Hamden is New England's Bluegrass Capital??

It's true. There have been more big name bluegrass bands in concert in Hamden over the last 3 years than any other town or city in New England.

Surprised? Well, how about this? Four of the five International Bluegrass Music Association nominees in 2010 for bluegrass entertainer of the year have played here since 2008. That's The Del McCoury Band, The Grascals, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, and Dailey and Vincent. Not to mention The Tony Rice Unit, Tim O'Brien, Punch Brothers with Chris Thile, Blue Highway, Sierra Hull and Highway 111, Cherryholmes, Bryan Sutton and David Grier.

And just for good measure, how about David Bromberg with Angel Band, Jesse Winchester, Carlene Carter, and David Peterson and 1946.

And just where does all this music taken place? Mostly at the Unitarian Society on Hartford Turnpike, presented by GuitartownCT Productions.

To be fair and open, I run GuitartownCT Productions, which I started in 2008 precisely to bring the very best acoustic music in America to the area. It's a labor of love; I was advised at the start not to expect to make a any money at it, and that's been the case.

There are other great venues in CT for this type of music too, among them The in Hamden, The Firebox in Hartford, The Salem Barn, The Kate in Old Saybrook, The East Hartford Community Center, Fire in the Kitchen in North Madison, The Buttonwood Tree in Middletown, the Sounding Board in West Hartford, etc.

Please go out and support live acoustic music in any form. In tough times like these, live music will transport you to a magical place, soothe the savage beast, and let you forget all about your bills, your debts, and the morons in Washington, if only for a few hours. Keep on pickin'!!