[Find the 2014 Summer Concert line-up here]
The show's about to begin. The Levitt Pavilion, an open-air amphitheater located on the banks of the Saugatuck River in Westport, provides entertainment all summer long. A year of planning the pavilion's thirty-ninth season pays off starting June 24, opening night, and concludes September 2. In between? An eclectic mix of artists and events, such as the much-anticipated RiverSwing, a series of seven evenings of dance lessons (with professional instructors!) followed by concerts; Trevor Hall, who performs reggae-infused pop songs; and the Wood Brothers, who sing blues/folk songs.
The Pavilion’s first week is already jam-packed with exciting events: Westport Community Band, The Hall Family: The Children’s Series, Margot Leverett & the Klezmer Mountain Boys, Mill River Band, DJ Rekha with Punjabi music and dance, and RiverSwing.
Opening night starts with The Sixties Show. The Levitt calls it, "Incredibly upbeat, musically accessible and a delight for all ages! The band includes former members of Billy Joel’s and Elton John’s band, The Boston Pops® and current members of The Smithereens. Individual members of The Sixties Show have toured, performed or recorded with Paul McCartney, The Beach Boys, Mick Jagger, The Bee Gees, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townsend, Nancy Sinatra, Ronnie Spector, and countless other legendary musical superstars." Groovy!
Established in 1973, the pavilion produces one of the largest and longest-running free summer outdoor festivals in the United States. It welcomes over 50,000 patrons to Westport each summer and features professional-caliber artists. Donations and sponsors finance the Levitt’s program.
It's hard to keep track of each night, so keep in mind the "theme" nights (check levittpavilion.com for exact times):
Sundays: jazz and big band, 7 p.m.
Mondays (July 31 and August only): movie nights and TeenFlix: sundown
Tuesdays: variety, including dance and comedy, 8 p.m.
Wednesdays: children’s series, 7 p.m.
Thursdays: classical, cabaret, Broadway and more, 8 p.m.
Fridays: party bands and pop, 8 p.m.
Saturdays: blues, folk, rock and world music, 8 p.m.