Since 1992
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ANDOVER — The Andover Summer Concert Series will enter its fourth season Friday, June 2, at 6 p.m. at the Andover Town Common, tucked away in the Ellis River Valley. The Common is located at Routes 5 and 120 in the center of town. The concerts are held every other Friday throughout the summer and early fall. People are invited, free of charge, to listen to regional musicians perform a variety of genres.
This summer, local resident and business owner Pete Coolidge will once again be showcasing a concert series fast becoming an Andover summer tradition. The series will kick off the season with local favorites — Pete Coolidge & The Acoustipalians. Coolidge, who owns Pete’s Hardware with his wife Wanda, said the idea for a free concert series stemmed from regular jam sessions with his friends.
“The idea just kind of evolved over the years,” Coolidge said. “I get together with some friends a few times every month to play music, and at some point, we started talking about possibly doing a free concert for people in Andover. I’ve done a couple of benefits for people over the years, so I thought it would be neat to do something like this for the town. We’ve never really had anything like it in Andover.”
According to local performer Ross Swain, who came on board last year to handle public relations for social media and newspapers, “The series has grown immensely since Pete started it three years ago. What started out mainly as a summer concert series for Andover talent to perform for the locals every other Friday, has evolved to include regional performers playing for audiences from near and far.”
This growth called for more behind-the-scenes planning and the need to focus a little more on cash flow, which was less of a concern three years ago. In keeping with the vision of the first year, all outdoor concerts will continue to be free, but donations will be gladly accepted to help defray expenses. To that end, Ross introduced concert goers last year to a donations container one performer dubbed “Phillip The Bucket” (fill up the bucket). If they so desire, people can stop by the PR table at any point during a performance and pay a visit to “Phillip.” In addition, hats, tees and sweatshirts will be available for purchase.
All organizers and staff for the series volunteer their time, so money raised mainly goes to covering expenses such as renting a PortaPotty for the summer, printing, advertising, and performer fees. Many of the performers pitch in by either donating their time or taking a reduced fee, which adds to keeping the budget on track. Patrons are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and even picnic lunches in order to fully experience the down-home feel of the concerts. Unless they are service animals, pets are best left at home.
There are no food concessions on site, but there are two convenience stores, one restaurant, and an ice cream shop within easy walking distance.
For more information and a full list of performers and concert dates, please visit the Andover Summer Concert Series Facebook page.
CAPTION INFO: Black and white photo taken last year from the bandstand during the David Mallett concert (Mike Burd photo)
