One of the things I love most about summer is that you don’t have to look very hard to find live music. It seems like every winery, brewery, waterfront, park, and casino has someone taking the stage. Some weekends I find myself wishing I could clone myself because there are simply too many good shows happening at the same time.
This week is one of those weekends.
From Cole Swindell, Matisyahu, and Sister Hazel to tribute bands celebrating Prince, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam, Kenny Chesney, and Queen, there’s something for just about every musical taste. Add in vineyard concerts, indie rock festivals, hometown bands, and free outdoor shows, and you’ve got one of the strongest live music weekends of the summer.
So grab a lawn chair, order something cold, and discover your soundtrack for the weekend. 🎵
41st Annual Charlestown Seafood Festival
Fri. – Sun. @ 12:00 pm
More than 10 bands take the stage over three days, including Take It To The Bridge, The Senders, Vyntyge Skynyrd, Dirty Deeds (AC/DC Tribute), Experience Queen, Raise Your Hands (Bon Jovi Tribute), and more. It’s one of the biggest live music weekends of the summer. See Full Details
Kingdom of the Hawk Winery Friday Music Series
Fri. @ 5:00 pm
Spend a summer evening at one of Connecticut’s most beautiful wineries as Phil Smith performs live while South County BBQ serves dinner. It’s the perfect pairing of local music, great food, and handcrafted wine overlooking the vineyards. See Full Details
East Lyme Summer Concert Series – Friday Bandshell Concerts
Fri. @ 6:00 pm
Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a free waterfront concert as Nightshift takes the McCook Point Park bandshell with an evening of classic soul, R&B, Motown, funk, and dance favorites overlooking Long Island Sound. See Full Details
Travis Hyll Live at The Irons Restaurant & Bar
Fri. @ 6:00 pm
Local favorite Travis Hyll brings his blend of country, Americana, and acoustic favorites to The Irons for a relaxed evening of live music, great food, and drinks on the Stonington shoreline. See Full Details
Summer Concert Series at Stonington Vineyards
Fri. @ 6:00 pm
Kick back with a glass of wine as 2 Cat Zoo brings its signature blend of classic rock, folk, blues, and Americana to the vineyard. Add Fire in the Kitchen Pizza, lawn chairs, and a summer sunset, and you’ve got one of the shoreline’s best Friday night traditions. See Full Details
Redneck Castaway Band: Kenny Chesney Tribute at Mohegan Sun Sun Patio
Fri. @ 6:30 pm (Band starts at 8:00 pm)
Break out the flip-flops and sing along to all of Kenny Chesney’s biggest beach-country hits as Redneck Castaway Band brings island vibes to Mohegan Sun’s free Party on the Sun Patio concert series. Food trucks, drink specials, and summer fun round out the night. See Full Details
LoVeSeXy (Prince Tribute) at Ocean Beach Park
Fri. @ 7:00 pm
Purple Rain, Kiss, Let’s Go Crazy, 1999, When Doves Cry… if you’re a Prince fan, you already know the soundtrack. LoVeSeXy brings one of New England’s premier Prince tribute shows to Ocean Beach Park for a high-energy night celebrating the music, style, and spirit of the Purple One. See Full Details
Wild Sun at The Knick Music Lab
Fri. @ 8:00 pm
Rhode Island alt-rock trio Wild Sun returns to The Knick with its hook-filled originals and high-energy live show, joined by the Brad Bensko Band for a night of local rock at one of Westerly’s favorite music venues. See Full Details
The Cartells at Hygienic Art
Fri. @ 8:00 pm
For more than three decades, The Cartells have been one of southeastern Connecticut’s favorite party bands, delivering a high-energy mix of classic rock, pop, funk, and dance hits that always gets the crowd moving. See Full Details
I Petty The Fool (Tom Petty Tribute)
Fri. @ 8:00 pm
If you’re the kind of person who instinctively sings along to Free Fallin’, American Girl, or Refugee, this one’s for you. Connecticut favorite I Petty The Fool faithfully recreates the music of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers for a night of timeless American rock at the Charlestown Rathskeller. See Full Details
Hawk in the Nest with Delicate Crush & Haunted Like Human
Fri. @ 8:00 pm
If discovering new music is your thing, head to Oasis Pub for a night of original indie rock and Americana featuring Hawk in the Nest, Delicate Crush, and Nashville duo Haunted Like Human in one of New London’s most intimate live music venues. See Full Details
Kingdom of the Hawk Saturday Music Series
Sat. @ 3:00 pm
Spend a relaxing Saturday afternoon at the vineyard as Jason Ingriselli performs live alongside food from The Grazing Cart. Great wine, local music, and beautiful countryside make for an easy summer escape. See Full Details
Hygienic Indie Music Fest
Sat. @ 6:00 pm
Discover some of the region’s best original music as Roosevelt Drive, Delicate Crush, The Whales, Ruby Grove, Pure Joy, and All In, All Out take the stage for a full evening celebrating Connecticut and New England’s indie music scene. See Full Details
Matisyahu Summer Tour at Jonathan Edwards Winery
Sat. @ 7:00 pm
Known for the hit “One Day,” Matisyahu blends reggae, rock, hip-hop, and spiritual lyricism into a powerful live performance. His stop at Jonathan Edwards Winery pairs an intimate vineyard setting with one of the summer’s most unique concerts. See Full Details
The 502s – The Up, Up, Up the Coast and Across the Pond Tour
Sat. @ 8:00 pm
Often called “the happiest band on Earth,” Florida’s The 502s bring their infectious beach-folk sound, singalong choruses, and boundless energy to UNITED. If you’re looking for a concert that feels like pure summer, this is it. See Full Details
Cole Swindell at Foxwoods Resort Casino
Sat. @ 8:00 pm
Multi-Platinum country star Cole Swindell brings a hit-filled night to Foxwoods with chart-toppers like “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” “Single Saturday Night,” “You Should Be Here,” and “Forever To Me.” If modern country is your soundtrack, this is one of the weekend’s biggest concerts. See Full Details
Sister Hazel at Wolf Den
Sat. @ 8:00 pm
With hits like “All for You,” “Change Your Mind,” “Champagne High,” and “Your Winter,” platinum-selling rock band Sister Hazel brings three decades of singalong favorites to the Wolf Den for a free concert that’s worth arriving early to catch. See Full Details
The Experiment (Pearl Jam Tribute)
Sat. @ 8:00 pm
Relive the raw energy of Seattle’s grunge era as The Experiment performs Pearl Jam classics like Alive, Even Flow, Jeremy, Better Man, and Yellow Ledbetter at the Charlestown Rathskeller for a night of ’90s rock under the summer sky. See Full Details
Sunday Jam Sessions at Dean’s Mill Farm
Sun. @ 2:30 pm
Wrap up the weekend with live music from Frankenphil in the relaxed setting of Dean’s Mill Farm’s Beer Garden. Grab a local craft beer, enjoy food truck fare, and spend a laid-back Sunday afternoon with friends and family on the farm. See Full Details
Shameless at Wolf Den
Sun. @ 7:00 pm
Close out the weekend with one of New England’s premier party bands as Shameless delivers a high-energy mix of classic rock, pop, dance, and singalong favorites. It’s the perfect excuse to end the weekend on a high note—and admission is free. See Full Details
