East Hartford Community Cultural Center including music, bluegrass, celtic,and popular rock

Join us for our first outdoor concert of the season as we bring The Claire Lynch Band to the Town Green 1047 Main Street. Sponsored by MDC and Robinson and Cole. Bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the great outdoors. If inclimate weather the concert will be moved to EHCCC. By any measure, the Claire Lynch Band is high on the bluegrass world's A-List, with musicians whose accolades include International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Female Vocalist of the Year and two Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album (Claire); two IBMA Guitar Player of the Year awards (Jim Hurst); and two IBMA Bass Player of the Year awards (Mark Schatz). The music is a mix of jazz, Americana, Folk and Bluegrass with a lot of storytelling through song.

This week's free concert is sponsored by ChildPlan, Capital Studio and SBM Foundation as we welcome the Governor's Foot Guard to the Town Green 1047 Main Street. Bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the great outdoors. If inclimate weather the concert will be moved to EHCCC. Since 1904, the band has marched parades and performed concerts at many prestigious events. Led by Captain David Carlson, today's band performs many events throughout the Northeast.

This week's free concert is sponsored by 3D Management, Corporate Translations and Dur-A-Flex as we welcome Fiesta del Norte to the Town Green 1047 Main Street. Bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the great outdoors. If inclimate weather the concert will be moved to EHCCC. Fiesta del Norte is a versatile band that plays music in the Latin genre such as Mexican (Mariachi etc), Latin (Afro-Cuban) jazz, and Brazilian. We utilize guitars, violins, horns, harp, percussion and vocals and play all kinds of events. Their music is always uplifting, interactive and in many cases - educational.

This week's free concert is sponsored by Pratt and Whitney. We welcome back the legendary Jonathan Edwards to the Town Green 1047 Main Street. Bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the great outdoors. If inclimate weather the concert will be moved to EHCCC. Jonathan has acquired an enviable track record, one of skill and grace in the sometimes brutal world of the music business. And he has done it while keeping intact his ear for a strong melody and love of a beautifully crafted song. During his 37-year career he has recorded 15 albums and penned such notable hits as "Shanty" and "Sunshine", which earned him a gold record in 1971. This classic song, covered by Paul Westerberg, is included in the 1995 release of "Friends", a compilation of music for the hit NBC-TV show, and is heard in the 2004 Will Ferrell film “Anchorman” and included on the soundtrack. His 1987 children's album, "Little Hands", selected by the National Library Association as a "Notable Children's Recording", has sold over 20,000 copies and is still going strong.

It's the first day of 4 to enjoy the great music. Free to East Hartford Residents. Thursday includes performances by Bearfoot, the Lovell Sisters, Special Concensus and Alison Brown. Check the website for details and complete prices.

It's the second day of the Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival held in Martin Park at 307 Burnside Ave. Check the official site for ticket prices and complete details. Line-up today includes: The Del McCoury Band, Wells Family Band, NewFound Road, Bearfoot, Grasstowne and Special Consensus.

Saturday features: Natalie MacMaster, Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Dailey Vincent Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Steep Canyon Rangers, James King Band and Gold Heart

The Final day of the festival will feature our 2009 Band Competition with bands competing for cash prizes. There will also be a performance by 2008 winner Gold Heart and the James King Band.

This week's free concert is sponsored by the East Hartford Fine Arts Commission as we welcome back Brian McDonald to the Town Green 1047 Main Street. Bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the great outdoors. If inclimate weather the concert will be moved to EHCCC.

