More arts! More music! More walking!

The seventh annual Massachusetts Walking Tour, consisting of four members, visited the First Congregational Church on Gibbs Avenue to play a free concert. During their tour of Massachusetts, the troop hopes to bring more people out to enjoy the arts.

"Grace [Morrison] said on our way in here, 'In Wareham, we have a hard time getting people to come out to support the arts'," said member Mark Mandeville, recalling what singer/songwriter and Wareham native Morrison told him.

The Walking Tour's mission is to support arts and cultures for towns in the state, and after their 7-mile hike from Myles Standish State Forest, they brought that mission to Wareham.

Aside from Mandeville, the Walking Tour includes Mark Kilianski, Amy Alvey, Raianne Richards and Kristen Sykes.

The five musicians began their journey on June 12 in North Truro. Since then, they have hikes between 8 and 12 miles every day to their next destination, and have played a concert every night.

They've included local artists to play with them. In Wareham, Morrison was invited to play with the troop along with Jackson Gilman.

The night before they came to the First Congregational Church, the troop had their only night off. Though they had walked miles already, they were offered to go on another hike at nighttime. Though Mandeville's initial reaction was to say no, he went on the walk with a few others and had an experience he was still amazed by. 

The moral of the story, he said, is that "the things that are keeping people from coming is the initial reaction."

Mandeville encouraged audience members to keep that in mind when it comes to Wareham and the arts.

The troop played a combination of self-composed songs and "walking songs" with themes of walking, the road and returning home.

Morrison played four songs, ending her set with "Taking Johnny Home," a tribute to her uncle who was a Vietnam veteran.

Wearing a yellow Onset Beach hat, Gilman shared songs about why he thought garlic was the king of the garden, and why the tomato was the queen.

With humor, a capella, harmonica duos, and a rendition of "Sweet Carolina," the concert had audience members up on their feet, dancing at times. Though the crowd was small, the support was immeasurable.