New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
‘ Twilight Concerts’:
Outdoor Morris series winding down
The Twilight Concerts on the Farm series in Morris is winding down, but there are still shows you can catch before it ends, including the return of Grace Potter, who kicked it all off.
Although this outdoor series, which garnered national press, has been halted for 2021 by the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission after some noise/traffic complaints, organizers are permitted to finish what for them, and many fans, has been a successful venture in these pandemic times.
As of press time, tickets were still available for The Allman Betts Band on Thursday, Oct. 22, and for Potter’s show on Saturday, Oct. 24. The remaining concerts, all sold out, include moe. (Oct. 25), The Front Bottoms (Oct. 29), Goose (Oct. 30 and 31)
and Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule (Nov. 1.)
Setting the scenario for social distancing and taking everyone’s temperature were just part of what was needed to make the series work. Portable toilets were also spray-cleaned after each use.
“It’s all SOP (standard operating procedure),” said Keith Mahler, president of
Premier Concerts/Manic Presents, which partnered with South Farms on the series. Development of an online health questionnaire helped speed things up, he said.
When asked what the biggest challenge was to make it a reality, Mahler said, “There is no challenge. It’s what we do every day at all of
our venues.”
Mahler is especially looking forward to Potter’s return. “It’s a thrill to have her back,” he said of the singer/ actress whose version of “Stuck in the Middle with You” is the theme song for Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie.”
If you want to see her, “buy tickets; they’re moving quickly.”
Although Connecticut moved to Phase 3 as of Oct. 8 (permitting outdoor venues to increase capacity to 50%, with masks/social distancing), no changes are planned for the final South Farms shows. “We have the reserved grids and are staying with what’s set,” with capacity for 500 people.
Mahler said it’s been wonderful to work with Ben Paletsky, owner of South
Farms. Paletsky is “the Max Yasgur of his generation,” he said, referring to the man who leased his land to the original Woodstock organizers.
No one knows what’s going to happen with this pandemic, Mahler said, but we’ll “react accordingly.” He said he had “no official comment” on the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recent ruling.
South Farms, 21 Higbie Road, Morris. The Allman Betts Band, Oct. 22, 6 p.m., $160 per pod; Grace Potter, Saturday, Oct. 24, $160 per pod. premierconcerts.com, southfarms.org