Summer Concerts At Dickinson Park

Newtown Parks & Rec Department will sponsor a series of concerts at Dickinson Park beginning Thursday, July 16, with The Bookends Band.

Concerts will begin at 6:30 and are free. Attendees should bring their own seating, and picnics are welcome.

For The Bookends Band (above), it all started back in 1976 on North Avenue in New Rochelle, in a pub called Beau Brummels. Chris Brown and Joe Summo, both from Pelham, would become known as Bookends. They played their acoustic guitars and sang to a room packed with friends and fans. Audience participation was always the norm and an eclectic mix of cover tunes and originals would entertain the crowd all night.

As their popularity grew, so did the band. Elements such as bass, accordion, and even a trombone were tried. Eventually evolving into a more traditional rock band instrumentation (bass, drums and keyboards), they became The Bookends Band. The larger band allowed them to play more high-energy songs and would often play at the local college functions.

Though the size of the band and venues grew, they never lost sight of their formula for success. The early cover tunes and originals were adapted for the instrumentation of the larger band.

After a 20-or-so year hiatus, the band would get back together for an occasional reunion, and now plays regularly at some of the area’s finest country clubs. Often, for some of the same “kids” from the North Avenue days.

In its present form, The Bookends Band consists of Chris and Joe on their acoustic guitars and vocals, Lou Bellofatto on keyboards and vocals, Eddie Denise on bass and vocals, Tony Summo on electric guitar and vocals, Tony Saporito on drums, and an occasional guest saxophonist, Crispin Cioe.

In addition to The Bookends Band, the concert series will include The Jay Willie Band on July 30; The Kenn Morr Band on August 6; Eye Contact on August 13; and Wondering Roots: Shawn Taylor on August 20.

Dickinson Park has entrances off Elm Drive and Brushy Hill Road. Call Parks & Rec (270-4340) for additional information or in the event of heavy rain. If there is light rain on the night of a concert, the performances will move under the park’s pavilion. Heavy rain will cancel the performance.