Provincetown Music Festival
By Daniel McDermott
On Saturday, September 19th from 5 – 9p.m.,
in the Madeira Room at the Pilgrim House, the 3rd Annual Provincetown Music
Festival will commence. But, like the
festival’s previous two outings, this year’s occasion is almost more than just
a concert. It’s an opportunity for
Provincetown’s residents and visitors to once again combine music and pleasure
with a sense of community spirit, and to use that spirit for the greater good.
Since 2007, the Provincetown Music
Festival has been gracing its Outer Cape community with tunes from the
Northeast’s most prominent musicians.
Some past performers include: the
Grab Brothers, Tripping Lily, Pocketful of Soul, Magic of Steel, the Bart
Weisman Klezmer Group, and many, many more.
Some of these bands are local acts – local by choice, not necessity –
and others are New England natives now traversing the world in a flurry of
sound, bands you might not otherwise have an opportunity to see in person. And attached to this talent-heavy splay of
melodic offerings is the ever-important purpose of charity.
Yes, there will be many great musicians
from multiple genres, as festival producer and organizer Bart Weisman assures. “With the music festival, as we have for three
years now, we wanted to sample different kinds of music.” But a
portion of the proceeds will also be donated to Helping Our Women (HOW) and the
Carrie A. Seaman Animal Shelter (CASAS).
“When people help each other for the
benefit of the whole community, success is guaranteed,” says Susan Souza, a
brilliantly talented folk singer and songwriter from Baltimore, MD, and this
year’s opening act.
Souza is originally from Massachusetts,
and she is co-founder of Women’s KISS (Kickass Independent Songwriter Showcase),
a nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing independent female musicians. If you could genetically splice Janis Joplin
and Stevie Nicks, Susan Souza would be the result. Her passionate lyrics and deep alto voice
have the rare, soul-shuttering effect of legendary music. So make sure you arrive to the festival on
time; Souza is not to be missed.
The second act is Gentle Jazz,
featuring Paul Nossiter on clarinet and saxophone, Alan Clinger on guitar,
Laird Boles on bass, and Bart Weisman on drums.
Gentle Jazz is classic jazz done right.
Think flailing notes, eye-popping musicianship, and a warm comforting bass-line. Get your coffeehouse groove-on with this talented
display of Cape Cod veterans.
Act three is Provincetown’s own Peter
Donnelly, whose sinuous melodies will make you fall in love with life. Even without his guitar, we would all still
show up just to ogle his sighing eyes and GQ physique. But Donnelly does sing and play guitar
exceptionally well, with a sound that is something between Ari Hest and James
Taylor. “I always want the audience to
feel like they left with a unique and quirky experience, a Provincetown
experience,” says the local favorite.
Closing this year’s festival is Freddie
and the Maybellines, who “have been the premier show band in New England for a
number of years,” according to Weisman. “They’re
just a fun band!”
This dynamic, seven-piece ensemble
features Fred Ghioto (bass, vocals), Annie Aylmer (vocals, percussion), Sheila
Smith (vocals, percussion), Jo Ann Marino (vocals, percussion), Al Hebditch (guitar,
vocals), Dana Henrique (keyboards), and Randy Hebditch (drums, vocals). When Freddie and the Maybellines take to the
stage, high energy, costume changes, and rockin’ classics from the 50’s, 60’s,
70’s, and 80’s abound.
The Provincetown Music Festival has
become a huge force in the New England music scene. And with a long list of musicians waiting for
a performance spot in future festivals, this newly founded Ptown staple is sure
to have a bright and eclectic future.
This year’s performance will be another fun-filled evening of
outstanding music, great atmosphere, and great people with a worthy and
charitable purpose.