Printer Friendly Version - Promoting Music, and Art, in Branford

Organized by local promoter and Shoreline Rocks Concerts founder Richard Hackley, the Feb. 4 festival will feature five area bands and an eclectic artists’ market filled with original art created by members of Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance. A portion of proceeds from concert ticket sales will benefit the Branford Festival. Image courtesy Shoreline Rocks Concerts.

On Sunday, Feb. 4, area musicians and artists will come together when Shoreline Rocks Concerts presents the Original Music & Art Festival at Stony Creek Brewery (SCB).

The ticketed event is being organized by local promoter and Shoreline Rocks Concerts founder Richard Hackley. The festival will feature five area bands playing original music, and an eclectic artists’ market filled with original art created by members of Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance. A portion of proceeds from the concert ticket sales will benefit the Branford Festival.

Bands set to play at the festival are Rob Glassman Band, Buzziband, Modern Refuge, Night Hawk, and Nathaniel Hintz. All of the bands will be performing original, live music during the festival.

The Original Music & Art Festival takes place Sunday, Feb. 4 from 1 to 6 p.m. at SCB, 5 Indian Neck Avenue. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. A link to advance ticket sales can be found at Shoreline Rocks Concerts on Facebook.

This will be the second Shoreline Rocks Concerts festival in town. The first was the Shoreline Rocks Festival, which was held in November 2023 at SCB. A portion of ticket proceeds benefited the Branford Festival. Four area bands rocked the show, including Steamroller, Spellbound Duo, Fire & Knives, and Black Kites. The festival was well-attended by local music lovers and a dynamic opportunity for the bands, said Hackley.

“There are lots of local bands, and they do have opportunities to play locally, but not in the festival environment where you’re taking several of them and putting them together for one afternoon. There’s a certain excitement to that. It ups the experience for everyone,” said Hackley.

Hackley said he excited to be fostering his concert promotion venture. After graduating from Branford High School in 1981, where he was a talented drummer, he entered the music education program at Western Connecticut State University. Now, “...after a 30-year career out of the arts, I’m getting back into music,” said Hackley. “This is a way that I’m finding enjoyment and purpose, by pulling together these events and making these opportunities for other bands.”

Hackley thanks friends and volunteer co-producers David Minicozzi, Melissa Nicholson, and Maryjo Riddle for assisting Shoreline Rocks Concerts with festival organization. Shoreline Rocks Concerts is currently planning additional 2024 festivals (at Branford venues to be announced) including a country-western themed festival and a summertime festival tribute to late musician Jimmy Buffet.