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Brown Bag Concert Series

The Brown Bag Concerts are produced by 90.5 WICN & Mechanics Hall.

Brown Bag Spring 2024 Concert Series

Wednesdays at Noon, March 13th, 20th & 27th
Free Admission

Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester, MA, 01608; 508-752-5608
Broadcast live on WICN 90.5 FM and streaming at wicn.org

For over 35 years, Mechanics Hall and WICN have been proud to provide quality live performances free to the general public! Every concert begins at noon and ends promptly at 1:00 pm. Bring your own “brown bag” lunch, as Mechanics Hall will not be offering food or beverages at this time.

Brown Bag Concerts are broadcast on 90.5fm and stream live on wicn.org as they happen. All concerts are free and subject to change without notice.


March 13th – Evening Sky Band

Evening Sky is a Jazz/Roots Quartet featuring Chris Brooks on Pedal Steel Guitar, Joe Potenza on Bass, composer Gino Rosati on Guitars, and producer Eric Hastings on Drums.  

The band has a knack for combining the classic elements of American music (jazz, folk, R&B, country) to form a unique, spirited sound.  Their rhythmic, smooth, and playful approach has been compared to artists as diverse as Bill Frisell, Bill Withers, Bill Monroe, and Bill Laswell. And that’s just the Bills!

Whether on their own original instrumentals, reinterpreting classic songs, or collaborating with guest singers and instrumentalists, Evening Sky has a chameleon-like ability to adapt to whatever the situation calls for.

The band can be seen performing at venues as varied as jazz and blues festivals, quiet listening rooms, and raucous rock clubs.  Evening Sky’s approach in the studio is equally as eclectic.  They have experimented with old school recording techniques, as evidenced on their One Mic, Two Weekends release.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, they have used the studio as a creative, experimental tool:  adding layers of sound, overdubs, effects and five different vocalists on their version of Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited.


March 20th – The Daniel Bennett Group

New York saxophonist Daniel Bennett has been hailed as one of the most original and unpredictable musical voices of his generation. The Boston Globe described Bennett’s music as, “a mix of Jazz, Folk and Minimalism.” The Daniel Bennett Group is celebrating the release of their 9th studio album, ‘New York Nerve.’ Timeout New York called the music, “hypnotic!” Daniel Bennett is joined by master percussionist Koko Bermejo on drums and keyboard. Rounding out the trio is acclaimed six-string bassist Kevin Hailey. Daniel Bennett has been featured in Timeout New York, Baltimore Sun, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, and NPR. The UK Jazz Journal called Bennett “an outspoken voice of hope” during the COVID 19 pandemic. Daniel Bennett Group was recently voted ‘Best New Jazz’ in Hot House Magazine. The band performs regularly at the Blue Note (NYC), Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (London) and Zingari Jazz (San Francisco). Daniel Bennett is a touring woodwind clinician and educator at the New York Jazz Academy. Daniel Bennett is also an active woodwind doubler in the New York City theater scene. Bennett orchestrated the music for ‘Whitman at the Whitney,’ a multimedia theater production at the Whitney Museum. Daniel Bennett played woodwinds in ‘Blank! The Musical,’ the first fully improvised musical to launch on a national stage. The New York Times called the show, “Witty, Likable and Ludicrous!” Daniel Bennett’s genre-bending sound has captivated audiences throughout the world.

https://danielbennett.net/


March 27th – Betty’s Bounce

Betty’s Bounce, a jazz trio from Wakefield, MA, performs American and Gypsy Jazz in the spirit of guitarist Django Reinhardt. Jean Reinhardt, known by his Romani nickname Django, was a Romani-Belgian jazz guitarist and composer. He was one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe and has been hailed as one of its most significant exponents. Betty’s Bounce features Audie Bridges on guitar, Curtis Doo on guitar, and Zach Bridges on double bass.


Brown Bag Concerts started out as free organ recitals as a way for Mechanics Hall to thank the community for the dollars it donated to restore the Hall’s world-famous Hook Organ. WICN realized that Mechanics Hall was getting great audiences and tried a noontime series of its own….another great success. The following year they decided to become partners…Mechanics Hall provides the stage, the staff, and the tech support including sound; WICN programs and books the talent and broadcasts the performances live on 90.5 FM and streaming at www.wicn.org. Mechanics Hall and WICN share promotional responsibilities.

Brown Bag Concerts is sponsored by:

 

 

BROWN BAG ARCHIVE

WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) has recognized the historical significance of the 30+ years of the Brown Bag Concert Series. WPI has documented the series history in its Jazz History Database. The database includes information from 1989 – 2008.

“Studio 3”, a half-hour music and interview television program featuring some of the best jazz groups in New England and beyond, was taped between 1993 and 2000 before live audiences in the studios of WGMC-TV3 or on location, including Brown Bag concerts at Mechanics Hall. All shows were produced and hosted by jazz vocalist Toni Ballard, with production support from Greater Media Cable, and aired from 1993 to 2003 on WGMC-TV3. The WPI Jazz History Database includes Studio 3 videos.

 

Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2023

Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2022

Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2022

Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2020

Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2019

Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2018

Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2018

Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2017

Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2017

Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2016

Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2016

Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2015

Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2015

Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2014

Brown Bag Concert Series: Spring 2014

Brown Bag Concert Series: Fall 2013

Brown Bag Concert Series: Spring 2013

Brown Bag Concert Series: Fall 2012

Brown Bag Concert Series: Spring 2012

Brown Bag Concert Series: Fall 2011

» JAZZ HISTORY DATABASE