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The music and fun kicks off at Town Center Park on Friday June 28th at 6pm with the Hamden Volunteer Firefighters Independence Day Celebration featuring a full fireworks show and musical entertainment by both DJ Rachel and the New London Big Band. DJ Rachel will take the stage from 6-8pm and then be followed by the band at 8:15pm. In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks will take place on Saturday June 29th with musical entertainment by DJ Rachel. Fireworks will go off at approximately 9:20pm.
The first concert on Friday July 5th will be a double header and feature two full bands starting at 7:30pm: The Mandingo Ambassadors followed by Las Cafeteras. The Mandingo Ambassadors are a well-known, Guinean Afro-Jazz Ensemble lead by New Haven guitarist, Mamady Kouyaté. Through years of performance and musical collaboration, Kouyaté has learned to incorporate over a half-century of his traditional Guinean musical culture and heritage into hypnotically melodic riffs that will absolutely lift you - body and soul. The Mandingo Ambassadors play weekly throughout Brooklyn and have been featured at the New Haven Festival of Arts and Ideas.
Las Cafeteras is a Chicano band hailing from East Los Angeles, California. Their music fuses spoken word and folk music with traditional Son Jarocho, Afro-Mexican music and Zapateado dancing. Described as "creative and socially conscious" by National Public Radio, Las Cafeteras' music "encourages people of all backgrounds to cherish both what makes them unique and what unites them all". They have collaborated with other entertainers such as John Legend, Talib Kweli, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and even Columbian pop star Juanes. This is sure to be a totally unique show.
On Friday, July 12th, Mike DelGuidice takes a break from touring with rock legend, Billy Joel, to perform here in Hamden. DelGuidice is currently a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist touring internationally with Billy Joel and has spent the last 18 years building and perfecting his encyclopedic knowledge of Joel's musical catalogue. He has performed at large venues such as Madison Square Garden, Fenway Park, Wembley Stadium, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, and other Iconic Stadiums and Arenas around the world with Joel. One of Mike's original Songs, "Ordinary Guy" was the theme song for actor/comedian Kevin James sitcom Kevin Can Wait. Kevin James also stars in Mike's new music video of another one of his original songs "Mona Lisa" - https://youtu.be/TvOZNVW_nsc. You’ve all asked for him and we are delivering! The opening band for Mike DelGuidice will be The Future Heavies at 7:30pm and Mike and his band will take the stage around 8:15pm.
On Friday, July 19th, world-renowned reggae band, The Wailers featuring Julian Junior Marvin, will be here to continue the legacy of bringing reggae to the forefront of the world stage. The band is led by original Wailer Julian Junior Marvin and boasts classic reggae hits such as "One Love" and "Three Little Birds". Celebrating 40 years of bringing reggae to all communities, The Wailers’ Julian Junior Marvin’s performance is an opportunity you don't want to miss to experience a sliver of musical history right here in our own hometown. The opening band for The Wailers will be Hamden’s very own feel-good folk band, Blue Trail at 7:30pm - The Wailers follow around 8:15pm.
The final concert in the series will be on Friday, July 26th and will feature the late 80's/early 90’s indie rock icons 10,000 Maniacs. 10,000 Maniacs boasts an eclectic catalogue of hits including "These Are the Days" and "Because the Night" - songs that have been established as classics in the treasure trove of contemporary music known as pop rock. Their music has been described as innovative and enduring - sure to be a crowd favorite. The opening band for 10,000 Maniacs will be Hamden favorite, Steve Rodgers and Friends at 7:30pm - 10,000 Maniacs go on about 8:15pm.
All shows start at 7:30pm with the main bands taking the stage around 8:15pm. The double header on Friday, July 5th opens with Mandingo Ambassadors at 7:30pm and Las Cafeteras will take the stage at 8:45/9pm. All shows will take place, with ample free parking, at the Hamden Town Center Park located at 2761 Dixwell Ave., Hamden 06518. In the event of inclement weather, shows (unless expressly stated) will be moved, with limited seating available, to the Hamden High School Auditorium located 2040 Dixwell Ave., Hamden 06518 and will be ticketed as “first come, first serve”. Announcement of the move inside will be posted online by 12 o’clock noon on the day of the concert. The Hamden Community Emergency Response Team will be on hand at all shows providing transportation assistance to and from parking lots with reserved handicap parking available in the Miller Memorial Library Parking lot.
The Hamden Free Summer Concert Series has been bringing quality, affordable arts programming to not only Hamden residents but to visitors from surrounding towns, states and countries since 1988 and is made possible by the generous donations of our community sponsors. This year, our current sponsors include Dr. Daniel Tarifi of Hamden Chiropractic, The Hamden Rotary Club, Advocates for Insurance Benefits LLC, The Hearing, Balance, and Speech Center, Press Cuozzo Realty, Best Video Film and Cultural Center, Walgreens of Hamden and generous sponsorship from Quinnipiac University. To become a sponsor and have your business’ name added to this list of community change makers, please contact Alisha Martindale at 203-287-2546 or email amartindale@hamden.com.
For more information on the Hamden Free Summer Concert Series or other arts events and opportunities happening in the Town of Hamden, please contact Alisha Martindale at the Hamden Department of Arts and Culture at 203-287-2546 or email amartindale@hamden.com. The Hamden Department of Arts and Culture is located at 2901 Dixwell Ave., Hamden 06518 - part of the Miller Memorial Library complex.
Follow us on social media and share your favorite concert moments with us using the hashtag: #HamdenArtsRocks
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