×

Tune in to summer with concerts in Greater Nashua

New England summers are so short you want that to squeeze every drop of pleasure out of them and not break the bank.

Here’s one way to do that: Grab a blanket, pack up some cold drinks and sandwiches, round up family and friends, and head to a nearby park for a concert.

The summer concert season is underway, and town concerts are all free and open to all. Bands are chosen to offer something for everyone, from the steel sounds of the Caribbean islands to Beatles tributes to music with kid appeal.

Merrimack’s summer series from 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays started June 17, and it will continue June 24 with the Toe Jam Puppet Band, co-hosted by the Merrimack Public Library.

In Bedford, the concerts are at 6 p.m. Thursdays. The season will start June 25 with the Manchester Community Music School.

For 25 years, Bedford has had a Family Cultural Series from 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays at the pool complex. The next show is June 23 with the 4Ever Fab Beatles Tribute Band.

Amherst’s summer concert series is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays on the town common. The first concert will be July 7 with Studio 2, a Beatles tribute band. The rain location is Wilkins Elementary School, 80 Boston Post Road.

Milford’s “Sounds on the Souhegan” summer concert series starts July 4 with country-folk music from Oxford & Clark, and will continue at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through August. The Wednesday concerts are in Emerson Park, and move to the Town Hall auditorium if it rains. The rain date is July 5 for all Fourth of July events.

Although Hollis doesn’t have a summer concert series per se, it does have the Hollis Town Band, which performs each year in the town’s Spring Pops Concert and its strawberry and apple festivals.

The Strawberry Festival, a major fundraiser for the band, will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, June 28, on the Hollis Common. The band plays many styles, from marches to Broadway show tunes to overtures and symphonic works.

Here is a list of each town’s summer concerts:

Merrimack Summer Concert Series

All concerts are from 6-8 p.m in Abbie Griffin Park and all are Wednesdays except for the Friday, July 3, concert, which is from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

June 17 – Studio 2: Beatles tribute band, playing songs from the pre-Sgt. Pepper era.

June 24 – Toe Jam Puppet Band, with original songs, shadow puppetry and storytelling. This concert is sponsored by the Merrimack Public Library.

July 3 – Merrimack Concert Association Holiday Concert – 6:30-8:30 p.m. Patriotic tunes, marches and other popular selections performed by the Merrimack Concert Association. This concert is on Friday night instead of the usual Wednesday night.

July 8 – Haley & The Cranks with music reminiscent of ’80s girl groups.

July 15 – The Crab Shack Band features Motown/R&B hits and pop and rock classics.

July 22 – The Reminisants, with dance music from the ’50s to the ’90s.

July 29 – Boxty, with Irish folk favorites.

Aug. 5 – Annie & the Natural Wonder Band with family entertainment. Presented in partnership with the library.

For more information, visit merrimackparksandrec.org or call 882-1046.

Amherst Summer Concert Series

All except the Aug. 4 concert are from 6:30-7 p.m. on the town common.

July 7 – Studio 2: A Beatles tribute band.

July 14 – Robert Allwarden and Friends.

July 21 – Amherst Town Band.

July 28 – The Bel Aires: A Doo Wop Vocal Quintet.

Aug. 4 – University of New Hampshires’s Little Red Wagon Performing Company: Puppet show “What’s the comOCEAN?” from 6-7 p.m.

Aug. 11 – FolkSoul Band.

Aug. 18 – Amherst Town Band.

Aug. 25 – Back-to-school event will be announced.

Bedford Concerts in the Park

The concerts are at 6 p.m. Thursdays at the Market Basket Bandstand in the Village Common Park.

June 25 – The Manchester Community Music School.

July 2 – The 39th New Hampshire Army National Guard Band.

July 9 – ’60s Invasion, with 1960s hits.

July 16 – Temple Community Band.

July 23 – Rob Oxford, “American Troubadour,” with songs of yesterday.

July 30 – King Chrome Acoustic, with classic rock.

Milford’s ‘Sounds on the Souhegan’
summer concert series

All concerts are 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays in Emerson Park, except for the July 4 concert.

July 4 – Oxford & Clark with country-folk music on the Keyes Memorial Park stage from 8-9:30 p.m.

July 8 – ’60s Invasion, a 1960s cover band.

July 15 – Bedford Big Band.

July 22 – Tom Foolery Band, a cover band for all eras.

July 29 – Amoskeag Strummers, with old-time singalong favorites.

Aug. 5 – Studio 2: Beatles tribute band.

Aug. 12 – The Temple Town Band.

Aug. 19 – The Tropical Sensation, a steel drum band.

Aug. 26 – The Shana Stack Band, with country music.