Library Concert Series Is Changing Location And Day This Summer

C.H. Booth Library’s Summer Concert Series will return this year, but with two changes.

With the recent addition of new parking spaces behind the library building, concerts can no longer be presented behind the library. So the concert series will move this year to The Pleasance, the garden at the corner of Main Street and Sugar Street (Route 302).

The concerts are also moving from Friday to Saturday evenings. Concerts will begin at 7 pm and are free of charge.

The series will open on June 19 with Mary Beth Sippin & Goldrush on Saturday, June 19.

Because of the limited parking available at The Pleasance, the library is encouraging people to park at the library and walk down to The Pleasances whenever possible. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Picnics will be welcome, but there are no trash receptacles at The Pleasance so please plan to carry out your own trash.

Mary Beth Sippin & Goldrush combines traditional country, bluegrass, folk, rock and western swing “to create a musical experience that is diverse and energetic,” according to the band’s website.

The band’s core sound is built around acoustic instruments including the guitar (both flat picked and finger style), the five-string banjo, mandolin and dobro. In addition to the acoustic instruments band members play electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, electric bass and percussion. The result is something the band calls “high energy acoustic country music.”

The band plays originals as well as covers and loves doing outdoor shows.

“There is something about playing to an open air audience that’s just plain fun,” vocalist Mary Beth, who lives with her husband Gary and their kids in Newtown, told The Newtown Bee last summer. “There’s no constraints, no rules. Sit and listen, get up and dance… whatever!”

The band members are percussionist Dennis DeMorro; John Monthei on pedal steel, banjo, dobro and fiddle; Dick Neal on acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro and vocals; Gary Sippin on acoustic guitar, banjo and vocals; and Pete Szymanski on bass. Steve Davies also provides “sound reinforcement.”