by Carolyn Noel, intern, UMass ’19
The parking lot located at 53 Elm St. will host a downtown music series each Friday through the Summer. (WNG file photo)
WESTFIELD – Located at 53 Elm Street, next to Mina’s Wine and Spirits, sits a usually empty lot that is set to come to life with entertainment this summer. The “Downtown Live: Friday Night Concert Series” will begin June 29 and will feature the music of many local bands and artists.
Previously named “Locals in the Lot,” the concert series put on by Westfield on Weekends, the same group that hosts the shows on Westfield’s Park Square Green each summer, the newly renamed “Downtown Live: Friday Night Concert Series” has been given a revamp by Artworks Westfield. The music series is ready to rock the town.
The open space on Elm Street will host several Pioneer Valley musicians who will bring entertainment, fun, and great tunes to the city of Westfield. “Downtown Live: Friday Night Concert Series” will feature 10 free concerts and will run every Friday night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. until August 31.
Artworks Westfield is a small Westfield organization that has been in existence for about three years. The group is full of a variety of writers, visual artists, musicians, and people who want to bring attention to the arts in our community.
Thomas Sawyer, member of Artworks Westfield, highlights how the organization is very focused on showcasing local talents and also bringing people to the downtown area.
“The idea is to get stuff out there for the enjoyment of the people and for the enrichment of the community… but also to give the people that create the art, whether it’s music, or visual art, or whatnot, an audience.”
“Downtown Live: Friday Night Concert Series” is being put together by Artworks, with the help of Mina’s Wine and Spirits through the use of their lot, along with their assistance through fundraising and promotion of the event. It is also being funded through several sponsors, such as Re/Max Compass Realty of Westfield.
The parking lot located at 53 Elm St. will be transformed into a downtown music space each Friday through the Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Noel)
Though seemingly similar to the Westfield on the Weekends shows, Sawyer says this concert series does have its distinctions.
When talking about the series on the green he says, “There are only three of them and they’re big concerts. These are smaller. It’s a smaller venue. And the one’s on the green don’t necessarily always highlight local performers. They usually get sort of more national acts. They have beer and wine, they have food trucks, we don’t have any of that. This is much more of a low-key kind of series.”
The main idea behind “Downtown Live: Friday Night Concert Series” is to get community members out and about downtown, shopping and eating at the nearby small-run businesses, and then enjoying a show full of great Western Mass talent.
“Downtown Live: Friday Night Concert Series” will feature many different types of musical genres such as blues, folk, country, rock and roll, Irish, Americana, and more. The first band set to play on June 29 is Thomas Sawyer’s own band The Buddy McEarns Band.
The Buddy McEarns Band has been categorized as “Blue Roots Rock n’ Roll.” In their own words they are, “Highly influenced by the musical traditions of yesteryear” and they create music that is “spirited, fresh, yet familiar to the audience.” They play many original songs, but also have creative re-makes of cover tunes.
Next up is The Charlie Galvin Band on July 6, who play “an eclectic and energizing mix of tunes from the classic 60’s to 70’s, from James Taylor to Lynyrd Skynyrd.”
A few acts already set to follow are Standing Bear, a Southampton-based band that has a set list ranging from folk songs to classic rock that will be sure to inspire some spontaneous dancing, and The Lisa Martin Band, who plays folk, rock, country and blues in a variety of original songs and cover songs with a voice that will provide a comfortable and enjoyable presence.
The rest of the summer line-up for the “Downtown Live: Friday Night Concert Series” is still currently being finalized.
Attendees of the concert are encouraged to bring their own chair and soft drinks or snacks if they would like, but alcohol is not permitted.
