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Monday, August 11, 2014

Weekend Concert

Weekends are for fun events, even better when they are no cost and include wonderful musical entertainment. That describes the event we attended this weekend in neighboring Onancock, VA just across the highway from here (literally)when Ker Place  hosted a FREE concert as part of a Farming on the Eastern Shore program.

While the concert had nothing to do with the topic, it was great way to spend a summer evening outdoors in a small town. There was picnicking al fresco, toe tapping tunes, lawn dancing, and even an engagement announcement (John & Lisa) in the lower left below.
Ker Place, former Kerr Place, has served as headquarters of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Historical Society since 1960. This Federal period Georgian style house was built in 1799-1803 for a wealthy merchant-farmer, John Shepherd Kerr. 

Considered one of the area's major architectural landmarks, it has been described by the Virginia Historical Landmarks Committee as the finest and most elaborate mansion of its type on the VA Eastern Shore. It currently operates as museum with guided tours of the restored interior. It also provides gallery space for Eastern Shore artwork and for programs and rotating exhibits.

And, this weekend the museum ground was rocking with Big Band sounds of the 30's and 40's performed by the 18-member Delmarva Big Band. The band includes four trumpets, four trombones, five saxophones, a full rhythm section of piano, bass, guitar, and drums and a vocalist. 


The Delmarva Big Band presented a 2-hour concert that featured legacy and contemporary arrangements of tunes popularized by Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie among others. Many band members are professional musicians and educators.

And, they were darn good.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

What fun! The band would be fun to hear. Have a great day. I bet you'll be humming some of those old tunes today!

Out on the prairie said...

I went to a Blue Grass/gospel fest. I love music outside.

Lois Evensen said...

What an exciting weekend! We would love that. :)

Connie said...

I love that kind of music! Sounds like you had a great time. :-)

Gail Dixon said...

What a treat! You got some great pics of the musicians. Bet they sounded amazing.

Emma Springfield said...

I love Big Band music. My favorite Big Band leader is Louis Prima. Outdoor concerts are such an event. I wish I had been there.

barbara l. hale said...

Sounds like you had a great weekend! Ker Place is beautiful!

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Not our favorite genre of music, but it looked like you two enjoyed it!...:)JP

William Kendall said...

Big Band is such a great sound. You capture the musicians so beautifully.

Country Gal said...

Looks and sounds like you had a good time ! Lovely photos ! Thanks for sharing . Have a good day !

L. D. said...

Oh that does look like it would be a great time. Our boys were both in jazz band at school so we heard a lot of traditional music for quite a few years until they graduated.

diane b said...

What a fun day out. We would have loved that Big Band.

Anvilcloud said...

This goes to prove that some of the best things in life are free.

Montanagirl said...

Fun! You have some nice pics there of the musicians. Sounds like a good time!

Anonymous said...

It's always fun to attend to things like that :-) Doesn't happen too often here where I live though.

Beautiful mansion!

Have a great day!
Christer.

DeniseinVA said...

You have some lovely concerts down on the eastern shore. Been trying to catch up a little today.

Leonora said...

I love these kinds of events that small town life has to offer.

Linda said...

Sounds like fun!

trpt said...

Hey everybody, I just came across this blog post. Thanks very much for having the Delmarva Big Band! We'd be honored to be asked back for an encore performance sometime in Summer 2015.
--Jim Miller