Blankets, chairs, picnics, the beverage of your choice, all mixed with free music under (hopefully) blue skies. All concerts free unless otherwise noted.
Farmington Bank Community Concert Series: performances by Simply Swing, 10-piece swing orchestra based in Connecticut on various dates and locations. farmingtonbankct.com/CommunityConcertSeries or simplyswingmusic.com.
Schedule: June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Great River Park Amphitheater in East Hartford; June 11, noon, at the Mark Twain House in Hartford; June 14 at 7 p.m. at Veterans Park in Berlin; June 26 at 7 p.m. at Riverfront Park in Glastonbury; June 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabeth Park in West Hartford; July 4 at 2 p.m. at The Common in West Springfield; July 11 at 7 p.m. at Walnut Hill Park in New Britain; July 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Great River Park Amphitheater in East Hartford; July 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Norton Park in Plainville; July 21 at 7 p.m. at the Alice Clover Pinney Park Gazebo in Unionville; Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. at Henry Park in Vernon; Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Manchester Community College Bicentennial Band Shell; Aug. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Newington; Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center in Bloomfield; Sept. 17 at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Hartford; and Sept. 19 at the Calendar House in Southington.
Elizabeth Park, West Hartford: The Elizabeth Park Conservancy’s 2016 Summer Concert Series runs Wednesday evenings June 29 through Aug. 10, 6:30 to 8 p.m. (with Thursday rain dates). elizabethparkct.org/concerts.
Schedule: June 29, Simply Swing; July 6, Goza; July 13, Zydeco Hogs; July 20, Latanya Farrell; July 27, Mass Conn Fusion; Aug. 3, Beatles Forever; and Aug. 10, Locomotion.
Lawn of the Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam: Monday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the green of the Goodspeed Opera House. Rain moves concerts to Hale-Ray High School (check weather at 860-873-5058 and easthaddamrec.com. easthaddam.org/Music-on-the-River.
Schedule: July 11, Livingston Taylor; July 18, Elephant Revival; July 25, Plywood Cowboy; Aug. 1, Kerry Boys; Aug. 8, 2016 Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band; Aug. 15, 2016 Viva Quetzal; and Aug. 22, James Montgomery Blues. If rain, concerts moved to Hale-Ray High School Auditorium (call 860-873-5058 or check easthaddamrec.com if weather is questionable). Food and drinks available to purchase at Gelston House or bring picnic dinner. easthaddam.org/Music-on-the-River.
Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz: Hartford’s Bushnell Park July 15 through 17. hartfordjazz.org.
Schedule: Friday, The Bronx Conexión at 7 p.m. and Jonathan Butler and Gerald Albright at 9 p.m.; Saturday, Phil French at 3 p.m., Jeff Bradshaw at 5 p.m., Marcus Anderson at 7 p.m., Najee at 9 p.m., Dance Troop at 11 p.m. and Jus Us at 11:10 p.m.; Sunday, Marcus Young at 4 p.m., Carl Allen & The Art of Elvin at 6 p.m., Hartford Legacy Jazz Orchestra at 8 p.m.
Monday Night Jazz In Bushnell Park, Hartford: Mondays July 18 through Aug. 15, presented by the Hartford Jazz Society. Concerts start at 6 p.m. Performers to be announced. hartfordjazzsociety.com/calendar.html
Fifth annual Grassy Strip Music & Art Series, Madison: Wednesdays from June 29 through Aug. 31, 7:30 to 9 p.m. on the front lawn of the Madison Beach Hotel, 94 W. Wharf Road. 203-245-1404 and grassystrip.com.
Schedule: June 29, Marshall Crenshaw; July 6, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band; July 13, United States Coast Guard Dixieland Band; July 20, Glenn Miller Orchestra; July 27, Adam Ezra Group; Aug. 3, The Angry O’Hara’s; Aug. 10, Another Tequila Sunrise: An Eagles Tribute; Aug. 17, Scott Kirby, Vibes of Margaritaville; Aug. 24, Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez; Aug. 31, The Fixx.
Pardee-Morris House, New Haven: Every other Wednesday from June 29 to Aug. 10. Rain dates on Thursdays. 325 Lighthouse Road, New Haven. 203-562-4183, newhavenmuseum.org.
Schedule: June 29, The Alehounds; July 13, Tuxedo Junction; July 27, Wise Old Moon; Aug. 10, Goodnight Moonshine.
