Worcester’s “Out-to-Lunch” concerts on the Worcester Common – every Thursday this summer, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – feature live music! Local rock bands, oldies bands, salsa bands, they’re all behind City Hall, Main Street …. FREE FUN! Plus: there’s also a local FARMERS MARKET and artists selling their art! Plus: great umbrella-topped picnic tables at which you can eat your lunch, while listening to the music! Best of all: There’s room on the plaza for dancin’! pic – R.T.
By Edith Morgan
Music is said to be the universal language – we all respond to it from the moment we were born (some think we even appreciate it in utero). It is said to soothe the savage breast and, for teachers, it is a great mnemonic device (a lot of us learned the alphabet by singing it). And stutterers miraculously can sing without hesitation. We all respond to rhythm in various ways, but we all DO respond.
So, as the days get warmer and longer, and many of us enjoy a bit of leisure time, we look for opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors while we listen to all kinds of music.
Worcester offers something for everyone! I will focus on some of Worcester’s great free concerts, available this month and in August, in some of our beautiful parks.
If you like to be out in the midday sun, you can attend the ten “Out –to-Lunch” concerts on the Worcester Common on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Now until August 20th there will be concerts by the Sonic Explorers, Boombox, Dale LePage and the Manhattans, Farmers Union Players, Grupo Fantasia, Matthew Sanchez y su Orquesta, and the Drunken Uncles.
And while you listen to the music there is the Farmers’ Market, where you can buy fresh, homegrown produce!
In the evenings, you can attend the Newton Square Concert series, on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., now through August 11th. Here you can buy refreshments and enjoy the scenery.
On Thursdays, in Elm Park, beginning at 6:30 p.m., Park Spirit, Inc. will present its iconic concert series, featuring Country Night with MYCHAEL DAVID and the HELP WANTED BAND (Nashville recording artist) on July 23rd; Classic pop night with THE DINOSAURS on July 30th; the 20 piece swing band THE MILFORD JAZZ MACHINE ORCHESTRA on August 6th, and finally, Maximum Rockin Rhythm with THE SIVERBACKS ON August 13th.
Sunday evenings at Institute Park, the Central Mass Symphony began more than six decades of performances on July 13th, at 7 p.m. when Maestro Myron Romanut presented works by a wide variety of classical composers, among whom are Bizet, Strauss, Rossini, Schubert and others.
If you can’t make it every week, there are “one-shot” events!
On Saturday August 15th, there will be the yearly Latin-American festival, with music from all over the world, and of course dancing, food, and activities! FREE!
Sunday, August 30th, at Institute Park, beginning at noon, the Caribbean Carnival will start with a parade beginning at 305 Chandler street and proceed to the Worcester Common (behind City Hall). Again, there
will be vendors, music, local and international stars.
There are many more musical celebrations going on in Worcester! Our city is rich in resources which charge from very minimal fees to some more expensive venues. Whatever your resources are, whatever your tastes run to, there is something for you –from rock, to classical, folk, ethnic … . Whatever suits your fancy – you can find it and enjoy it in Worcester this summer!
