Saturday, September 28: Ray Wylie Hubbard & Mary Gauthier

And introducing tasty Mockingham Rocktails

Dear Friends,

Saturday is coming quickly, and with it the third in the 2024 Ray Massucco Concert Series - a show we know Ray would be over the moon about: Mary Gauthier and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Both are highly, highly respected songwriters and performers; both are alumni of Roots on the River, and both put on a thoughtful, memorable show.

Ray Wylie last appeared in Bellows Falls at the 2005 Roots on the River, while, in contrast, Mary played the festival almost every one of its 20 years; initially opening for Fred Eaglesmith at the Sunday “Meeting House Show,” and then, in the post-Fred era, owning the show as hers.

Ray Wylie doesn’t get up this way often, and his fans from all over the Northeast are making plans to be in Bellows Falls on Saturday. Ray Wylie will be accompanied by his son Lucas on guitar. The top-tier tickets were scooped up awhile ago, but there are still good seats available, at least at the moment.

Here’s a recent video Ray Wylie made, with his pal Willie Nelson. Check it out, and then, if you haven’t yet, pick up your tickets. It’s going to be a great show.

We will also be introducing a new idea for pre-show-and-intermission refreshment: “Mockingham Rocktails.” One of the challenges we face is that concert-goers don’t tend to buy much in the way of movie-concession snacks (sugary soda, candy, popcorn), and so opening the concession stand often ends up losing money for the Opera House. Conversely, when we have brought in a bar for beer and wine, sales have generally not been brisk enough to cover the caterer’s costs (the insurance is a kicker). So, Production Manager Ezra Veitch and his beloved, Crystal Powers, are trying a new idea - a variety of non-alcoholic beverages, lovingly handcrafted with high-quality, local ingredients. There will also be various fizzy waters, etc., and a selection of snacks. One dollar from each item sold will go to the Opera House to help defray its operating loss and help position it for the future. For this first event, disposable cups will be used for Rockingham Mocktails, but all of us want to move toward reusable containers as soon as we can.

Please come thirsty and in need of a smackerel! As Patty Smith sings, “People got the power!” And, in this case, the people is us.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday. Sean will be manning the door; if you can’t find your tickets you know you bought, no worries; he has a print out of all tickets sold. Please park in municipal lots, and grab dinner at a Bellows Falls restaurant in order to help make our downtown strong (probably a good idea to make dinner reservations now). Doors are at 6:30, show is at 7:30. Here’s the ticket link.

We will post again in a day or two with a video of Mary’s.

Until then, take good care, and we will see you soon!
~ Charlie