Waterbury Rotary's Concerts in the Park return

June 17, 2021 | By Waterbury Roundabout 

Vermont’s lifting of COVID-19 restrictions comes just in time for this week’s return of Waterbury Rotary’s Thursday night summer Concerts in the Park series at Rusty Parker Memorial Park. 

Starting tonight through August 26, a different musical act will take to the stage at the park each week from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for the free shows. The local band, The DEW, kicks off the series performing rock ’n’ roll music and some of their original songs.

The community is encouraged to attend with lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic supper. The concerts overlap with the Waterbury Farmers Market which runs 4-7 p.m. with vendors offering prepared foods and drinks as well.  

The concert series is in its 39th season and organizers say they believe it to be the longest consecutive-running free public cultural arts series of its type in Vermont. 

Below is a rundown of this summer’s concert dates and performers with details from Rotary and culled from band sources. 

June 17: The DEW 

Creating their band name from their given names, The DEW is made up of three local high school boys: Dylan on bass, Emmett on drums, and Wesley on guitar. They like to play rock and roll covers, and also have some original songs. The DEW started out as a school project and has stuck together to play community concerts and events.

June 24: Kava Express

Kava Express is a central-Vermont-based seven-piece band, playing “mildly euphoric and potentially addictive rock and soul classics,” as they put it. They played their last show Feb. 15 2020 in Calais and will be returning to the stage in Waterbury. Ranging from covers of Aretha Franklin tunes to the Beatles, Prince, and the Grateful Dead, their music has a wide range. Their sound is diverse, energetic and highly danceable with layered instrumentation and four vocalists. Kava Express band members are Jeff Guerin on keyboards and vocals; Ryan Case on bass; Rory Loughran on drums and vocals; Terry Youk on saxophones; guitarist Pat Lambdin; vocalist Jill Sudhoff-Guerin; and Chris Steller on congas/percussion and vocals.

July 1: The Stone Cold Roosters

The Stone Cold Roosters are from Central Vermont and write their own music. Matching lively violin and keys solos with simple, catchy lyrics, the Stone Cold Roosters flirt with the borders of jazz and country, blues, Western Swing, honky-tonk, straight-up country music and more. Producer and musician Colin Mccaffrey leads the band. He is joined by Ted Mortimer (guitar), Roy Cutler (drums and guitar), Thal Aylward (fiddle), Jim Pitman (brass), and Casey Dennis (bass).

July 8: Jane Evans Band

Jane Evans is a Vermont singer-songwriter who has spent the past two decades performing in a wide variety of bands such as Hot Box Honey, The Funk Collection, The Swingtime Big Band, The Jane Andre Jazz Ensemble, and Janestory. Now, together with husband Greg Evans on lead guitar, Kirk Flanagan on bass, and Daiki Hirano on drums, Jane is taking her music back to its beginnings when she was a solo singer-songwriter performing at coffee shops and art openings. Her new band is based on the traditions of Americana roots music while delivering their own contemporary sound. They’ll be performing both originals and favorites from artists such as Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchell, Lucinda Williams, Brandi Carlisle, and other female singers who have inspired Jane’s career.

July 15: Atlantic Crossing

Atlantic Crossing draws from the Celtic traditions of the British Isles as well as from Maritime and French Canada. For over two decades, the group has played contra dance halls of New England and beyond with their traditional sound and songs that tell stories. The band plays a mix of traditional and original tunes featuring Viveka Fox (fiddle, bodhran, djembe), Peter Macfarlane (fiddle, mandolin, vocals), and Rick Klein (guitar and vocals).

July 22: Devon McGarry Band

Hailing from in and around Burlington, the Devon McGarry Band forges a musical path that's adventurous, yet refined with simple, heartfelt lyrics and both energetic and soothing rhythms. Their original songs offer a grab-bag of rock styles paired with catchy lyricism and a fine-tuned stage performance. Frontman Devon McGarry (vocals and guitar) is joined by Jeff Messina (lead guitar), Mitch Terriciano (bass guitar), and Rich Armstrong (drums).

July 29: Shellhouse

Named after Shellhouse Mountain in Ferrisburgh, Shellhouse is an original Vermont band started in 2003. The band has three albums with songs written by band leader Bob Teer. The latest album, “A Road Between Two Souls,” was released at the start of COVID-19, halting their performances to share their new material with fans. Their sound is somewhere between rock and country, equal parts twang and jam. Teer is joined by Andrea Teer (vocals and percussion), Jim Fox (guitar), Marshall Breakstone (bass and vocals), and Bob DeFeo (drums), Steve Wanderlich (drums) and Bob Levinson (guitar).  A typical Shellhouse set list includes original Vermont songs and a mix of eclectic rock ’n’ roll classic favorites.

Aug. 5:  Big Night

Burlington-based Big Night is a group of Champlain Valley musicians who long ago fell in love with Cajun music from southwest Louisiana and are dedicated to the principle that all people deserve to two-step, regardless of creed or latitude. Prepare for a mix of Cajun, zydeco, Western Swing, honky-tonk, jazz, and even some rock ’n’ roll as the band blends accordions, drums, and strings for a signature sound that’s highly danceable. 

Aug. 12: BOGO Boys

Vermont music veterans Ted Mortimer (guitar) and Shrimp (guitar, keys) are joined by bassist Micah Carbonneau, Chris Peterman on saxophone, and drummer Caleb Bronz.  BOGO Boys bring their blend of classic rock, funk, country and blues to the Waterbury Rotary Concert venue. Dance or sit back and groove to covers of Bob Dylan, John Hiatt, Peter Gabriel, Merle Haggard, Warren Zevon, interspersed with some original tunes.

Aug. 19: John Lackard

A prominent Vermont blues artist, Lackard began playing the harmonica at age 8. Now in his 60s, he credits his lifelong musical career to an instrument-dense childhood that included “Boogie Woogie” piano and then electric and acoustic guitars. Expect to see him add in harmonica while he sings and plays guitar. Despite his Vermont origins, Lackard’s sound could easily have come from Memphis or Chicago.  Expect an upbeat, swingy performance that all ages can enjoy.

Aug. 26: WDEV Radio Rangers

They began in 1986 as a live radio band playing every Saturday morning on WDEV Radio sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds and have continued for 25 years as one of Vermont’s premier bands. The four-piece ensemble plays country favorites, Western Swing, originals and some novelty songs and bluegrass zingers. Dancing is encouraged. The Rangers are Danny Coane on guitar, banjo and vocals; Dave Rowell on bass and vocals; Colin McCaffrey on both guitar and fiddle, and vocals; and Jim Pitman working the pedal steel guitar and dobro. 

Compiled by Kris Nine and Tulley Hescock from UVM’s Community News Service. More information online at waterburyvtrotary.org