Summer of Love-rs love new Onset bandshell
Fans dance in front of the Lillian Gregerman Bandshell during Violin River's performance. Photo by Christian Uva
The bandshell's new benches were packed. Photo by Christian Uva
The bandshell's new benches were packed. Photo by Christian Uva
Tina Pittsley dresses up differently for every "Summer of Love" concert. Photo by Christian Uva
A vendor sells Grateful Dead merchandise outside of the bandshell. Photo by Christian Uva
Fans dance in front of the Lillian Gregerman Bandshell during Violin River's performance. Photo by Christian Uva
The bandshell's new benches were packed. Photo by Christian Uva
The bandshell's new benches were packed. Photo by Christian Uva
Tina Pittsley dresses up differently for every "Summer of Love" concert. Photo by Christian Uva
A vendor sells Grateful Dead merchandise outside of the bandshell. Photo by Christian Uva
On the night of the Dead, the bandshell was alive.
The “Summer of Love” concert series returned to Onset’s Lillian Gregerman Bandshell on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Fans packed the recently renovated venue to hear Rhode Island’s Violin River cover Grateful Dead hits just hours after the fences surrounding the venue were removed.
“We are blessed that we’re here,” said Bob Cammarano, a member of the Onset Bay Association, which organizes the concerts.
“Blessed but stressed,” added Kat Jones, the association’s executive director.
The previous six concerts were held at the Onset VFW, as organizers waited for construction to complete. But with the “drop dead” deadline of the Onset Cape Verdean Festival on Saturday, Aug. 8 fast approaching, the town finished construction during the day on Wednesday.
Jones said she initially didn’t know where the concert would happen. She said she was hopeful it would be the bandshell, but she was prepared for whatever came her way.
“We pivot well around here. I’ve had a plan B, C, D and E in place for a while now,” she said.
Jones said she was “eternally grateful” to the VFW for offering the event space for the concerts and thanked them in a speech before the concert. But she, and many of the fans, were glad to be back in the heart of the “Summer of Love.”
Sharon Elder, who had come to the concerts for over 10 years, said she was “so happy” to be back at the bandshell. “The ocean breeze is special. You can’t get that everywhere,” she said.
Jones said she missed the view of the bay and the open space the bandshell provides.
The renovations seemed to be worth the wait, as well. Cammarano said he enjoyed the added benches and the paved paths and ramps, noting that they were a step up from the dirt paths.
Tina Pittsley, a photographer who doubles as the concert’s "fairy godmother," said she liked the new lights, which reminded her of fairy lights.
Pittsley, who uses proceeds from her photography business to raise funds for the concerts, felt like she was right back home.
“This is where we belong,” she said. “Onset vibes. This place is magical.”
