Going Live: Pentangle’s Music by the River series returns in July
A view of the East End Park in Woodstock, showing the park’s amphitheater at right. Pentangle Arts’ free summer concert series moves to the park next month. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
It's the same river, but a totally new location, for Pentangle Arts' annual Music by the River series which kicks off next month at the East End Park in Woodstock.
It's the park's first-ever run of summer concerts since it opened at the Village's East End last year. The shows are free of charge, but donations are greatly appreciated, and non-perishable food items will be accepted for the Woodstock Community Food Shelf. From July 2 to Aug. 20, concerts will take place on eight consecutive Fridays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. — the lawn opens at 5:30 p.m.
With the state's recent changes, there are no more COVID restrictions at the concerts. Alita Wilson, Pentangle's executive director, said it's "liberating" to hold the concerts under more normal circumstances.
"To have all ages together, in a beautiful location like that, it's like light," Wilson said. "It's like coming out of the dark into the light."
A major point of the music series this year is to recognize those who created the East End Park, a project which took over 10 years of planning and hard work by local volunteers. Also unveiled in 2020 was another volunteer effort: the nearby Ottauquechee River Trail, which goes alongside the scenic waterway for about three miles.
The 2021 season wraps up with a Community Heroes Concert on Friday, Aug. 27, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the park. It features Kat Wright & The Indomitable Soul Band, with the Eames Brothers as the opener. This celebratory show recognizes the many nonprofits, volunteers and businesses that stepped up to help the community through the pandemic.
"That's what this concert is about, celebrating COVID resilience," Wilson said. "People all over the place were doing amazing things."
Wilson said the park provides an ideal place for live music, and plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors.
"I think it's a really good community place to gather and celebrate coming out of COVID, and celebrate the volunteers that created the park," Wilson said.
The fun begins on July 2, with the Americana folk jazz music of the Paul Asbell Quintet. In a career spanning 50 years, Asbell has played gigs and recorded with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Bobby McFerrin, and many others. The quintet features Asbell (guitar), Gabe Jarrett (drums), Clyde Stats (bass), Woodstock resident Michael Zsoldos, (saxophone), and Michael Hartigan (keyboard).
This year’s Music by the River concerts mark Pentangle’s 48th free summer concert series. The 2021 series has been generously supported, Wilson said, with multiple sponsorships ranging from $500 to $1,500. This summer's line-up features a wide variety of musicians, both from the local area and points beyond. The rest of the series includes: Interplay Jazz (cool jazz); the Ben Patton Band (pop alt rock); A2VT (African/Western hip hop); Myra Flynn & Paul Boffa (indie soul); Marcie Fernandez (Latin indie folk); Barika (West African groove); and Jay Nash (folk jazz).
The East End Park is located at 217 Maxham Meadow Way in Woodstock, Vermont, off Route 4 in the village. For more information, visit pentanglearts.org, email info@pentanglearts.org, or call 802-457-3981.
— Gareth Henderson
