Music on the Porch
Bring a chair and a picnic lunch to the Shirley Center Common in front of the Shirley Meeting House and enjoy the music of local musicians performing in our Music on the Porch series. All performances are rain or shine. We will move inside the Meeting House if it rains.
Music on the Porch programs are free of charge but we welcome and appreciate donations to the Shirley Meeting House.
Jon Swenson – Sunday, June 29th, 1:00 pm
Jon Swenson is a talented singer/songwriter with well over 800 songs and parodies to his credit. From the time he first appeared publicly on stage at three years old, he has performed from Key West, FL to Burlington, VT, Philadelphia, PA to Texarkana, TX, and many venues in between. His music has been heard from the UK to Israel via CDs and other artists covering his songs. Through his many years he has played in several groups in the folk, rock, gospel, and contemporary genres that have influenced his writing. Since 2000 he has become a solo performer, accompanied by and with his signature Martin Tenor Guitar, playing his original material that will make you laugh, make you cry, and hopefully, as he likes to say “I just try to make you think, I don’t ask you to believe.”
Side Effects – Sunday, July 20th, 1:00 pm
Side Effects Band have been together more than 14 years and developed an acoustic repertoire as a result of requests for smaller venues. Playing classic rock, folk, and country from the 60’s to present, they often feature guest vocalist, Kristen O’Brien who brings up the energy of the group while continuing the acoustic quality.
Elizabeth Lorrey – Sunday, August 24th, 1:00 pm
Elizabeth Lorrey has been enchanting audiences around New England for the past two decades with her warm, pure voice and commanding guitar style. With a blend of carefully crafted acoustic-rock originals and unique covers (from just about every decade), she converts casual listeners into loyal new fans at every performance. Elizabeth is also a producer & recording engineer, helping countless local musicians bring their songs to life in the studio. She’ll be joined by Tom Wood (Spytones) on guitar!
Bongo Mary & the Aquarians – Sunday, September 7th, 1:00 pm
Formed in 2023, Bongo Mary and the Aquarians are a four-piece band consisting of Marie Donatelli, Marie Elwyn, Peter Elwyn and Andy Sullivan. They play covers of classic songs from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
The Shirley Meeting House programs are sponsored in part by a grant from the Shirley Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.