This week's free concert is sponsored by Goodwin College, NewAlliance Band and Furniture Clinic as we welcome the Monthei Brothers Band with Wendy May to the Town Green 1047 Main Street. Bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the great outdoors. If inclimate weather the concert will be moved to EHCCC. The Monthei Brothers have been playing together at major fairs, music festivals and other special events for over 35 years. John Monthei is a truly gifted musician on pedal steel guitar, banjo and fiddle bringing audiences to standing ovations and rarely leaving the dance floor empty. Joe, his twin brother, no, you’re not seeing double, locks in on bass guitar and keeps the rhythm solid and unique in his seasoned style of fluidity and consistency. Talented far beyond the usual, they just have music in their blood and have been performing and playing together all of their lives. One can only image how solid they are until you’ve experienced them playing live. Jeff Batter on keyboard and vocals is a seasoned veteran as well, playing and performing for years with various regional acts. Tom Tribuzio on lead guitar is amazingly talented. He has a feel that is inspiring and makes you just want to jump up and dance. Nick Longo on drums keeps the rhythm and your dance steps happening. Nick is also a seasoned performer and has played with the Monthei Brothers for years.

This week's free concert is sponsored by American Eagle, Dirosa Cleaners, Good Old Tom's, United Steel, The Segal Co and East Hartford Rotary as we welcome Santa Mamba to the Town Green 1047 Main Street. Bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the great outdoors. If inclimate weather the concert will be moved to EHCCC. Santa Mamba is a complex fusing of musical styles and personalities. Elements of rock, salsa, funk, reggaeton, rumba, jazz, merengue, bachata, bolero, and hip-hop can be heard in their music, but they are best described through the unique offerings each member brings to the band. Lead vocalist Gio Murillo is an iconic and visionary front-man whose bold voice is strikingly original in the way it oscillates between the salsa troubadour and the rocker. Guitarist John Medeiros brings focus, discipline, and a classic sound on his instrument, covering stylistic ranges from flamenco fingerstyle to Hendrixian wailing. Keyboardist Aaron Wade offers sophistication and breadth of musical knowledge, flavoring the band’s sound with a touch of jazz and classical through his penetrating understanding of the piano. Nick Wade, with a singular attitude and energy, has found an unprecedented way to make it seem like slap-punk-funk bass and Latin music always belonged together. Percussionist Gary Mendoza brings a dynamic of both fun and seriousness to the sound, with an exuberant stage energy and a dedication to expanding his rhythmic vocabulary with respect to the Latin traditions. And John Ferreira, the band’s new addition on drums, provides a rock-solid foundation, combining impeccable time with a passion for grooves and rhythms from around the globe in a way that perfectly complements the overall sound. As a whole, Santa Mamba delivers a powerful message of unity and diversity, spanning cultural, language, and stylistic classifications to create a sound and show that demands listener participation.

Join on the East Hartford Town Green for our eigth concert of our free concert series. Tonight is sponsored by Center Studios. SQUEAKY CLEAN was formed early in 1983 by Suzanne and Glenn. Their interest in '50s music was stimulated by the rockabilly revival started by Robert Gordon and The Stray Cats. They became a regular fixture on the New York City nightclub circuit and released an EP record in 1984 on Drip Dry Records. Suzanne and Glenn realized that their "Squeaky Clean" image might enable them to present rock and roll music to a wider audience. They arranged a series of rock and roll shows aimed at children and families in museums, libraries and parks. These concerts became a successful Arts-in-Education presentation about the history of rock and roll. The program proved so popular that the band members developed other programs about the 1960s. In addition, they were often booked to do concerts and dances outside of school hours. SQUEAKY CLEAN often performs the great music of the 1950s and 1960s for adults as well. Their authentic look and sound recreates the era when rock and roll was young. Their enthusiasm and fresh approach guarantees great entertainment for everyone raised on rock and roll. The trio's 1996 CD/cassette release "Rock and Roll Party with Squeaky Clean" was awarded a seal of approval by the Parents Choice Foundation. In addition, SQUEAKY CLEAN was regularly seen for many years on Nickelodeon's hit pre-school TV series "Eureeka's Castle." SQUEAKY CLEAN always performs with a live drummer. Suzanne and Glenn have been fortunate to work some of the most experienced stage, studio and club drummers in the New York City area.

