Havre De Grace' Growing Music Scene

HdG is growing as the place to hear live music. HdG has always had music available at the various local restaurants, and during the monthly First Friday events. This summer, it added the Thursday Night Live music series. Beginning in June with the B Street Band, a Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band from (of course) New Jersey, and continuing with events in July and Aug, the concerts have been drawing crowds of up to 300 people to sing and dance by the Susquehanna River. Concerts this summer have included tributes ranging from the Beatles to Kiss.

This Thursday night's concert is the Kelly Bell Band, a Baltimore blues favorite.

Future concerts include Sam Grow, a rising country music star, as well as tributes to Steely Dan and others.

The concerts are performed under the tent in the Frank Hutchins Park, on Thursday evenings. Listeners spread from the tent to the riverfront in a party atmosphere. And people do come to dance! While early concerts were affected by the very hot weather, listeners still enjoyed the music. People range from young to old, with many families bringing children and teens to experience the classic music. And while most attend in the park, there are also those who come by boat, watching the boat races on the river, or anchored just off the park to listen. "From young to old, everyone is ready to have a good time. " said Patrick Sypolt, from the HDG City administration. "People like to start their weekends early with these fun events. It is a beautiful atmosphere for the concerts."

The Thursday Night Live series is a taste of what is to come in HdG. The HdG Opera House, a theater dating from the 1870's, is being reborn as the HdG Cultural Center. This totally renovated, state of the art, 200 seat theater will open in 2017, to host live music and arts performances, dance, and arts. Drawing talent from across the east coast, the Opera House will join the World Café in Wilmington and the Rams Head in Baltimore, as the place for music performances. Renovations of the building are underway for this cornerstone for the HdG Arts and Entertainment district, and people are excited. But, "we didn’t want to wait until it is completed, but wanted to start bringing the music here now. " said Sypolt. "This is just a taste of what's to come."

Information on the TNL concert series is available at ExploreHavredeGrace .com or on Facebook. Tickets are $20 for most shows. Shows start at 7 PM with doors opening at 6. Food and drink is available. Shows continue through November.