Music on the River

MUSIC ON THE RIVER 2025

Welcome back to Music on the River.  Summer is here and we cannot wait to sit by the River, on the beautiful lawn of the Goodspeed Opera House and listen to this year’s fantastic summer concerts! The Music on the River Committee was busy screening bands and making plans to present another incredible concert series. It is hard to believe that East Haddam Parks & Recreation has been presenting the series for eighteen seasons now. Please visit our website www.musicontheriver.net to learn more about our upcoming season. We wish to express our deepest gratitude to Goodspeed Musicals for sharing their lawn every Monday evening with the Music on the River concert series and to the Gelston House for hosting our bands.  Many thanks for your participation in the Music on the River experience.  We couldn't do it without them.

The most important member of the series is YOU - our wonderful town supporters. As you may know, these concerts are free. We do not use any town funds to offer these concerts. Music on the River is exclusively funded by community contributions and can only happen with your generous support. If you are interested in making a donation to support Music on the River 2025, please send your check to East Haddam Park and Recreation, P.O. Box 385, Moodus, CT 06469.  You may also donate on our website at www.easthaddamrec.com (account required).  Thank you in advance for your generous contribution.

         $10+     COPPER
       $100+     BRONZE
       $300+     SILVER
       $500+     GOLD
    $1,000+     PLATINUM
    $2,000+     DIAMOND

PLATINUM AND DIAMOND SPONSORS WILL RECEIVE A BANNER TO BE DISPLAYED AT ALL CONCERTS

Thank you for your inquiries and support.  Each season we strive to present a stellar lineup of concerts.  This year is no exception.  We are pleased to introduce bands who are new to the Music on the River stage; all award winning recording artists on tour to support their latest albums.

Once again - we are so thankful for all the volunteers who help with the event and the continued financial support from you. So mark your calendars - our first concert is July 14th - We'll see you down by the river!  Find us on Facebook!

Music on the River 2025 Brochure.pdf  

MUSIC ON THE RIVER LINE UP 2025

All free concerts are held on Monday nights from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Goodspeed Opera House (6 Main Street, East Haddam, CT).  Don't let inclement weather stop you from attending these amazing shows.  Join us either on the following Tuesday on the Goodspeed lawn or at the Nathan Hale-Ray High School Auditorium should it rain on Tuesday, where you can experience an extraordinary performance in a concert hall setting.  Rain date schedule below:

If the weather is questionable please call the Recreation Office 860-873-5058, check www.easthaddamrec.com or our Facebook page. Great food and drinks are available to purchase at the Gelston House or bring a picnic dinner.  Free parking is available in the Goodspeed Opera House parking lot and across the bridge at Eagle Landing.  The walkway spanning the bridge from Eagle Landing will be open to pedestrians. No shuttle service will be provided.  

The Music on the River site is made possible through the generous support of Goodspeed Musicals.  Out of courtesy for the audience and respect for the Goodspeed property, we kindly ask you to honor these requests:

• All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
• No dogs
• No smoking
• No vendors on concert grounds
• No soliciting on the concert grounds
• No parking on residential streets
• No children on river banks or dock

JULY 14 - RED MATTER

The genre-blending, jam band juggernaut Red Matter delivers dynamic, sophisticated songwriting with danceable rhythms - full of rollicking extended jams, musical improvisation, visual stimulation, and all-out aural excitement.  They have a hard-driving touring ethos - performing nearly two hundred fifty shows across the East Coast over the past several years.  Red Matter hits all the high notes, fusing the elements of rock-n-roll, blues, Americana, and psychedella, creating a truly versatile, eclectic style that showcases their appreciation for contemporaries such as Gov't Mule, Dawes, Goose, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Grateful Dead, and Phish.

JULY 21 - HOUSTON BERNARD

Houston Bernard's love for country music is deeply engrained in his family history, whose legacy includes collaborations with Reba McEntire and Tanya Tucker.  He seamlessly transitioned his career from amassing over a million streams on country music social platforms to becoming a successful recording and touring artist.  Nominated for 7 awards in 2024's Josie Indie Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry, he took home the prize for best performance in a music video.  Having shared the stage with country legends such as Luke Bryan, Old Dominion, Granger Smith, and Clint Black, Houston's dynamic live performances showcase his powerhouse vocals and undeniable stage presence.

JULY 28 - ROCK HEARTS

Rock Hearts brings together five seasoned musicians from Southern New England who love to sing and pick bluegrass, old country tunes, and seek out tunes from other genres to "bluegrassify." They are multi-instrumentalists and vocalists who are sought-after by promoters for major festivals.  Named an Official 2021 IBMA Showcase Band, the band is enjoying national radio and chart activity,  They are 615 Hideaway record label artists and have been privileged to share the stage with Del McCoury and Seldom Scene.

AUGUST 4 - SLAMBOVIAN CIRCUS OF DREAMS

Slambovian Circus of Dreams has been coloring 'outside the lines' of the Americana genre with their fantastic stories and performances since forming 20 years ago in the Hudson Valley of New York.  Voted "Best Band of 2022" by NY's Chronogram Magazine for their rootsy, rockin' psychedelia, and extraordinary musicianship, the Slambovians' deep connection with audiences and exciting live shows are legendary.  Inspired by the musical influences of Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and The Waterboys, their unique "performance art" style has formed lasting connections with their followers.

AUGUST 11 - GOODNIGHT MOONSHINE

Goodnight Moonshine is a guitar and vocal duet, and a musical marriage in all senses.  The Duo combines the evocative voice and songwriting of Molly Venter (Red Molly), with the adventurous guitar playing of Eben Pariser (Roosevelt Dime).  The result is folk music with a depth of improvisation and tonal subtlety usually reserved for jazz.  The duo is joined by master players Ryan Sands on drums, and Jeff Fuller on bass, to debut their new quartet at Music on the River.

AUGUST 18 - DUKE ROBILLARD

Duke has carved out a legacy as one of blues' most illustrious artists, garnering respect and accolades as a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, bandleader, studio sideman, and producer.  He co-founded the legendary jump blues band, Roomful of Blues. In his solo career, Duke replaced Jimmy Vaughn in the Fabulous Thunderbirds, toured with Bob Dylan, and headed his own bands featuring many legendary artists.  His music proficiency has also included recording collaborations with Herb Ellis, Jay McShann, and J. Gells, to name a few.  Duke's resume is decorated with Grammy nominations, Handy awards, Blues Music Awards and countless honors for his artistry, recordings, and productions.