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Date: 8/3/2021
AMHERST – The Amherst Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) has brought on the summer fun with their annual free Friday summer concert series in the Amherst Commons, but this year, there is a special twist.
Not only does this concert series include two 40th anniversary celebrations, but the Amherst Downtown BID has been granted permission by the Board of License Commissioners to allow local beer, wine and cider vendors to sell to attendees ages 21–plus with proof of ID.
This isn’t the first time the Amherst BID series has served alcohol to concertgoers, but according to Marketing Director Ann Tweedy, “It’s the first time in a good long while.” All alcohol will be provided by local vendors which include Element Brewing from Miller Falls, Abandoned Building Brewing from Easthampton, Artifact Cider from Florence and Provisions from Northampton.
Due to the introduction of alcohol, Tweedy says the concert series will operate a bit differently. “We’ll have ServSafe staff manning the event along with volunteers from the BID board. There’ll be an entry point where IDs will be checked, and people issued an event wristband. The beer, wine and cider vendors will also check IDs a second time.”
The fun began on July 23 with 93.9 The River’s 40th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration with performances by cover band Bourbon Outfitters and the horn-heavy nine-piece ensemble The Soul Magnets. Then, on July 30, UMass Jazz in July celebrated its 40th anniversary with a two-set performance. At 4 p.m., there was a performance by Alumni and at 7 pm a Faculty performance featuring jazz legends Sheila Jordan, Avery Sharpe, Steve Davis, Winard Harper, Jeff Holmes, and more.
On Aug. 6, performers are The Green Sisters and Eric Lee & Company focusing on bluegrass and folk styles. The final concert on Aug. 13 begins with Amherst native Luke DeRoy and ends with LoudMadLoud, formerly know as The Saturators, bringing “the spirit of NYC hustle with a splash of Kingston, a cocktail of Caribbean dance sounds.”
Each performance will begin at 6 p.m., apart from UMass Jazz in July. The sound and stage for each concert are provided by Ronin Sound from Sunderland. The concerts invite all ages to attend and encourage guests to bring lawn chairs or blankets and pack a picnic or grab some takeout from restaurants downtown.
For more information on performers, weather cancellations, and updates you can visit their website amherstdowntown.com or check the Amherst Downtown social media accounts.