GREENFIELD — Sounds of the Emerald Isle are coming to Greenfield this summer as a part of the community’s annual outdoor music series.
Entertainment on the Plaza is back for its 33rd year. Sponsored by Greenfield Banking Company, the series will bring eight musical performances to Courthouse Plaza starting on June 7. The series, which attracts hundreds of people each week, has invited past crowd favorites — such as the Wright Brothers Band — along with talent not previously seen by local audiences. The artists have been chosen to appeal to all ages and musical tastes.
New to this year’s lineup is the Irish traditional music duo The New Barleycorn, made up of John Delaney and Alec DeGabriele. Both were born and raised in Ireland and learned how to play music as children.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryIt’s the group’s first time playing in Greenfield. Delaney said Entertainment on the Plaza attendees can expect good Irish folk music “mixed with plenty of fun.”
“We don’t get too serious,” he added. “We like to have a bit of fun with the audience and just keep it lighthearted, and while we take our music seriously, we try to do it in the best way.”
The New Barleycorn, based in the Cleveland area, has been performing for more than two decades and has recorded six CDs. Delaney plays five-string and tenor banjos, mandolin, guitar, whistle and bodhran — an Irish drum. He’s played banjo on many other Irish artists’ recordings throughout his career as well. DeGabriele grew up traveling with his family’s theatrical show. He plays guitar and bass and is the former leader of an Irish show band.
Delaney has lived in the United States for about 23 years. Before teaming up with DeGabriele, Delaney founded Barleycorn with another musician in Ireland. They played for 24 years, a span Delaney said included several successful records and regular U.S. tours, before an amicable split in 1995. Delaney then moved to the United States. About two weeks after he arrived, he formed The New Barleycorn with DeGabriele.
Delaney grew up listening to Irish traditional music bands like The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners. He described the genre as storytelling music, instrumental and “music of the country.”
When Delaney started performing full time in Ireland, Irish traditional music was a large part of the country’s culture, he said. Television was still relatively new, and people in Ireland would often go out to experience live music.
“It was a very social part of the culture,” he said. “It was their entertainment.”
It’s part of a heritage of music in Ireland that dates back to people heading out on summer evenings to dance to live performances at village crossroads with nothing around for miles, Delaney continued.
“For all those reasons, I think it’s important that it’s not forgotten,” he said. “And it won’t be. It is revived in various ways and still going strong.”
Delaney said that he and DeGabriele enjoy playing outdoors.
“It’s a very nice way to do it, and the audiences that we get seem to really enjoy it,” he said.
Anecea Woodrow, assistant vice president and assistant marketing director for Greenfield Banking Company, serves as project manager for the annual series. She said audience feedback from previous years plays a role in forming future lineups. Audience members have the opportunity to complete surveys in which they can rate performances and suggest groups they’ve seen elsewhere.
Sometimes the bank receives inquiries directly from interested musicians themselves, Woodrow added.
“We whittle it down and make selections for each year and try to bring a variety of performances to the plaza that appeal to all ages and all tastes,” she said.
Woodrow said the late Judy Brown, former marketing director for the bank, came up with the idea for the series and was involved in revitalizing the city’s downtown. More than three decades later, the event is still going strong, Woodrow continued.
“It’s bringing the arts to the community,” she said. “There are performances on the plaza that many of the audience members may not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy.”
Feedback surveys indicate that audience members hail from beyond just Hancock County, Woodrow added.
“It’s built its reputation over the years,” she said.
The series spans eight consecutive Fridays in June and July. Each performance is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. There will be no rain site or rain dates. Portable restrooms will be provided.
Attendees can rate each performance at greenfieldconcerts.com. Paper surveys will be available at the last concert of the season.
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WHAT: Entertainment on the Plaza
WHEN: 7 p.m. Fridays June 7 through July 26
WHERE: Courthouse Plaza and Hancock County Courthouse south lawn, downtown Greenfield
FREE
June 7 Wright Brothers Band
June 14 45RPM Band
June 21 Cooke & Belle
June 28 The New Barleycorn
July 5 Brandywine Wind
July 12 Indianapolis Municipal Band
July 19 West Central Quartet
July 26 Circle City Sound
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