Summer of Love concerts return to the bandshell
Jul 6, 2022
Fans lined the slopes as The Coalboilers played in the renovated bandshell.
Return fans of Summer of Love brought camp chairs.
The reconstructed bandshell filled the park with music.
The Coalboilers in action.
A view of the new bandshell.
Grateful Darv Designs sold his paintings and intricately tie-dyed tshirts alongside vendors of crystals, jewelry, and wellness products.
The smell of pizza and the sea was in the air as the Summer of Love concert series made its official return to the newly-renovated Lillian Gregerman Bandshell on Wednesday, July 6.
The Coalboilers played a variety of crowd-pleasing covers, including The Beatles’ “I’ve just seen a face” and John Denver’s “Take me home, country roads.”
Many attendees brought camp and beach chairs or set up on blankets on the grass beyond the benches, eating pizza or a picnic.
“I’m just happy to be here,” said Kat Jones, the executive director of the Onset Bay Association. She praised the town’s municipal maintenance department for their work on the bandshell renovations.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Jones said. “My sound guys couldn’t be happier, my musicians couldn’t be happier.”
The work was largely completed by municipal maintenance crews, who replaced wooden extensions of the stage with concrete, painted railings, added supports and restored rotted areas of the structure. The lighting and electrical wiring was also replaced.
Still to come — upgrades to seating and accessibility, which will start after the summer season.
“I think everybody is thrilled to be here tonight,” Jones said.
The concert series has been a beloved tradition since 2008.
The concerts are free to attend, and held each Wednesday night from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. through the summer. Donations are welcome, and tshirts and other goods are for sale. There are also several vendors on site.
After 6 p.m., parking is free along Onset and Union Avenues and at the Temple Lot on Union Avenue. Parking is free all day at Hynes Field.
The concerts are family friendly, and well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome.
In case of rain, concerts will be held at the VFW at 4 Gibbs Ball Park Road.
Here’s who will be performing this summer:
July 13: The Mike and Betsy Show
July 20: Bonsarno Acoustic
August 27: Uncle John’s Banjo
August 3: Unraveled
August 10: Jody Moore Duo Trio
August 17: The Party of 2 Acoustic Duo
August 24: Neal McCarthy Music
Wareham native Grace Morrison will play the final show on August 31.
For more information about these and other events, or to donate or become a member of the Onset Bay Association, go to www.onsetbay.org.
