Music on the River

MUSIC ON THE RIVER 2024

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 seventeen 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 2024, 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

T-SHIRT PREORDER $25 EACH

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 1st - We'll see you down by the river!

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Music on the River 2024 Brochure.pdf 

MUSIC ON THE RIVER LINE UP 2024

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 at the Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School, 73 Clark Gates Road, Moodus, where you can experience an extraordinary performance in a concert hall setting or on the following Tuesday on the Goodspeed lawn.  Rain date schedule below:

                                                Rain Date      Location
7/1     Christine Ohlman          7/2                 Goodspeed Lawn
7/8     Tatiana Eva-Marie         7/9                 Goodspeed Lawn
7/15   Cold Chocolate             7/16               Goodspeed Lawn
7/22   Gaslight Tinkers            7/23               Goodspeed Lawn
7/29   John Jorgenson            7/29               NHRMS
8/5     One Time Weekend      8/6                 Goodspeed Lawn

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.  Due to the periodic closure of the Swing Bridge and no shuttle service from Eagle Landing, parking may be affected,  We urge you to carpool if possible.  For bridge closure updates, please consult:  www.easthaddamswingbridgeproject.com. 

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 1 Christine Ohlman

She's back!  With her trademark mile-high platinum beehive hairdo and enviable collection of sequins and rhinestones, Ohlman looks like a lady to be reckoned with, and when she opens her mouth to sing, the truth comes out.  But underneath it all lurks a no-frills approach to music. Christine is the current long-time vocalist of the Saturday Night LIve Band.  Her long list of achievements includes her induction into the National Blues Hall of Fame, singing on Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and partnering with Elvis Costello for a duet on HBO's Vinyl.  Christine tours relentlessly with her band Rebel Montez.

July 8 Tatiana Eva-Marie & the Avalon Jazz Band

Nicknamed the Gypsy-Jazz Warbler by the New York Times. Tatiana Eva-Marie is a transatlantic bandleader, singer, author, and actress based in Brooklyn.  Best know for her work leading the Avalon Jazz Band - a band with a Parisian "vintage" flair that has gathered 80 million views on YouTube - her interests have lead her to explore a wide range of musical styles, from 1930s pop to modern jazz.  Tatiana Eva-Marie's singing is always inspired by her own French and Romani heritage; a love for the Parisian art scene era spanning the 1920s to the 60s; a passion for Gypsy music and a deep connection to the Great American Songbook.

July 15 Cold Chocolate

Cold Chocolate is a genre-bending Americana band that fuses folk, funk and bluegrass to create a unique sound all their own.  Led by Ethan Robbins and Ariel Bernstein, the Boston-based duo released their fifth full-length album in the fall of 2023.  Punctuated by tight harmonies and skillful musicianship, Cold Chocolate has quickly gained recognition for their original music and high-energy shows.  The band regularly performs at venues and music festivals across the country.

July 22 Gaslight Tinkers

African, Caribbean, Funk, Reggae, and Latin grooves meet traditional fiddle music.  The Gaslight Tinkers blend of global rhythms creates a joyously danceable sound around a core of traditional New England old-time and Celtic fiddle music.  Since its formation in 2012, the band has lit up the East Coast, the West Coast, and the Caribbean, headlining clubs, dances, and major festivals,  Playing what The Valley Advocate describes as "Music that consistently fizzes and pops with unexpected textures and turns," The Gaslight Tinkers shows are packed with delightful surprises, elated crowds, and exuberant musicianship.

July 29 John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band

J2B2 is an all-star bluegrass supergroup featuring four legendary, grammy nominated/winning musicians - John Jorgenson (founding member of Desert Rose Band) on acoustic guitar, mandolin, and vocals; Herb Pedersen on banjo, acoustic guitar, and vocals; Mark Fain on bass; and Patrick Sauber on acoustic guitar and vocals.  The four combine forces to form a spot-on union of impeccable musicianship, incomparable songwriting, and incredible harmony vocals. J2B2 has played several times at the Grand Ole Opry.  They have worked with musical legends Elton John, Barbara Streisand, Dolly Parton, and many more.

August 5 One Time Weekend

"We Groove - You Move" is the mantra of One Time Weekend.  OTW is an innovative shred-funk Connecticut quartet that brings driving grooves with a melodic and progressive edge to the universe.  They are known for their live shows - delivering a high-energy musical experience every performance as twin lead guitarists, Adam Eytan and Zac Mulcahy shred over bassist and lead vocalist Ian D'Arcangelo's funky bass lines and dynamic vocals while Ben "Beano" Sullivan mans the pocket holding it all down with his rhythmic energy.