The Scoop | so & so •
By Ken Abrams
Country music singer Ward Hayden comes to Westerly in August
A New Sound
Westerly is known for many great things: beautiful beaches, Victorian-era hotels, even an annual yellow rubber duck race (yup, every April). And although there’s always been a lively music scene, the town has never been known as a destination for touring musicians. Sean Spellman is aiming to change that. Spellman’s company, Westerly Sound, is playing a key role in the revival of Westerly’s arts scene, a movement he hopes will make the town a destination for Rhode Islanders and tourists alike. The goal is “to present art, food, film, and concert events in unique spaces throughout Westerly and
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SORhodeIsland.com • August 2022
its surrounding area,” Spellman says. A midway point between Boston and New York, the town at the southwestern corner of the state is poised to become a stop on national music tours, with concert venues such as the Knickerbocker Music Center and the United Theatre ready to welcome them. Spellman founded Westerly Sound in 2017 when he held the United Folk Festival, an outdoor festival to benefit the United Theatre. “My partner and I were both touring musicians for over a decade,” he explains. “I was born in New London, Connecticut but lived out on the West Coast
for some time. When we moved to Westerly and settled here, we missed being able to see quality music all the time. So we just started calling our friends and booking shows at the Knickerbocker. It started as just a way to connect with our friends who were passing through on tour.” Following the festival, Spellman decided to do a year-round series at different locations around town. “We did it for about two years and then the pandemic hit,” he says. “We took a little hiatus and then this year, we’ve noticed Westerly is transforming. There’s a lot of new energy here, so much positivity.”
Photo courtesy of Westerly Sound
Westerly is becoming a stop on nationally touring musicians’ rosters thanks to this music company
