Summer Concerts at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk

Summer nights in Norwalk mean music by the Sound, and there is no better place to enjoy a concert as the sunsets than at Calf Pasture Beach.  In addition to music, four concert evenings begin with a classic car show organized by The Coachmen for several hundred-car buffs from throughout the tri-state area.

Bill Genuario

On July 3, Norwalk will celebrate its annual Independance Day Celebration (rain date July 5).  Dance to the Music with DJ Nuxxo opens Shady Beach entertainment at 6 p.m. and family fun at Calf Pasture Beach starts at 5:30 p.m. with The Amazing Andy Show.  Bill Genuario, one of the most popular vocalists in the tri-state area, headlines at 8:00 p.m. at Shady Beach. He will be joined by his band, Destiny, which includes Tommy Hartlett (keyboard and vocals), Linda Fakundiny (guitar/vocals), Johnny Mennonna (bass guitar) and Ron Nihoff (drums). Parking will be available at Calf Pasture Beach only. 

On July 10 at 6:30 p.m. concertgoers will enjoy Curious Creatures, a hands on exhibit of exotic animals followed by Scarborough Fair.  With voices that blend effortlessly into that Simon & Garfunkel signature sound, brothers Jeb and Jock Guthrie pay tribute to the famous musical duo.

A Classic Car Show beginning at 6:00 p.m. on July 17 is followed by the music of The Royal Kings.  This musical ensemble features vocalists Joey Bennett, Douglas Dorsey, Timmy Hayes, Tommy Talercio and Richard “Cookie” Thomas. These performers have opened for headlining acts from the 50s, 60s and 70s that include Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Little Anthony, AWB and the Flamingos.  They continue to perform on the Oldies Rock and Roll circuit, as well as concerts and special events, and have two CDs, “Dreamin’ Through the Years” and “Dreamin’ at Christmas.”

Fleetwood Macked

The final July concert on July 24 headlines Fleetwood Macked at 7 p.m.  This tribute band recreates the musical experience of Fleetwood Mac’s most popular line-up -- Mick Fleetwood (Frank Saitta), John and Christine McVie (Bobby Trombley and Sue Rowe), Stevie Nicks (Hillary Epstein) and Lindsey Buckingham (Mike Epstein). 

The Facts

Each Wednesday night throughout the summer, area residents look forward to packing a picnic and a blanket and heading to the beach to enjoy a relaxing evening of music beside Long Island Sound. A $5.00 parking fee is charged for cars without a Norwalk beach sticker. For updates and additional information call the Norwalk Recreation and Parks Office at 203-854-7807. All concerts have a rain date of the following day.  For cancellation information call 203-854-7938.  A $20.00 parking fee is charged for cars without a Norwalk beach sticker.

Annual Spring Show of the Kent Art Association in Litchfield Hills

Daskam - Dock and Dory

The Kent Art Association was founded in 1923 by nine well established artists who knew each other when they lived in New York before moving to Kent: Rex Brasher, Elliot Clark, Floyd Clymer, Williard Dryden Paddock, F. Luis Mora, George Laurence Nelson, Spencer Nichols, Robert Nisbet and Frederick Waugh. Six of these artists were National Academicians. 

When the Kent Art Association was first founded, these nine artists held an annual show in which only their work was exhibited. Later, more artists were accepted into the Association and others were invited to be associates.  Today the Kent Art Association invites emerging and established artists to display their artwork to a wide audience in their gallery’s several times a year.

Inside this well lite and spacious gallery, located on Rte. 7 (Main Street) in Kent about 100 yards south of the intersection of Rte. 7 and Rte. 341, you will find two stories of exhibition rooms.  In addition to the works exhibited on the walls, all of which are for sale, there is a Portfolio Gallery offering unframed work by members of the Association.

To kick off spring in the beautiful Litchfield Hills, the Kent Art Association is holding its first juried show of the season that runs Sunday, April 21 through Monday, May 27. The Gallery is open April- May 17, Friday – Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and May 21 – Oct. 18, Thursday – Sunday from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.  

