Come out this summer to Grove Street Plaza in downtown Darien for evenings of music. The Darien Summer Nights concert series at Grove Street Plaza in downtown Darien is held on Friday nights from June 22nd – September 21st, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. All concerts are free of charge. There is ample free parking and the concert venue is in walking distance of a variety of family friendly restaurants.
Friday, June 22nd
Music By Bad Dog Buddy
Bad Dog Buddy is a group of local friends from Darien, New Canaan, Westport and Wilton. They met playing together in the adult program at the New Canaan School of Rock and through a shared passion for performing live music formed a band! They cover a wide range of music on many different instruments including a violin, sax, banjo and melodica along with guitar, bass, keys and drums. They perform a few times a year at local bars, events and fundraisers, and yes “Buddy” the dog attends all of their rehearsals and usually gets tangled up in the cords.
Friday, June 29th
Music By Sugar Bear
Sugar Bear is a 7 piece band that performs unique renditions of classic Rhythm & Blues, Classic Rock, Soul, Reggae, Country and contemporary songs. Lead singer Henry Jones of “The David Henry Project” established this band in 2015 with an A-list of great musicians and singers. Sugar Bear performed for the first time last year at Darien Summer Nights to rave reviews and they are excited to return to the stage!
Friday, July 6th
Music By Ratso and Friends
The Mars Project consists of Mike Marble Hammerin’ those drums, bassist Angel Rissoff beltin’ out the blues and guitarman John “Ratso” Gerardi Strummin’ and singing. You don’t want to miss the out of this world sound of this awesome trio of seasoned professionals.
Friday, July 13th
Music By Barnstorm!
Barnstorm is back on the plaza bringing their one of a kind take on the classics.
Friday, July 20th
Music By CC: Legend
CC: Legend is a tribute to the music of reggae pioneer Bob Marley. Named after his seminal greatest hits album, the band delivers an authentic recreation of all your favorite uplifting and infectious songs by Marley and his Wailers, as well as tunes by other artists he has inspired. A group of talented musicians and friends from New York, the Carbon Copy band performs an ever-evolving series of tributes to the greatest acts in popular music. Due to popular demand—and their own passion for Marley’s irresistible, smooth grooves and inspirational “One Love” message—they keep returning as CC: Legend every summer. The band features Jeff Mucciolo on drums, a graduate of DHS class of ’83. He and the rest of the group are thrilled to perform their first show in CT as part of the Darien Summer Nights Concert Series.
Friday, July 27th
Music By Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke has been entertaining audiences at fairs, festivals, clubs, and concerts, with true Country and Western Music for over 20 years. They have performed with musical legends such as, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Ray Price, Hank Thompson, Alan Jackson, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, Carl Perkins, and countless other country legends. They have performed for two sitting Presidents of the United States, and been voted six years in a row, Band of The Year by The New York Metropolitan Country Music Association, This Premier Country Band always brings a refreshing entertaining show for all ages to enjoy.
Friday, August 3rd
Music By Cinnamon Girl
Singer-songwriter Leslie Costa fell in love with guitar after her cousin, Chris, let her try his 1969 Fender Stratocaster. She formed her own band in 1990 called Leslie Costa and the Usual Suspects. Her contemporaries include artists like: Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Melissa Etherige, Sheryl Crow, Counting Crowes and Natalie Merchant.
Friday, August 10th
Music By Harry Bergen with Mods and Rockers
Harry Bergen with Mods and Rockers is a band dedicated to the music of the 60’s such as Van Morrison, the Doors, the Stones and, of course, the Beatles. The band promises to delight audiences of all ages and especially, children of the sixties!
Friday, August 17th
Music By Kind Bud
Bud, of The Kind Buds, returns with his original music as well as your favorites from Jerry Garcia, Beatles, Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd. A Vermont native, Bud travels the summer throughout the country playing his music to welcoming crowds and will be making his way to Grove Street Plaza!
Friday, August 24th
Music By Bob Button Band
For more than 40 years, The Bob Button Big Band has entertained audiences in the New York Metropolitan area with music from the Big Band Era. The Band has played at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, The NY Athletic Club, Playhouse on the Green in Bridgeport, Connecticut Jazz Festival, Glen Island Casino, Hyatt Regency for the 2000 Millennium, The Greenwich Town Party with Paul Simon and Santana, and numerous summer concerts in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Friday, August 31
Music By The Spadtastics @ Tilley Pond Park (6:00 pm to 10:00 pm)
The Spadtastics band formed in 2006. The band consists of many members of past local Darien bands (Milc, Nick the Fin and Magic Garden). The name “Spadtastics” comes from the late Darien resident and former band leader, David Spadacinni who was the inspiration for this new band. The band covers the popular music of the Grateful Dead which songs were a fixture back in our DHS/College days. Due to family schedules and professions, the band only plays a concert once-a-year.
Tilly Pond Park
40 West Avenue
Darien, CT 06820
Friday, September 7th
Music By Exit Ramp Band
Formed in 2017 for special event performances, Exit Ramp Band features some of the best musicians in the area who’ve played individually and together for decades and in multiple bands: Frank Barrese – guitar, Luis Cotto – vocals, Paula Gallo – vocals, John Lamb – keyboard, Richard Colligan – percussion (who grew up in Darien playing “Battle of the Bands at the Barn”.
Playlist of contemporary rock and neo-soul, clean and powerfully delivered, including: Maroon5, Bruno Mars, Amy Winehouse, Ed Sheeran, Billy Joel, Kings of Leon among others you know well and dance to.
Friday, September 14th
Music By Doug Allen
Friday, September 21st
Music By Wingmen
The Wingmen are Darien’s home town band – Robert McMullan, Tom Travaglini, Charlie Howe, John Markham, Ray Bartone and Larry LeHan. They are six Darien dads holding on tightly to their day jobs but who occasionally rock the place at local bars and private parties in town. Their 60s-80s rock and pop tunes mixed with an improvisational style are sure to entertain and get you moving
The concerts are being funded by Baywater Properties and Grove Street Plaza, through the support of retail tenants and the Darien Chamber of Commerce.
Images and content courtesy of http://dariensummernights.com/schedule-of-events/