There’s something truly magical about attending a concert at sunset, as blue skies fade to gray and nighttime stars emerge. And by stars, we mean the ones in the sky as well as those on the Norman Bird Sanctuary (NBS) stage. Add dozens of feathered friends chirping a little harmony into the mix, and you’ve got an evening to remember. Experience that magic at the wildlife sanctuary this summer, where several concerts produced by Newport Live are scheduled for July and August, along with one at Greenvale Vineyards in Middletown this month.
The pastoral property is the perfect setting for a concert, adhering to Newport Live’s mission, “to celebrate diverse music traditions through vibrant performances in unique spaces.” “I love to bring unique artists to the area in these spaces,” says Dick Lynn, executive director of Newport Live, the non-profit that produces year-round concerts in venues around Aquidneck Island. “Our audience loves the mix of different musicians and venues, which includes jazz, Americana, folk, blues, Cuban, and Brazilian music.”
NBS executive director Kaity Ryan is enthusiastic about the partnership. “We are excited to welcome back Newport Live for a fifth summer,” she says. “These concerts are a wonderful reminder of how culture and nature can come together in the most inspiring ways. Gathering outdoors to enjoy live music at the sanctuary is a meaningful and memorable experience for our community.”
Lynn has brought leading performers to Newport, including NPR Tiny Desk Concert winner Alisa Amador, rising Irish star Lisa O’Neill, and alternative-country singer-songwriter S.G. Goodman, who is playing this summer’s Newport Folk Festival. The non-profit partners annually with New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center to celebrate South Africa Freedom Day, and has produced a women’s voices series, as well as an indigenous music series in recent years. But the summer shows are about being outdoors, a practice that began during the pandemic. “When I was hired in 2020, COVID was a threat, and people were not able to gather,” says Lynn. “We had previously been streaming shows online, and I went to Kaity and discussed how we might be able to do something to bring people together. Without hesitation, she said yes, and we formed a partnership between our non-profits to create the first summer series. This summer is our fifth anniversary.”
In addition to live music, the series offers local service agencies an opportunity to spread the word about their activities. “We give voice to other non-profit social agencies in the region before our shows so that they can speak about their missions to our audiences,” says Lynn. As a small non-profit, Newport Live is often fighting an uphill battle. “It’s always a challenge as a nonprofit, going up against the big guns of the for-profit companies,” he adds. “But we seem to be not only holding strong, but growing our audience. We really appreciate the public’s support.” Learn more at NewportLive.org
June 20: Laura Cantrell at Norman Bird Sanctuary
July 11: John Gorka at Greenvale Vineyards
July 18: Jeffrey Foucault at Norman Bird Sanctuary
August 29: Leslie Mendelson at Norman Bird Sanctuary
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