You don’t have to pay hundreds of dollars to see today’s mega-stars in concerts at large indoor or outdoor stadiums acts. Every summer many area recreation departments, clubs, organizations, parks, museums and orchestras hold concert series and most are free. Music for all tastes and ages includes jazz, rock, country, folk, pop, from the 50s to today. Bring a blanket, a picnic basket, and a folding chair, and enjoy the music and some good company at the following locations:
Forest Park in Springfield, home to Bright Nights each holiday season, will host Concerts in the Park for five Thursdays including Blood Brothers, June 1; Michelle Brooks Thompson, June 8; Alex Rohan Band, June 15; Dee Reilly, June 22; and Floyd Patterson’s Hipptown, June 29. Held at the Forest Park Amphitheater, the outdoor concerts are scheduled at 6:30 p.m. and are open to the public free of charge. Attendees can enter Forest Park through the Sumner Avenue or Route 5 entrance for free after 5:30 p.m. For complete details, visit the Park Department website at springfield-ma.gov/park/ or call 413-787-6435. Rain will move concerts to the Carriage House Tent.
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Held at School Street Park, SummerFest in Agawam begins on June 28 with Skid Marks and continues with 91 South, July 5; American Honey, July 12; Midtown Horns, July 19; Maxtone, July 26; Jimmy Mazz, Aug. 1; Kix 100.9 Country Show, Aug. 9; and Enter the Haggis, Aug. 16. All SummerFest events are free and begin at 7 p.m., and will be cancelled in the event of bad weather. The free KidsFest will begin on July 12 with magician David Garrity; drumming by Bob Bloom, July 26; and musician Johnny the K, Aug. 9. Showtimes at School Street Park are 10 a.m. and in case of bad weather shows will be cancelled. Visit www.agawam.ma.us for more information.
There will also be music at Millside Park on Ferry Street in Easthampton, where the Easthampton Parks and Recreation Department will hold free concerts in the park beginning on June 23 with Studio Two Acoustic; Nice Shirt Band, July 7; Sarah the Fiddler, Aug. 4; Jimmy Mazz, Aug. 11; and Heritage Pops, Aug. 18. Showtimes are 6:30 p.m. and bring chairs. For more information visit easthamptonma.gov.
The East Longmeadow Rotary Club will once again hold its Summer Concert Series at East Longmeadow High School’s Athletic Field. This year’s concerts kick off on June 28 with 7Roads Band followed on July 3 by Trailer Trash with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; Good Acoustics, July 12; Union Jack, July 19; The ‘60s Experience, July 26; Brass Attack of Springfield, Aug. 2; 91 South, Aug. 9; and The Eagles Experience, Aug. 16. Shows are free and begin at 7 p.m., bring your own chairs, concession will be available. Changes due to weather can be found on the East Longmeadow Rotary Summer Concert Series Facebook page and at elrotaryclub.org.
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Summer is the season to pack a picnic, grab a lawn chair, and head to the Florence Civic Center for the Florence Summer Concert Series. Free outdoor concerts are held every Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. beginning in early June and running through early September. In the event of rain, concerts are held inside the nearby Florence VFW. Food trucks will be on-site. For updated information on performances, visit florencemass.com/concert-series/
There is music from Franklin County’s finest singers and musicians at the popular Greenfield Energy Park Coop Concerts Summer Concert Series which runs on Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free. Listeners are invited to bring a chair, blanket and picnic supper. It all begins on May 25 with Rob Adams, Joe Graveline and Nina Gross, and Katie Clarke and Larry LeBlanc. It continues on June 1 with Jim Eagan, Skeele and Steph Marshall and Friends; June 8 with Jennie McAvoy and Zydeco Connection; June 15 with John Stacey and Friends, Pat and Tex LaMountain, and Orlen, Gabriel and Avery; June 22 with R & D, The Frost Heaves and HaLeS, and Boys of the Landfill; June 29 will Kathy Sylvester and Friends, Austin and Elliott, and Small Change; July 6 with Brookside Project, Russ Thomas, and Pat and Tex LaMountain; July 13 with Joe Graveline, The Klines, and Orlen, Gabriel and Avery; July 20 with Katie Clarke and Larry LeBlanc, Jim Eagan, and The Frost Heaves and HaLeS; July 27 with Skeele, Jennie McAvoy and Ellen Redman, and Brookside Project; Aug. 3 with Austin & Elliott and Small Change; and Aug. 17 with Larry LeBlanc, and Gail Hegeman and Friends. Aug. 10 and 24 are set aside as rain dates. For more information, visit coopconcerts.org.
The Greenfield Recreation Department on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in July at Greenfield Energy Park will present concerts by the Greenfield Military Band. Also, there are Easy Listening Sundays on July 12, Aug. 13 and Sept. 3 from noon to 3 p.m. For more information, call 413-772-1553 or visit greenfieldrecreation.com.
