Frugal fairfield

Music is incredibly powerful. It speaks to those who cannot speak themselves. It moves us to tears, to happiness, to another world. Even the deaf can feel the vibrations. It can soothe a crying babe, make you want to get up and dance, evoke a time long gone.  It doesn’t matter what language we speak, or if we can understand the words music speaks to us on the most human level. When my late husband was completely bed bound, the radio, especially WFUV, gave him great joy. 

I don’t watch television—it bores me.  However, if you enter my house at almost every time of day or night you will hear music. It might be the radio, or a CD, or a musician friend.  There’s a certain sense of peace that comes over me when I listen to music.  I like just about any kind of music from classical to jazz to world to alternative.  Singer-songwriters particularly touch my soul-- words that tell a story, give a message.

I was lucky to have grown up in a house filled with song.  My mom and dad loved to sing—mostly old folk songs, many by their friend Richard Dyer-Bennet who my father designed albums for and who we often visited at his home in the Berkshires. He had played benefits with Pete Seeger and Burl Ives while we were allies with Russia and when McCarthy blacklisted the lot, Burl gave names and well the rest was history.   It was not unusual to be on a long car ride and for my parents to break into song. Something I will never forget. 

There are many great local places to hear live music throughout the area.  Some are free, others have small cover charges/ticket fees.

Subscribe to Jamie’s List to find out who’s playing where and when (online and in person). http://whosplayingwhere.com/Whos_Playing_Where.html

https://www.1071thepeak.com/beach-house/

https://www.youtube.com/@1071ThePeak/videos

LIST OF SHOWS:

LIST OF SHOWS:

7/18: The Heavy Heavy/Brett Dennen - 7pm

7/22: Fantastic Cat/The Vindys - 7pm

7/27: Cassandra Lewis w/ Lauren Minear - 7:00pm

8/1: Daniel Donato/Jonah Kagen - 7pm

8/13: Chris Barron (Spin Doctors) (postponed) - 6:30pm

8/22: Frank Turner w/The Ghost Club - 7pm

8/25: Donovan Frankenreiter w/The Tano Jones Revelry - 7pm

8/31: Joe P. w/Sierra Spirit - 7pm

9/6: Jade Bird w/The Wild Feathers - 7pm

https://www.rowaytoncivicassociation.org/summer-music-festival

Concerts are FREE. Beach access and parking fees apply to non-residents for Bayley Beach Park shows. $10 for non-resident walk-ins, $50 for non-resident vehicle parking. Walk-in residents should bring ID cards. Alternate parking for walk-ins: Rowayton School (1 Roton Avenue), Community parking lot (148 Rowayton Avenue), or Rowayton Railroad Station (299 Rowayton Avenue).

Levitt Pavilion Westport

Levitt Pavilion season starts this week. Most events are free with a few paid events sprinked in. The calendar can be found below. 

https://www.levittpavilion.com/calendar/

Sometimes great music happens in a friend's backyard when your yoga teacher shows up and plays bass.

On Saturday 11/19/16 I had the good fortune to attend the book signing at Johnny's Record Store in Darien. As is my habit, I had been listening to WFUV when Dennis Elsas mentioned this on Friday night.  It was a fascinating talk. Susana was unofficial photographer for the Dead and Dennis was the chief publicist. Here's a story about how it came that Jerry introduced her to Dennis and eventually walked her down the aisle. 

If you haven't been to B.R.Y.A.C. you are missing a great music seen.  Bands play in the intimate space, lots of funk and dancing. No cover charges.  If you are hungry prices are low and food is good too.