From Darien Summer Nights:
Baywater Properties and Grove Street Plaza are encouraging people to come out this summer to Grove Street Plaza in downtown Darien for evenings of music.
The concerts are Friday nights and all are free of charge. The concerts are being funded by Baywater Properties and Grove Street Plaza, through the support of our retail tenants and the Darien Chamber of Commerce.
All that we are asking in return is that the people of Darien and neighboring towns think about shopping locally, and support our local businesses.
SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES
June 17: Mary Pierce (Celtic Singer/Songwriter)
- Mary Pierce, singer/songwriter, shares her original music through her debut album, Miles Away. Her soothing and clear voice, with Celtic-type qualities, has been compared to Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, Enya and the Irish band The Coors.
June 24: Mars Project (Rockin’ Blues)
- The Mars Project consists of Mike Marble Hammerin’ those drums, bassist Angel Rissoff beltin’ out the blues and guitarman John “Ratso” Gerardi Strummin’ and singing. You don’t want to miss the out of this world sound of this awesome trio of seasoned professionals.
July 1: Christina Demaio (Acoustic and Country), 6-7:30 p.m.; Sarah McGowan (Alternative and Folk), 7:30-9 p.m.
- Christina DeMaio is another rising star from Darien. She graduated from DHS in 2010 and currently studies at New England Conservatory in Boston. Christina is a talented vocalist whose focus is acoustic and country.
- Sarah McGowan, singer-songwriter is one of Darien’s local artists. Her genres include, alternative, acoustic rock, and folk. She graduated from DHS last year and is currently based in New York City.
July 8: Leslie Costa & the Usual Suspects
- Leslie Costa, singer/songwriter, fell in love with guitar after her cousin, Chris, let her try his 1969 Fender Stratocaster. She formed her own band in 1990 called Leslie Costa and the Usual Suspects. Her contemporaries include artists like: Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Melissa Etherige, Sheryl Crow, Counting Crowes and Natalie Merchant.
July 15: Doug Allen
- Doug Allen is a Connecticut-based independent singer/songwriter. For the past 10 years, Doug has performed throughout the northeast, appearing with acts such as Jeffrey Gaines, Edwin McCain, Blue Oyster Cult, The Radiators, NRBQ, GE Smith and John Entwhistle of the Who.
July 22: Tone
- Tone is one of Darien’s young local bands. They have been together since their days at Middlesex Middle School and the majority of the band graduated from Darien High School last year, 2010. Nicholas Trautmann on Bass, Kenny Weiss on guitar and vocals, Chris Stovall on drums, Alex Wildish on guitar, and Elizabeth Leimkuhler on vocals. A few of their influences include, Led Zepplin, Van Halen, Cream, ZZ Top, The Who, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King. This talented group has a passion for music, not to mention, they really know how to get a crowd going!
July 29: P.J. Pacifico
- Singer-songwriter P.J. Pacifico delivers a confident, upbeat collection of road-tested rock/pop music. He has a radio-friendly sound that evokes Gin Blossoms and Matthew Sweet, and a storyteller’s cadence that has been compared to James Taylor.
Aug. 5: Gunsmoke
- Gunsmoke is celebrating 25 years of entertaining audiences in 2011 with their brand of classic country music. The Nashville Recording Artists, have been inducted into the Connecticut Country Music Hall of Fame. Gunsmoke was also elected, Band of the Year six years in a row by, The New York Metro CMA. They have performed with musical legends such as, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, Hank Williams Jr., and Ray Price. They have performed for two sitting Presidents of the United States. This Premier Country Band always brings a refreshing entertaining show for all ages to enjoy.
Aug. 12: The Empty Chair Project
- The Empty Chair Project made their debut appearance last year with a BIG BAND sound! “A Heinously Groovifyin’ Display of Swingnification!”
Aug. 19: Willie Bruno Trio
- Willie Bruno Trio is a Jazz group from Darien who started playing together in the DHS Jazz Band. Willie Bruno is currently a Junior at Berklee School of Music, studying music performance with an emphasis on drums, Nick Trautmann just finished his first year at UCONN where he continues to pursue his passion for the bass as well as sciences and Katharine Hedlund, a wonderful pianist just finished her sophomore year at North Western University.
Aug. 26: Beyond the Blues
ABOUT DARIEN SUMMER NIGHTS
The Darien Summer Nights Concert Series was launched by Darien residents David Genovese and Penny Glassmeyer, who head up Baywater Properties and Grove Street Plaza, respectively. During the winter of 2008/2009 the two decided it was time to do something positive for residents who would be staying around town because of the unsettled economic climate, and to encourage them to shop locally and support Darien’s merchants.
David Genovese commented, “Penny and I are grateful for the broad support we have received over the last number of years in our efforts to work with the Planning & Zoning Commission and the various Town boards and volunteer organizations in improving the downtown, and we wanted to find a way to say thank you. We also wanted to remind residents of the importance of supporting our local merchants, particularly in these difficult times, and so these events are being offered free of charge…all that we ask for in return is that people do their best to support local retailers and business owners. If you have a choice, dine or shop locally, because by doing so you are helping create a more vibrant downtown for Darien, and you enable all of us to give back in this way.”
