Ben Freiert & Jeff Lewis at Dean’s Mill Farm
Ben Freiert & Jeff Lewis at Dean’s Mill Farm bring acoustic indie, folk and alternative music to Stonington on Sunday, August 16, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. The performance is part of the farm’s weekly Sunday Jam Sessions, a free summer series pairing local musicians with food trucks, drinks, lawn games and an open-air beer garden.
Freiert and Lewis have been playing together around southeastern Connecticut and Rhode Island for years, including appearances at Stonington Vineyards and Grey Sail Brewing. Freiert handles guitar, piano, and vocals, while Lewis adds percussion and guitar, giving the duo a fuller sound without turning the afternoon into a full-band show.
The surroundings are a big part of this one. Deans Mill Farm Bed & Breakfast occupies more than 70 acres off Pequot Trail, with restored historic farm buildings, meadows, horses and open fields. On summer Sundays, part of that property becomes a casual beer garden where families can grab food, order a drink and settle in for three hours of music.
About Ben Freiert
Ben Freiert is a Stonington-based musician whose performances mix indie, folk and alternative music on guitar and piano.
His musical background goes back more than two decades. He began playing trumpet in middle school and later formed the original rock band Twenty Grand while in college, performing near campus and in New York City before eventually settling into the southeastern Connecticut music scene.
These days, Freiert is one of those musicians who seems to turn up everywhere once summer arrives. His 2026 schedule has included performances at Dean’s Mill Farm, Saltwater Farm Vineyard and Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard, with another appearance scheduled for Stonington Vineyards later in August.
The Sunday Jam setting fits the music particularly well. This isn’t a concert where everybody needs to sit silently facing the stage. Freiert’s acoustic approach works in the background while people eat and talk, but there’s enough going on musically that you can just as easily settle in and listen.
Ben Freiert & Jeff Lewis
Freiert and Jeff Lewis have an established history as a duo rather than being two musicians randomly paired for this particular Sunday.
Lewis accompanies Freiert on percussion and guitar, adding rhythm and another instrumental layer while maintaining the flexibility of an acoustic duo.
They’ve appeared together around the region for years. Grey Sail Brewing booked Ben Freiert & Jeff Lewis for multiple summer performances in 2021, while the pair were featured performers during Stonington Vineyards’ Summer Kickoff Weekend in 2024.
Sunday Jams at Dean’s Mill Farm
The Sunday Jam Sessions run throughout the warmer months at Dean’s Mill Farm, with live music scheduled every Sunday from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. The series continues into October, weather permitting.
Admission is free, and the atmosphere is deliberately casual. Food trucks rotate through the farm, while the beer garden serves local craft beer, wine and canned cocktails. Lawn games and open-air seating give people plenty to do without having to treat the afternoon like a formal concert.
The series is also family-friendly, making it an easy Sunday afternoon option for parents who want live music without taking the kids to a bar or nighttime venue.
There are two rules worth knowing before you pack the car: outside alcohol isn’t permitted, and animals aren’t allowed.
From an 18th-Century Farm to a Summer Beer Garden
Dean’s Mill Farm dates to the mid-1700s, when the property operated as a livestock farm.
After extensive renovations, the historic buildings and surrounding acreage have been repurposed into a private event venue and five-room bed and breakfast while preserving the property’s rural character.
The farm shares its 70-plus acres with Dragonfly Equestrian Center, so dozens of horses remain part of the landscape. Meadows, fields and hiking areas surround the property, and there’s even a 19-hole Dragonfly Disc Golf Course at Dean’s Mill Farm winding through old livestock fields, stone walls and wooded sections of the farm.
On Sundays, though, you don’t need a horse, a disc or much of a plan.
Find a seat. Get something cold to drink. Ben Freiert and Jeff Lewis start at 2:30.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, August 16, 2026
Time: 2:30–5:30 p.m.
Performers: Ben Freiert & Jeff Lewis
Series: Sunday Jam Sessions
Location: Dean’s Mill Farm Beer Garden
Address: 1189 Pequot Trail, Stonington, CT 06378
Admission: Free
Music: Indie, folk and alternative acoustic music
Food: Food trucks available
Drinks: Local craft beer, wine, canned cocktails and other beverages available for purchase
Family Friendly: Yes
Outside Alcohol: Not permitted
Pets: No animals permitted
Weather: Outdoor event; weather permitting. Times are subject to change.
Phone: (860) 415-6131
More Information
More information is available at the Event Website link below.
