park (which, as the name suggests, once served as boardinghouses for the men and women who started the Industrial Revolution in America), the Series offers a wide array of award-winning artists in a picturesque open-air venue that is itself an award winner.
“Boarding House Park construction was completed in 1990,” recalls Programming Director Peter J. Aucella, mentioning the Federal Design Award the venue won from the National Endowment for the Arts. Though the Series was originally intended to focus on musical themes borne of the many ethnic groups who call the Lowell area home, it quickly expanded to include Grammy-winning artists from the Merrimack Valley, New England and all over the world.
Among the Series’ most popular performers have been Tom Rush, Livingston Taylor, The Platters, and Boston legends J. Geils & Bluestime.
“The focus to this day is primarily on folk, blues, rock and celtic music,” Aucella explains, “with other genres added occasionally.”
Since its founding, annual attendance for the Series has more than tripled and continues to grow each year as old favorites return and new stars join the roster. This year’s Series includes energetic improv band moe. (July 22), singer/ songwriters Rickie Lee Jones (August 12) and Richard Thompson (September 2), Soul diva Mavis Staples (August 19), Southern rock legends Greg Allman and Warren Haynes (August 30 and September 9, respectively), as well as spiritual songster Matisyahu (September 3).
“Lowell is like a second home for us,” says award-winning Celtic fiddler Eileen Ivers, who has performed in Lowell six times before (including four shows in past Summer series) and who will appear this year on August 20. “The folks from Lowell and the surrounding areas who come out to the concerts in the park are a true joy to perform for. We have made a lot of friends here.”
In addition to the venue and the fans, Ivers also touts Lowell as a tourist destination. “Its not every city that has a fantastic outdoor performance space right smack in the middle of the town,” she observes. “Lowell is [also] a great walkable town with fun shops and great restaurants.”
“I enjoy doing outdoor concert series,” says John Hammond who appeared this year on July 16 as part of a double-bill with Duke Robillard, “because of the camaraderie of the artists who perform and the audience.” In fact, Hammond adds, his latest CD, “Rough & Tough” as recorded live in order to showcase his live show performance.
Though they have never played Lowell before and only play about one outdoor show a year, the members of the Fab Faux Beatles tribute band picked Lowell because they appreciate and enjoy the city’s “small town feel” and are looking forward to a fun and comfortable concert.
In addition to the feature artist performances, the Series will also host the 32nd Annual Banjo & Fiddle Contest on September 20 and the famed Lowell Folk Festival (celebrating its 25th anniversary) on the weekend of July 29-31.
There is also a series of shows for younger fans as well that are free and include organic snacks and free rides on Lowell’s historic National Park trolleys after the shows. For the theater lovers, New England Shakespeare Festival will present a free production of “Measure for Measure” on August 14.
“Performing Shakespeare outside brings the Bard back to his roots,” says Artistic Director Demitra Papadinis, noting that NESF has performed in Lowell since 2003. “It’s a wonderful space to perform, or to watch a performance.”
“There is no more wondrous place to hear live music than under the trees and sky, surrounded by textile mills at Boarding House Park on a summer’s night,” Aucella says. “That’s what draws so many people back again and again.” 07/26/11 >> go there
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