New Bedford remains a musical mosaic as live summer concerts proliferate in a variety of genres – free outdoor events that will include reggae, jazz, and classical, featuring top-notch performers on beaches, parks and streets throughout the city.
If your idea of enjoying a summer Sunday is relaxing on a beach, enjoying food and grooving to righteous musical vibes, the Reggae/Music On West Beach events will probably be to your liking.
Described as “fun and family-friendly,” these free events at 239 West Rodney French Blvd. are being held throughout the summer. The series kicked off on Sunday, July 11th and the second installment is this Sunday, July 25th with a live band and two reggae DJ’s. Food trucks will be available and picnicking and dancing are encouraged. All events are held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“For many parents, they can’t often go to see bands with their kids, so this is a nice opportunity to pack a picnic and enjoy the music,” says Brooke Baptiste, founder and organizer of the events. “People are hungry for events like these, I’ve seen a lot of friendships being made. People like the diversity of ages and races, and I love that everyone is happy and having a good time.”
This Sunday’s event will feature the band Danny Tucker & The Vibe Tribe playing a brand of “authentic roots reggae.” Tucker is a Jamaica native based in Boston. Following the performance the rest of the day’s entertainment will be provided by DJ Silent Assassin and DJ Baby Matt.
“What I like about having DJs is that they spin a variety of reggae styles,” Baptiste says.
Parking is free to all New Bedford residents and non-residents with seasonal stickers. Free parking will be available at Hazelwood Park on 553 Brock Ave., and across from Kilburn Mill at the DTA Lot on 160 West Rodney French Blvd. Limited parking will be available in residential areas.
In its fourth season, Baptiste has seen the events evolve and expand. With a background in marketing and experience in the arts community, the South Coast native started the series in 2016 with some deejays playing reggae with the intention of providing a good time for her reggae-loving friends. The event was a surprising success, drawing hundreds of people.
“In the first year 70 percent of the people who turned out I didn’t even know.” Baptiste recalls. “I started it to use the beauty of the area to create a new attraction and bring new acts to the area. It’s turned out to be a great event for families with kids.”
Estimates are that the series drew upwards of a thousand people for the first event of this summer.
A seasonal beach parking sticker is necessary to park on West Rodney French Blvd. Check the New Bedford Parks, Recreation and Beaches website for pricing and where to purchase.
This year will be the first time that the series incorporates both reggae and non-reggae sounds with the aim of appealing to a wider demographic. The first Sunday in this summer’s series included the Latin jazz of Jesus Andujar & Groupo Sazon. What made the event particularly special were the free dance lessons provided before the concert, teaching people how to dance appropriately for the style of the music, such as salsa and marengue.
There will be two more events on West Beach in August. August 15th will feature the band The Cool & Deadly from New York City, with their blend of punk, dub and surf rock, along with a performance from the Cape Verdean-flavored Hip-Hop of Chachi Carvalho & The International Players. August 29th will include the band Natural Element playing reggae with hip-hop, jazz, funk, and Afro-beat influences, to be followed by the band of Mighty Mystic, a Boston-based Jamaican native.
Downtown delights
Depending how spicy you like your jazz, the city offers a trio of live outdoor shows. On Thursday, the jazz/funk of the Monteirobots will take to the Custom House Square in downtown as another installment of the Summer Sound Series. The music will begin at 4 p.m. and guests are invited to bring their own chairs. A Beer Garden will be available and the music will continue until 7 p.m. On the following Thursday the Custom House Square will host nationally-acclaimed blues guitarist Mark T. Small, also free from 4 to 7 p.m.
Friday night the South Coast Brass Band will take to the stage at the Airport Grille at the New Bedford Municipal Airport for a performance that will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The band’s itinerary features the joyful, soulful, and energetic sounds of New Orleans jazz and funk. The band will take to Cisco Brewers Kitchen & Bar in the south end of New Bedford on Saturday, July 31’st for a show beginning at 5 p.m. and continuing until 8.
The Big Band swing of the South Coast Jazz Orchestra will invigorate Wings Court in downtown New Bedford on Saturday, July 24th. The music will begin at 2 p.m. with a set from the New Bedford High Jazz Band playing jazz standards. The performance by the High School Band will include an original composition written by 16-year old sax player Jayden Santos. A 17-piece band comprised of many of the area’s most outstanding musicians, the South Coast Jazz Orchestra will do multiple sets.
Symphonic sounds
The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra will bring classical music performances to a variety of local settings in the coming days.
The Sonata Saturdays concert series will make its monthly appearance on 36 No. Water Street, on the “Front Porch” of The Drawing Room. Described as “a little touch of Europe in New Bedford,” the event will include performances by the violin duo of Raluca Dumitrache and Antoaneta Anguelova, from 4 to 6 p.m. Seating is provided but limited, guests are advised to bring their own chairs to guarantee a space to enjoy the music. The event will also feature wine tastings, and locally-grown flowers in a boutique bar. The art gallery at The Drawing Room will also be available for browsing. The next door establishment Tia Maria’s offers outdoor dining opportunities for guests. The event invites audiences to “experience something beautiful this Summer in the Seaport.”
That same Saturday the Southeastern Mass Youth Orchestra will perform a free show at Brooklawn Park from 10 to 11 a.m. As part of the “Music In the Parks” series, the event will offer a stringed instrument “try-out” area, along with percussion instruments and a Plumbing Band.
Beginning next week the NBSO will present the “Music In the Streets” concert series. Beginning on Monday, July 26thviolinist Emmy Holmes-Hicks and viola player Anna Griffiswill perform from 11 a.m. to noon at Ashley Park. The following day the duo will perform from 11 a.m. to noon at Riverside Park. On Wednesday, July 28th Buttonwood Park will be the site of a performance from noon to 1 p.m. by Bonnie Harlow on cello, Tim Macri on flute, and Jenny Mimoli on violin.
Sonic SouthCoast 