The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Elton John tribute band to launch music series
PORTLAND — The annual summer concert series at Riverfront Park is scheduled to kick off Tuesday evening.
The free musical shows, which start at 6:30 p.m., were scheduled to begin last Tuesday, but the storm front that broke the heat wave caused officials to postpone the appearance by the Michael Cleary Band.
So the stage is set for Bennie and the Jets, a highly regarded Elton John tribute band, to kick off weekly performances. The series is produced jointly by the town’s Parks and Recreation Department and Brownstone Quorum.
The Quorum is a citizens nonprofit group that oversees the 43-acre parcel, which includes the two brownstone quarries and the surrounding land.
In announcing this year’s series, Quorum President James K. Tripp said, “Bring a picnic dinner and chairs and relax and enjoy.”
Heat, a Hartford-based party band, will take the stage on July 31.
The Connecticut Transit Authority will follow Aug. 7.
Connecticut Transit Authority “faithfully recreates the music of one of the greatest American bands ever, Chicago. We focus on the early years of Chicago, better known as the Terry Kath Era, when the band was raw with emotion, heart and soul,” members said in a statement on the website.
“Songs from Chicago’s 1969 debut album, ‘Chicago Transit Authority,’ through 1977’s ‘Chicago XI’ are covered here, with attention to detail and respect for the originators of these timeless classics. Our set list contains hits like ‘Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is,’ ‘Make Me Smile,’ ‘Beginnings,’ ‘Just You ‘n Me,’ ‘Dialogue,’ ‘Old Days,’ and many more,” according to the group.
Aug. 14 brings Portland’s own Great Hill Mountain Band to the stage.
The group, founded in 1994, is made up of Luke Guilmette on electric and acoustic guitar, lead and harmony vocals; Dan Guilmette on homemade fivestring fretless bass, John Guilmette, drums and percussion; Dobro, fake shakes; Greg Johnson on Hammond organ, piano, keys, lead and harmony vocals, and Dave Beckwith, electric and acoustic guitar, lead and harmony vocals.
The series was supposed to begin with the Michael Cleary Band. Instead, it will end with the group’s Aug. 21 performance.
“The Michael Cleary band is a Hartford institution,” the band says on its website.
“They are celebrating their 27th year of making original groove/funk/rock music with a twist. In 2014, MCB took home the award for Best Jam Band in the Connecticut Music awards. In 2009, MCB was voted Best Jam Band in the Hartford Advocate Readers poll, and they are previous winners in the Best Rock and Best Blues category,” according to the group.
The band is made up of: Michael Cleary, guitar, vocals; Zach Vetter, guitar, vocals; Vince Delaria, keyboard, vocals; Jedd Chlebowski, bass guitar; and Edmund Peart, drums and vocals.
The concerts are being presented by Liberty Bank and Flood Law Firm.
“Many businesses, both in town and out, participate in supporting the concert series, and we thank them for their support,” First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield said.
“This is a true family event,” she said. “So, come and listen to the music and meet your friends from the community, as well as invite your friends from out of town to come and join us,” Bransfield added.