Music Is In The Air As Norwood Kicks Off Three Summer Concert Series

NORWOOD, MA - Norwood's summer music season is in full swing, as the town is holding three separate concert series that reflect the diversity and generational span of its residents.

Selectman Bob Donnelly has been involved in organizing the Wednesday night Summerfest series since 1982, which has run every year with the exception of 2020 because of the pandemic. They are held at the gazebo on the Town Common in Norwood Center on Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m.

"It started out in 1980 with a committee of about 15 or 20 people, and a few of us are still around today," he explained. "It was modeled after Boston's Concerts on the Common series in the late 1970s and early '80s and kicked off on June 4, 1980."

When the series began, Donnelly said Summerfest featured swing, square dance music and barbershop quartets. Now it has expanded to eight concerts with musical stylings from Caribbean to Celtic to Cajun, with four acts that are veteran performers and four who are new to playing Norwood.

"Over 40 years, we have built up quite a Rolodex of performers," he noted. "We reached out to bands that have played in the past that have had a good audience reaction, and we also involve new bands."

This year, Donnelly said it was important to include acts that reflect the growing cultural diversity in Norwood as well as local acts.

"Last week, we kicked off the series with PanNeubean, a five-member calypso steel drum band," he said. "Two of the performers were miked up and went out into the crowd, including the saxophone player, which got a great reaction.

"One thing I am really proud about the Summerfest series is because there is so much diversity not only in the music but also in the faces on the stage," Donnelly continued. "Norwood's racial diversity is growing, and it is important that the performers reflect that."

The series also showcases Norwood talent. Wednesday's concert features veteran blues band Roundhouse, with three members who are Norwood High School alumni. Donnelly said this act, which is being sponsored by a grant from the Norwood 150th Committee, which has featured a variety of historic and cultural events throughout the year and will continue through New Year's Eve.

"We wanted to have Roundhouse as the sponsored band in celebration of Norwood's 150th anniversary as a town," Donnelly said.

The concert on July 20 will feature mariachi singer and Latin American folkloric dancer Veronica Robles, who runs a cultural center in East Boston. Donnelly first learned about her in a Boston magazine article and viewed a virtual concert.

"We saw that the schedule was quite male dominated and had few bands with female performers," he said. "She is a wonderful lady with a very nice voice."

Erin Og will bring a Celtic folk music to the common. The name means "Young Ireland."

"This band was a big hit in previous years, especially with older residents," Donnelly said. "It's a three-piece band with two guitarists and a mandolin."

The August portion of the series will kick off with husband-and-wife rockers Acoustic Fire on Aug. 3. They play classic rock, country and blues music.

"You can't go wrong with rock and roll in Norwood," Donnelly said, noting that the following week will feature rock band Back Pages. Americana band Squeezebox Stompers will take the stage on Aug. 17.

Dave Tesssier's All-Star Stars will conclude Summerfest on Aug. 24.

"I did a little research, and there are not too many Cajun bands in the Boston area," Donnelly said. "Three years ago they performed, and they were a lot of fun."

Despite being instrumental in creating and continuing the concert series, Donnelly confessed that he was never musically inclined despite being a fan of many types of music, particularly folk, rock and Celtic.

"I just like music," he said with a laugh. "I was never instrumental in any way, shape or form."

In addition to Summerfest, there will be a special concert on Thursday at 7 p.m. on the common featuring Miguel Espinoza Fusion, a flamenco band, Donnelly added.

"They were recommended at the suggestion of Clayton Cheever, the director of the Morrill Memorial Library," he said. "It's a nice blend of jazz, flamenco and Cuban music. It's a big deal to be able to attract this kind of international talent, and we were happy that they could fit this concert into their schedule."

In addition to this series, there is the Concerts on the Common series on Sundays from 6-8 p.m. It kicked off Sunday with the Westwood Swing Band. It will conclude on Aug. 28.

A Norwood favorite is the 37th annual Carillon Concerts on the Common series, which is being dedicated to deceased former Assistant Town Manager Bernie Cooper this year. Norwood resident and carillonneur Lee Leach will perform on July 17. He has been instrumental in the preservation of the carillon at Town Hall. The carillon concerts take place on Sundays from 2-3 p.m., with the Town Common being the best place to listen.