The Summer Music Scene Is Heating Up – Martha’s Vineyard Concert Series

Celebrating its second season, the Martha’s Vineyard Concert Series has changed the Summer music scene on the Island.

I met with producer, and island homeowner, Adam Epstein, of Innovation Arts & Entertainment, to see what’s new for this year. Adam and his team learned a lot about what works well and not so well on this special little island.

Unlike so much of the country, celebrity stuff is not the most popular, but what does work, is really good music — music that people connect to like Graham Nash, rootsy, fun stuff like the Preservation Jazz Band, and the iconic Aretha Franklin.

CANCELLED – the Aretha Franklin Martha’s Vineyard Concert Series performance is canceled due to Aretha’s healthy concerns

An Icon Comes To The Island

Yes it’s true, the iconic Aretha Franklin is playing at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs, Saturday, August 19th. This is a performance that is going to rock the Vineyard. It will be a show for the books.

This concert is an enormous undertaking that is really paying off. With only 3,500 seats available, including inside the Tabernacle and the lawn, this performance on her farewell tour will give people a truly special, intimate experience in one of the most beautiful places. People are coming from all over the world to see this limited seating event.

Front row tickets, at $900 a pop, sold out in record time. The remaining pavilion tickets sold out quickly too. A pair that was donated to the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust’s Patron’s Dinner fetched a whopping $12,000!

This iconic artist appeals to men and women, all ages and races. She is the epitome of a musical legend and is performing here! General Admission, lawn seats, are still available, but very few. Click here to get yours now!

Having a legend and such a big production as part of the series that is on track to selling out months before the concert, show that Martha’s Vineyard is ready and eager for this series and for music.

It’s Adam’s hope to bring music back to the Island. Of course, there is music here, and great music. But we’re talking about the way performers want to be here, how they want to make the Vineyard part of their concert line-up, how it used to be at the legendary Hot Tin Roof, when it was really jamming. That’s Adam’s goal. He says he already has amazing performers reaching out to him about being a part of the series, coming to the island.

The Concert Series

The Martha’s Vineyard Concert Series uses a number of island venues, including the Old Whaling Church, in Edgartown, the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center, in Oak Bluffs, and the Tabernacle, in Oak Bluffs. Each venue lends itself to a different experience, intimate and dynamic, giving guests a truly unique experience.

The series kicks off with the talented Aimee Mann, Wednesday, June 28th. She is on tour with her new album, Mental Illness. The title is meant to be a little humorous, but there are songs that were inspired by friends who may just be a little crazy and she includes herself in that. There are tickets available for the show, click here to get your now.

On Thursday July 6th, Loudon Wainwright III, winner of the 2010 Grammy winner for Best Traditional Folk Album, will be performing his humorous autobiographical songs which have established him as a fav in this genre.

Thursday, July 13th brings Pink Martini with lead singer China Forbes. Tuesday, July 18th features Graham Nash. This man needs no introduction. He is a legendary singer-songwriter. He can be found in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, not once but twice with his ever popular group, Crosby, Stills, and Nash. The list goes on and on. His voice it truly memorable, and without CSN’s song Guinevere, who knows what my name would have been.

Also save the dates for Preservation Hall Jazz Band (think this will be a must for me), also, Jackopierce, in what might be their last Vineyard performance. And the only non music event in the 10 event roster, Capital Steps, Orange is the New Barak. I can only imagine how funny this will be, and some of us need a little extra laughter in August.

Then comes Aretha Franklin, Saturday, August 19th, followed by Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and the final concert is Black Violin.

Each concert/show offers something different for music fans. But don’t wait to get your tickets because they are selling quickly, and the venues are not large.

This second season is proving to be very popular. It’s Adam’s hope, maybe as early as 2018, that the series continues each summer but ends with a large music festival in September, a collection of artists that will offer even more incentive to visit the island during one of it’s most beautiful months, and help reestablish Martha’s Vineyard as a music lover’s destination.

You can learn more about the Martha’s Vineyard Music Festival on Facebook. And don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Linked In, Google+, Pinterest and Youtube.