Last Sunday, the Love Dogs rock band was the final act in Newton’s series of six summer concerts on Sunday evenings in Newton Centre. An enthusiastic audience of 300 — the largest audience in the series — attended this concert. Paula Gannon, Director of Newton Cultural Affairs, noted that the first four Sunday evenings in the series were blazingly hot, and the fifth Sunday had a powerful electrical storm. This final concert, however, on a bright and breezy August evening drew a diverse audience — young, old, families, middle-aged, singles and couples — wanting to make up for the weather challenges of the previous five Sundays.
For decades, Sunday night concerts have been a popular tradition on the Newton Centre Green. With the need for strict social-distancing during the height of the Covid pandemic, Paula Gannon moved the weekly event across Centre Street to the large green space adjoining the Mason-Rice School Field and Tyler Terrace. The “bowl” offers more performance space, although it’s a downhill walk from Tyler Terrace and a longer walk from Centre Street or the Mason-Rice parking lot. During the height of Covid, Ms Gannon drew 20-foot boxes for people to place their chairs and enjoy the performances. Assessing the Newton Center Green venue versus the ”bowl,” Ms. Gannon credited Covid for leading her to “this amazing space, quiet, versatile, great acoustics, and safe for children.”
Ms Gannon and the Newton Cultural Affairs Committee are working with an architect to develop a permanent performance site at this location. The public is invited to review three options under consideration and respond with questions, ideas, or comments. This summer’s performances rotated among the three stage options, giving audiences a chance to comment on preferences as well.
The 2022 Newton Summer Concert Series offered a varied musical experience — rock, Latino, folk — ending with a rock medley by the Love Dogs. One octogenarian in the audience was delighted when the group played the Twist, reminding him of the 1960s, when it was introduced. Other audience members danced to the music, in couples or singly. Children chased one another; groups of adults stood and chatted; some stood shielded by trees, trying out moves to the music. Amid the Love Dogs’ vibrant tempo, the audience was on its feet, moving to the music, determined to maximize every minute of the last concert of the summer.
Ms Gannon invites everyone to read Newton Cultural Development’s August newsletter and sign up to receive future issues.