The 42nd season of Wednesday Folk Traditions at the Porter-Phelps-Huntington House Museum in Hadley kicks off on June 14 with the 11th annual Horace Clarence Boyer Memorial Gospel Concert and continues every other week with Rebelle, The Pangeans, Klezamir, Tony Vacca with World Rhythms, and Afro-Semetic Experience. Concerts are held in the museum’s sunken garden at 6:30 p.m. For prices, dates and more information, call 413-584-4699 or visit www.pphmuseum.org
The Holyoke Rotary Summer Concert Series at Heritage State Park on Dwight St. returns after a short absence with Trailer Trash on Aug. 2, followed by Off the Record on Aug. 9 and UnionJack British Invasion Band on Aug. 16. Food trucks and bar open at 5:30 p.m. with free concerts at 6:30 p.m. Check their Facebook page @HolyokeRotarySummerConcerts for updated information.
South Hadley holds its free Summer Concert Series on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at Village Commons. Presented by South Hadley Recreation Department in conjunction with The Village Commons, this year’s concerts begin on June 22 with the South Hadley Community Band, and will also feature Side Effect Band on June 29, Midlife Crisis on July 6, Whitaker Hill on July 13, Night Moves on July 20, The Dave Colucci Show on July 27, Moose & the High Tops on Aug. 3, Off the Record on Aug. 10, Peter J. Newland and RadioX on Aug. 17, Cottonwood on Aug. 24, and the Capabilities & Sound Squad of Berkshire Hills Music Academy on Aug. 31. Rain dates are the following Sunday. For more information, call 413-538-5030.
The fresh area and scenic tapestry of Stanley Park in Westfield serves as the backdrop for its Westfield Bank Sunday Night Concert Series in the Beveridge Pavilion weather permitting. This year’s concert series begins on June 4 with 91 South and also features such performers as Ray Guilmette Jr’s King Kountry, June 11; Good Acoustics, June 18; Studio Two, June 25; The Eagles Experience, July 9; Jesse Liam Band, July 16; Eddie Forman Orchestra, July 23; Valley Kats, July 30; Hard Knox Band, Aug. 6; and Bad News Jazz and Blues Orchestra, Aug. 13. Showtime is 6 p.m. and the concerts are free. Chairs and food service will be available. p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in the Beveridge Pavilion. Concerts are free to the public. If inclement weather, check Stanley Park Facebook page, stanleypark.org or call for event confirmation, 413-568-9312.
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The West Springfield Park & Recreation Department and the Rotary Club of West Springfield will hold their 60th annual Summer Concert Series at various sites and times. Check wsparkandrec.com for full details. Events include Just Go With It, June 1; General Gist, June 8; The Storytellers, June 15; Chalk Dust, June 22; a special children’s morning performance with Dialed Action Sports, June 29; and UnionJack British Invasion Band, June 29. The West Springfield Town Common will host a 4th of July Celebration beginning at 11:30 a.m. on July 4, including performances by Dane Kane & Friends and Soiree. The fun continues with another children’s morning performance featuring Tom Ricardi - Birds of Prey, July 6; Sarah the Fiddler, July 6; special children’s morning performance with acrobat Li Liu, July 13; Ethe Lee Ensemble, July 13; special morning children’s perform with Grooversity, July 20; Big E Mardi Gras Band, July 20; special morning children’s performance with Ed Popielarczyk, July 27; and Richie Mitnick & Friends, July 27. August begins with Studio Two, Aug. 3; Santucci Jazz Band, Aug. 10, Island Castaways, Aug. 17; Whiskey Traveler, Aug. 24; and James Paul Band, Aug. 31. The series ends in September with The Eagles Experience, Sept. 7 and 91 South, Sept.14.
Beer, wine, soft drinks, food and snacks will be available for purchase. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and folding chairs. If inclement weather occurs, call 413-781-3020 or visit the weather cancellation page on wsparkandrec.com.
Summer 2023 at the Majestic Theater on Elm Street in West Springfield includes: Joe Pereira and Amanda Rowe, June 16; Doo-Wop Meets Motown, June 17; Freddie Marion: Kenny Rogers Tribute, June 18; Fortunate Sons: Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute, June 22; The Majestics, June 23; Frank Manzi, Family & Friends, June 24; Dee Reilly, June 25; Brad Shepard: I’ve Heard That Song Before, July 7; Joe Canata & the Memories, July 8; UnionJack British Invasion Band, July 13; Donna Lee: Legendary Ladies of Country Music, July 14; A Man Named Cash: Johnny Cash Tribute, July 15; Joe Saimeri: Engelbert Humperdinck and Tom Jones Tribute, July 20; Amy Porchelli, July 21; The Driftwoods: Beach Boy Tribute; Juley 27; Rick Larrimore: Rod Stewart Tribute, July 28; Jimmy Mazz: Legends & Laughter, July 29; Good Acoustics: Simon & Garfunkel Tribute, Aug 3 and 4; 7 Bridges Road: Eagles Tribute, Aug. 5 and 6; Center Stage Motown Review, Aug. 10 and 11; Moondance: Van Morrison Tribute, Aug. 12; Lisa Lanno: Messages from the Other Side (non-musical event), Aug. 13; The Corvettes, Aug. 17; A-Ray of Elvis, Aug. 18 and 19; Freddy Marion & Friends, Aug. 20; and Dan Kane’s Rising Stars, Aug 25 and 26.
For times and ticket prices, visit majestictheater.com.
The music continues with free performances by the Montague Community Band in the Turners Falls Band Shell at Peskeomskut Park. Showtime is 7 p.m. on June 19 and 26, July 10, 17, 24 and 31. Free with donations accepted; attendees should bring their own chairs.
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