Having formed in 2003, Cara have already gained a top-band status and are much celebrated by audiences and the press wherever they perform. This may partly be due to the fact that despite being a rather new band, none of Cara's members is actually new to the world of folk and traditional music; each of the musicians has already gained experience in other renowned bands, such as DeReelium, Steampacket, Adaro and More Maids, as well as in various studio projects. They are five members, German band with one English member, and they play Irish music better than almost any Irish band. This summer they are booked at Milwaukee Irish Fest and Kansas City Irish Fest, and also Sterling NY at their Celtic Fest at the fairgrounds.

They are returning to the States for only 10 days and have added a stop in East Hartford again. The allure is undeniable. Six talented, attractive women breathe renewed life into the rich texts of medieval songs and poetry. Their hauntingly beautiful music captures the imagination and devotion of modern audiences. They are the Mediaeval Baebes, and in ten years they have placed three studio albums into the top of the UK classical charts and performed before enthusiastic audiences in the UK, United States, Canada and Europe.

On a July evening in 2004, at their campsite at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner and Carolann Solebello harmonized for the very first time. As they sang their campmates off to sleep, they knew they had stumbled into something extraordinary. Audiences seem to agree. Since that summer night, Red Molly has garnered a devoted regional fan base, and has begun laying the groundwork for national touring. These ladies have a lot of fun on stage, and it’s contagious. Red Molly consistently brings concert-goers to their feet with stunning three-part harmonies, crisp musicianship, and a warm, engaging stage presence. The magic of Red Molly stems partly from the richness and diversity of each member’s “pre-Molly” experiences. Laurie (vocals, guitar, banjo) left a career in psychology to pursue her love of singing. She worked for several years as a backup singer, and also released two solo albums, These Old Clothes (1999) and The Things I Choose To Do (2004). Abbie (vocals, Dobro, guitar) has a background in jazz, bluegrass, classical and a cappella music. She released two solo albums, My Craziest Dream (2004), a collection of swing standards featuring her father Herb Gardner on piano, and Honey on My Grave (2006), a collection of acoustic originals. In May 2008, she released a duo album, Bad Nights/Better Days, with Anthony da Costa. Carolann (vocals, guitar, bass, mandolin) spent several years as a professional theater actor before releasing her solo album, Just Across the Water (2000). She went on to release two albums with power folk quartet CC Railroad, Smile Whatever (2001) and Black Horse Motel (2004).

“The Old Blind Dogs play with a compelling energy and intoxicating rhythm,” says The Scotsman, “as players and audience seem to share a wild ecstasy of emotion.” Fifteen years is a long time in the life of any band and most who reach that milestone are content to rest on the tried and true formulas that have worked in the past. Not so for Scotland’s Old Blind Dogs whose newly released Four on the Floor takes them bravely in many new directions. The Dogs, one of Scotland’s most highly touted traditional folk bands, are not known for shying away from change. A strong, shared musical vision has allowed the group to ride out inevitable line-up changes to the extent that the only original member still with the band is Jonny Hardie (fiddle, guitar and vocals). The Dogs’ popularity has never dimmed though and the current foursome of Hardie, Aaron Jones (Bass, Bouzouki, Guitar, Vocals), Rory Campbell (Border (Reel) Pipes, Whistles, Vocals) and Fraser Stone (Drums, Percussion) have proven more than capable of carrying on the tradition of the band that the Montreal Gazette called “a Scots neo-traditional supergroup with a bracingly modern musical attack.” Take four individually accomplished traditional musicians and singers with fresh attitudes. Combine them, and you have the rich, soaring three-part vocal arrangements, and fiery Irish jigs and reels, that are Long Time Courting. Long Time Courting brings heavenly harmonies to old and new ballads--and serves up a zesty side of high energy dance tunes! Bringing together the talents of Ellery Klein (formerly with Gaelic Storm) on fiddle/vocals, Liz Simmons on guitar/vocals, Shannon Heaton on flute/vocals, and Ariel Friedman on cello, this Boston-based band shares a love of traditional Irish and American music, as well as contemporary folk and pop. They bring elements of these various genres to their traditional repertoire with sensitivity, musicality, beauty—and a bit of mischief, too!

