24 bands, 14 nights, 1 waterfront venue

The Bristol Fourth Concert Series is back at Independence Park for the first time in three years

By Scott Pickering
Posted 6/16/22

The traditional Bristol Fourth of July Concert Series is back to its traditional location. Of course, when you talk about traditions in these parts, it helps to be clear. It’s like saying the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


24 bands, 14 nights, 1 waterfront venue

The Bristol Fourth Concert Series is back at Independence Park for the first time in three years

Posted

The traditional Bristol Fourth of July Concert Series is back to its traditional location. Of course, when you talk about traditions in these parts, it helps to be clear. It’s like saying the dollar store is next to the old Almacs. (For those younger than 50, the ‘old Almacs’ is the new Seabra.)

No, the concerts are not back on the steps of the Colt School, where they resided for many, many years. They are back at their waterfront home at Independence Park, where they have resided for the past decade or more.

The Fourth of July Committee is hosting 14 nights of concerts on the big stage, beginning Sunday, June 19, and finishing Saturday night, July 2. It will be the first time the series takes place at its Thames Street venue in three years. The 2020 series was outright canceled, along with must public events, because of the pandemic. The 2021 series was moved to the campus of Roger Williams University because Covid restrictions at the time it was being planned prevented Independence Park from being the venue.

So the concerts are back downtown again in 2022, and people are already buzzing with anticipation.

“We’re back to ‘normal,’ and people are excited,” said Patti Nenna, co-chair with Tammy Mojkoswki of the concert series.

Nenna said there was tremendous interest from musical acts in joining this year’s series. After posting an application online for the first time, the committee received 88 applications for 24 slots.

Nenna and Mojkowski try to see every band play before inviting them to the series, and they know they can’t make every musician happy. They really want to make the audience happy.

“We want an enjoyable experience for people in our community. It’s about making sure that we bring new and different things, and making it a wonderful experience for the community,” Nenna said.

Many of the most popular bands of recent years are back this year. They include Changes in Latitude, a Jimmy Buffet tribute band; DMB Project, a Dave Matthews tribute band; the 88th Army Band; the World Premier Band, popular for their funk and R & B; and local legends Steve Smith & The Nakeds.

The committee continues to favor a heavy dose of local talent. Those include popular musician and music teacher Andre Arsenault, Jon Tyler, and 7 Day Weekend, featuring a Mt. Hope High School graduate on guitar and vocals. “They were by far the most requested band from last year,” Nenna said of 7 Day Weekend. “They’re so high energy. We had a gazillion requests for them to come back again this year.”

See the complete Fourth of July Concert Series Lineup here.

As always, there are new additions to the lineup. Some members of the Fourth of July Committee requested a cultural influence in the concert series. So on Saturday, June 25, two acts from two international backgrounds take the stage. First is the Irish band Turas, followed by wildly popular Portuguese musician Luis Neves. “That will be a very busy night at the park,” Nenna said. They expect a large crowd of Luis Neves fans to attend from far and wide.

Another new addition is the Redhanded Band, a group out of New Bedford that Nenna describes as “high energy” and a lot of fun.

“We have a ton of vendors back again this year, so people will be able to relax, get some food, listen to music and have a very good time,” Nenna said.

She’s excited to get things back to “normal.”

"The concerts are hard work, and it’s a huge commitment,” she said, “but it’s a work of passion. It’s so much fun.”

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.