Outdoor Concerts To Enjoy

Summer is finally here, bringing outdoor concerts to our area. Here are two you can enjoy this week: In Scarsdale, the 75-member Westchester Band under the direction of Alan Hollander will present the first of seven free concerts in Chase Park on Thursday night June 30th at 8:00pm. Titled "Chase Park Celebration" the program will feature a wide variety of music for all ages plus the popular "mystery tune". Guess the title and you could win a prize donated by a local merchant. The concert will feature a solo by the entire tuba section playing "Deep River". Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and enjoy a night under the stars in downtown Scarsdale.

On Saturday July 2nd, the American Roots Music Festival, a day of bluegrass, folk, gospel, country and the blues, is scheduled at Caramoor located on a 90-acre estate in Katonah.

The festival will take place in three locations on the grounds and visitors can explore the gardens and horticulture as well as hear the music. Daytime shows (12:30-6pm) will take place on a large open grassy field called Friends' Field and at a smaller, picturesque area called the Sunken Garden. The evening performance at 7:00pm is in the Venetian Theater.

Sandwiches, salads, snacks, alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages will be available or you can bring your own picnic or pre-order an upscale dinner picnic the week prior to the festival. There will also be free activities for kids (including face painting and a scavenger hunt) located on Friends' Field. Ollabelle, James Maddock, The Sweetback Sisters, Brother Sun and Spuyten Duyvil will each play a set on the main stage beginning at 12:30 pm.

The Sunken Garden is a charming scenic spot on the premises. Beginning at 1:00 pm, James Maddock, The Sweetback Sisters, Brother Sun and Spuyten Duyvil will each play an acoustic, unplugged set under the trees at this location making it a special, intimate performance.

At 7:00 pm the festival moves into the Venetian Theater, a fully covered venue with assigned seating for the East Coast debut of the David Grisman FolkJazz Trio with Nashville in-demand guitarist Jim Hurst and upright bass player Samson Grisman.

TIckets for the festival are $20/$30/$40 with half price for under 16 years. TIcket prices determine the location of seats for the headline show; all daytime performances are outdoors and open seating. For more info, to purchase tickets or pre-order a picnic go to http://www.caramoor.org/festival/americanroots