Their Back! Don't miss them this time around as you will enjoy an evening of The Infamous Stringdusters.Three-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award winning band and Sugar Hill recording artist, The Infamous Stringdusters, have been busy in 2009 to deliver their unique bluegrass-acoustic show to audiences across the country. Though the band is rooted in the traditions of bluegrass, fans can always expect to hear a mix of country, bluegrass and free form improvisations that help make every show a one-of-a-kind experience. The band performs with such virtuosity and energy that they are equally as comfortable performing in a sit down performing arts center as they are in a standing-room-only rock club; and they relish this diversity in their performances. With a solid repertoire of original songs compiled from their two Sugar Hill albums, plus new songs and a constantly changing set list the band continues to pick up new fans each stop they make. The Infamous Stringdusters genesis can be traced back to 2002, when Andy Hall, Chris Pandolfi, and original guitarist Chris Eldridge met in Boston. They knew they had musical chemistry, but their lives were too out of synch to start a band until they all found themselves in Nashville in 2004. By then, Hall had been in the band of acclaimed bluegrass singer and songwriter Ronnie Bowman, where he met Jeremy Garrett and Jesse Cobb. Together, this newly-formed alliance of superpickers searched for the right bass player, who wound up being Travis Book, a product of the Colorado jamgrass scene. The departure of Eldridge in 2007 led to the addition of Andy Falco, whose blues-infused style perfectly complemented the Stringdusters sound. Falco joined the Stringdusters in the late summer, and according to bassist/vocalist Travis Book, “It ended up giving the band a lift I don’t think anybody anticipated. It was almost like the sails finally filled up completely.” That same year the band released their debut album, Fork in the Road, through Sugar Hill Records.

Advance Ticket: Student/Senior $10.00 or $12.00 Adult At the Door: Student/Senior $13.00, Adult $15.00 Doors Open: 6:00 PM Showtime: 7:00 PM A national touring force in bluegrass music, Pine Mountain Railroad, is an exciting five-piece band. This highly sought, nationally-recognized tour band has been busy entertaining at festivals, concerts, and other performance venues in the USA, Canada, and on the high seas. Organized in 1998, the current Pine Mountain Railroad is now a heartstopping six-piece bluegrass band. The band features: Cody Shuler -- mandolin & vocals, Bill McBee -- bass & vocals, Matt 'Scooter' Flake -- fiddle & vocals, Jerry Cole -- guitar & vocals and Dale Perry -- banjo & vocals. This concert is the beginning of East Hartford’s Holiday Fest which benefits the Food and Fuel Banks.

Join us after the tree lighting on the Town Green for the first night of Holiday Fest with YULETIDE GROOVE, from Alger and Monique deliver exciting, fresh jazz interpretations of a widely diverse selection of secular and sacred holiday songs".

Solas is virtually unique in the new territory it has opened up for Celtic music. It has performed at all the major Celtic and folk festivals, including Philadelphia, Edmonton, the legendary National Folk Festival, and Milwaukee’s Irish fest; but also at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and the chamber music summer series at Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It has performed at Symphony Hall, Wolf Trap, the Ford Amphitheater, and Queens Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland. In New York City, where the band was based in its early years, it has played at the legendary Bottom Line folk club, but also at vaunted classical venues Town Hall and Symphony Space. The Solas sound today is anchored by founders Seamus Egan, who plays flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistle, guitar and bodhran, and fiddler Winifred Horan. They are two of the most respected—and imitated—musicians anywhere in acoustic music. Mick McAuley from Kilkenny plays accordion and concertina; Eamon McElholm from Tyrone plays guitar and keyboards. Solas has emerged as the most exciting band in traditional Irish music.