Day Trips From Hartford And Tolland Counties: Venues For Live Music

CONNECTICUT — Summer is rapidly getting shorter, and many stores are already in full back-to-school mode. However, there is still enough time to enjoy some fantastic live music and entertainment over the next six weeks or so.

While the usual locales in Connecticut (Mohegan Sun Arena, Foxwoods, Xfinity Theater in Hartford, etc.) are offering stellar performers, we decided to take a look at some more regional venues. All of them are located less than a 3-hour drive from any town in Hartford and Tolland counties.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Old Saybrook

A non-profit organization located in an historic theatre/town hall on Main Street, "The Kate" includes a 285-seat theatre that presents work in several diverse genres, including music, theater, opera, dance, comedy, film and a variety of children’s programming.

The center averages 26 performances a month, for a total of more than 300 performances a year.

Among the variety of live performances scheduled in the coming weeks are Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey, Al Stewart, the Best of Boston Comedy Festival, Richard Marx, David Foster and the Shaboo All-Stars, and The Kate's annual gala.

Xfinity Center, Mansfield MA

Originally the Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts, this outdoor amphitheatre opened in 1986 with a capacity of 12,000. In the early 2000s, it expanded to contain 7,000 reserved seats, 7,000 lawn seats and 5,900 general admission seats.

The venue has undergone several name changes over the past 25 years, including the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts and the Comcast Center. It was officially named the Xfinity Center on Jan. 1, 2014.

Upcoming performances are scheduled by a vast variety of musical acts, including Dierks Bentley, Slipknot, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top, Lauryn Hill and the Fugees, Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie, and Pitbull.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs NY

Founded in the year of America's independence, 1776, Saratoga Springs is best known for its thoroughbred horse racing track. However, the resort town of around 30,000 residents in northeastern New York also plays host to some incredible entertainers throughout the year.

Performers of every musical genre imaginable are lined up to play at the PAC. Upcoming concerts include John Legend, the Philadelphia Orchestra, a 1990s evening with New Kids On the Block and Paula Abdul, the Doobie Brothers and Steve Winwood, Hank Williams Jr., James Taylor and His All-Star Band, and Deep Purple and Yes.

A special performance is slated for Sept. 21 - the 40th edition of the Farm Aid benefit concert. Founded in 1985 by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp, the annual extravaganza returns to Saratoga Springs for the first time since 2013. In addition to the three founders, this year's lineup includes new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dave Matthews, Hall of Famer Mavis Staples and many more.

Travel Distances and Times

Here are the approximate travel distances and times to drive to each venue from three outlying communities in the region - Storrs, Southington and Granby.

"The Kate"
from Storrs - 47 miles (58 minutes)
from Southington - 46 miles (54 minutes)
from Granby - 60 miles (67 minutes)

Xfinity Center
from Storrs - 86 miles (90 minutes)
from Southington - 119 miles (116 minutes)
from Granby - 115 miles (109 minutes)

Saratoga PAC
from Storrs - 167 miles (165 minutes)
from Southington - 161 miles (161 minutes)
from Granby - 119 miles (129 minutes)