Weaving Community through Art & Music at the Alternatives’ Whitin Mill

ValleyCAST, the arts and culture arm of Open Sky Community Services, is proud to announce the return of its Free Summer Concert Series featuring an incredible line-up of local bands playing a wide variety of popular music. Enjoy Rock n' Roll, Big Band, Country, Folk, new Orleans Jazz, Bluegrass, Classic R&B, Funk, Reggae, Blues, and even a Symphony Orchestra.

The concert series, now in its 14th year, is one of ValleyCAST’s most popular events at the Alternatives’ Whitin Mill drawing hundreds of people yearly.

This year the series kicked off with a special event on Thursday, June 29th.

Two bands played back-to-back in the Dennis H. Rice Community Plaza on the same night as the opening reception of the new interactive Weaving

Community exhibit in the Spaulding R. Aldrich Heritage Gallery at the same location. Hundreds of people participated in the event.

The Free Summer Concert Series continues every Thursday evening on the plaza from 6:00–8:00 p.m. through August 31st at the Alternatives’ Whitin Mill, 50 Douglas Road, Whitinsville. In case of inclement weather, the concerts move indoors to the Singh Performance Center at the same location.

Concert goers are invited to wander in and out of the Heritage Gallery during the concerts to explore the Weaving Community exhibit. Interactive displays and two looms are set up in the gallery for people to try their hands at weaving and participate in community weaving projects with their neighbors.

There are also examples of weaving on exhibit by local artists and weaving organizations where one can learn about textile weaving, basket weaving, loom weaving, and read a brief history of weaving. They can also sign up for weaving workshops offered in August and again in the fall.

The Weaving Community exhibit will be open to all concert goers from 6:008:00 p.m. on Thursday nights and during regular gallery hours MondayFriday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The last day of exhibit is during ValleyCAST’s Art & Music Makers Festival on Sept.30th from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

“We are so excited to present our Weaving Community exhibit during our Free Summer Concert Series this year. People will enjoy music by talent- ed, local musicians and they will learn about and participate in community weaving with their neighbors.” says Cristi Collari, Director of Community Outreach.

2023 FREE SUMMER COnCERT SERIES REMAInInG SCHEDULE:

August 3: Country Wild Heart Band

August 10: Blackstone Valley Bluegrass Band

August 17: Claflin Hill Summer Winds

August 24: Dynamite Rhythm

August 31: The Eagles Experience

The 2023 Free Summer Concert Series is generously sponsored by Wiersma Insurance Agency, UniBank of Whitinsville, Lampin Corporation, Open Sky Community Services, Valley CAST and the northbridge Cultural Council, which is funded by the Mass

Cultural Council. For more information with links to each band’s website, visit openskycs.org/news-events.

FMI about ValleyCAST and/or Open Sky Community Services visit openskycs.org.

NE Country Music Club host dances

The new England Country Music Club has announced their August events. On Sunday, August 6th: "The Rhode Island Rednecks" will perform and on Sunday, August 20th: "Ambush" will play. Doors open at 12:15 p.m., music 1-5 p.m. at the Progressive Club, 18 Whitin St., north Uxbridge. FMI Visit: www.Facebook.com/nE Country MusicClub.