Visitors will also enjoy the work of Juror Rick Daskam, chairman for Oils at the Hudson Valley Art Association and a a graduate of Paier College of Art in Connecticut where he studied with Rudolf Zallinger and Ken Davies.  Daskam was honored with the “Most Outstanding Illustrator Award in addition to the Dumond Award from the Hudson Valley Art Association, Collectors Award from the Butler Art Institute, and the Larry Newquist Award for Excellence at SCAN.

The Judges for this exhibition are Marc Chabot, Diane Dubreuil, and Rick Daskam and $1000 in prizes will be awarded.   All work must be original and for sale.  A copy of the prospectus can be found at www.kentart.org. For more information call the Gallery at 860.927.3989.  

For area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com.

Ives Concert Park announces first five shows of Summer Concert Series

After much anticipation, Ives Concert Park has announced the first five artists slated to perform in its 2013 Summer Concert Series. The venue, located on the Western Connecticut State University Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury, has featured a wide variety of performers representing all eras and genres of music for nearly 40 years. Now, thanks to a new partnership with New York-based promoter The Bowery Presents, the summer line-up is starting to take shape.

All shows are rain or shine and tickets for the five shows announced are on sale at ticketmaster.com. Additional shows and ticket sale dates will be announced soon.

Scheduled to perform are:

moe

• moe. with the Wood Brothers at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 1

Reserved tickets are $35; lawn tickets are $20.

Gov't Mule

• Gov’t Mule at 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 2

Reserved tickets are $35; lawn tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on day of show.

Tony Bennett

• Tony Bennett at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 13

Reserved tickets are $86; lawn tickets are $36.

• Summerland Tour 2013 Alternative Guitars starring Everclear, Live, Filter and Sponge at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 19

Reserved tickets are $35; lawn tickets are $20.

Brandi Carlile

• Brandi Carlile at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 20

Reserved tickets are $39.50; lawn tickets are $25.

A special two-show ticket has been created for the back-to-back moe. and Gov’t Mule shows on June 1 and 2. A reserved ticket for both nights will be $50 and a lawn ticket will be $30.

Music-lovers who subscribe to the Ives “Backstage Buzz” e-newsletter will have the opportunity to purchase tickets one day before they go on sale to the general public. To sign up, visit the Ives Concert Park website at www.ivesconcertpark.comwww.ivesconcertpark.com. For contests and announcements, follow Ives on Facebook at facebook.com/ivesconcertpark and Twitter at @IvesConcertPark.

For Regional information www.litchfieldhills.com

Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Announces New Season’s Events

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will reopen its doors in April for an eventful Spring season. This season, the Mansion will highlight Victorian era technology, a cutting-edge art movement called Steampunk, and a nod to the Mansion’s beginnings with its annual Victorian Tea.

What Is It? Technologies and Discoveries of the Victorian Era features 19th century technological and scientific marvels of the Mansion’s heyday that revolutionized the way people lived opens to the public on April 17th and runs through October 6, 2013.

Also in April, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum presents an exciting short-term exhibit, Steampunk: Nature & Machine. At this, the first Steampunk exhibit in Fairfield County, visitors will catch a view of this bold new style, a neo-retro aesthetic that borrows imagery from the Industrial Revolution and Victorian eras and has influenced everything from literature and product design to fashion and fine art. The exhibit will feature the art of renowned Steampunk artists Bruce Rosenbaum, Katie Shima and Leslie Mueller. There will be an opening reception on April 25, from 6:00 – 8:00pm. The exhibit runs until June 15.

Rounding out the 2013 spring season is the Mansion’s Victorian Tea on Sunday, May 5 at 2:00pm. The family-friendly event features a formal English tea in the Mansion’s Rotunda, including a wide selection of desserts, sandwiches, the traditional scones and cream, as well as music and other entertainment. The Tea is sponsored by Cottages & Gardens Publications and King Industries.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a National Historic Landmark located at 295 West Avenue in Norwalk. Tours will begin in April and are offered Wednesdays through Sundays, at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.

For more information on tours and programs, visit www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799. For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com.