Joseph N. Goff House Gazebo Concert Series, East Hampton: Begin June 23 through August. Concerts in June and July are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the gazebo in the Old Village Center, and in August concerts begin at 6 p.m. at the Sears Park Pavilion. Rain location is at the Congregational Church of East Hampton, 59 Main St. goffhouseehct.blogspot.com.
Schedule: June 23, Seat of Our Pants; June 30, the Larry Gareau Quartet; July 14, the Survivors Swing Band; July 28, Mischief-Us; and July 28, The Ancient Mariners, Connecticut Fife & Drum Corps. Moto on Aug. 4; Aug. 11 is Teen Night, featuring the local college band The Flux; Aug. 18 is Family Night, featuring We Got Rhythm; and Aug. 25 is MoJo JoJo.
Bloomfield Town Green: Concerts on the Green run Thursdays at 7 p.m. from June 2 to Aug. 4. Concerts moved to Carmen Arace Middle School in bad weather. 860-243-2923.
Schedule: June 2 The Hartt School of Music and Bloomfield High School Band; June 9 with Shaded Soul; June 16, Tony Harrington and Touch; June 23, the Future Heavies; June 30, All Funk’d Up; July 7, Farmington Valley Band; July 14, Latanya Farrell & the Bookman Styles Band; July 21, What It Is; July 28, People of Goodwill; and Aug. 4 with a West Indian Celebration Festival.
Hartford Public Library: World of Sounds series of seven outdoor concerts from June through September at its branches and other locations. hplct.org.
Schedule: June 4, noon to 1 p.m., Hartford Steel Symphony downtown library; June 20, 6 to 7 p.m., the Goza Latina Band, Dwight branch; July 6, 6-7 p.m., Negrura Peruana at Dwight branch; Aug. 2, 6-7 p.m., Caribbean Vibe Steel Drum Band at the Albany branch; Aug. 11, noon to 1 p.m., White-Eyed Lizard Band at the Albany branch; Aug. 14, Da 4 Ah Wee noon to 1 p.m., and Crucial Massive 3 to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of the Webster Theater; Sept. 15, noon to 1 p.m., Trombeatz Latin Jazz Band (on the patio of the downtown library).
Wadsworth Mansion, Middletown: The Music at the Mansion free concert series runs Wednesdays in July. Grounds open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking; concerts begin at 6:30. Parking at the mansion, at the Wilbert Snow School and at Mercy High School. wadsworthmansion.com.
Schedule: July 6, Shaded Soul; July 13, Hartford Jazz Orchestra; July 20, Doo-Wop Deville; July 27, Michael Cleary Band. Rain date is Aug. 3.
Stonington Vineyards: Concerts run Friday nights, 6 p.m. beginning in July. Tastings at the vineyard end at 5 p.m. the nights of the concerts. stoningtonvineyards.com, 800-421-WINE.
Schedule: July 1, Happy and the Moonshine; July 8, AKA; July 15, Andy and Bethany; July 22, Pirates for Peace; July 29, Deep Blue Remedy; Aug. 5, Body & Soul; Aug. 12, 2 Cat Zoo; Aug. 19, Juice Box Trio; and Aug. 26 Azalea Drive.
Butler McCook House and Garden, Hartford: Concerts on second Thursday of the month from June through September, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Schedule: June 9, River City Slim & the Zydeco Hogs; July 14, Red Hot Horns; Aug. 11, Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters; Professors of Sweet Sweet Music will wrap up the season on Sept. 8. 860-522-1806, ctlandmarks.org/content/sunset-sounds-concert-series.
Keeney Koolers Summer Concerts, Wethersfield: Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., July 12 through 26, outside Keeney Memorial Cultural Center. Rain moves concerts to Keeney Ballroom. wethersfieldhistory.org.
Schedule: July 12, Number Nine; July 19, The Argiro Quintet; July 26, Latanya Farrell.
Connecticut’s Old State House, Hartford: Concerts are free and begin at noon.
Schedule: June 17, Thomasina Levy; June 24, Fiesta del Norte; July 8, Nu Haven Kapelye; July 15, Mass-Conn Fusion Duo; July 29, Locomotive Shipwreck; Aug. 12, Balkun Brothers; Aug. 19, Kenn Morr Band; Aug. 26, Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble; Sept. 9, Jim Moore; and Sept. 23, Asylum Quartet. ctoldstatehouse.org
