April 20, 2021 by Carol Britton Meyer
Hingham Historical Society's live outdoor "Springham" concert series, featuring several popular local bands, kicks off this Saturday -- the perfect way to welcome the arrival of spring and to celebrate the Hingham community.
HHS Executive Director Deirdre Anderson told the Hingham Anchor that she crowdsourced on social media for local performers, and the final lineup is sure to please.
The free concerts will take place outside the Hingham Heritage Museum, which is located inside the HHS building at 34 Main St., Saturdays -- from April 24 through May 29 -- from 2 to 5 p.m., except for Friday, May 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. because Town Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 8.
"When I reached out to these musicians, they were all eager to get back out there and perform," she said. "Several met with me at the Heritage Museum, where I walked them through my ideas. Their response was, 'Absolutely! We're eager to play music and to be participating in an outdoor event of this kind.'"
The performers suggested creating a festival-like atmosphere, and that's what this community-building event will look and feel like.
"In addition to performances under the Society's flagpole, there will be a different food truck each evening," Anderson said. "We've also invited other non-profits [like HHS] to reserve a table -- there will be five for each event -- to share with the community what they do and who they serve."
Anderson also notified merchants of the event at a recent Hingham Downtown Association meeting. "We're hoping they will come up with their own 'Springham' ideas and promotions," she said.
Families and individuals from Hingham and beyond are welcome to attend -- to listen to a song or two or to stay for the entire concert, enjoy good food, and to visit the Heritage Museum and gift shop, which will be open during all these events.
There will also be an opportunity to view the new art exhibition entitled, "Picturing Hingham: The Art of Louis and Beatrice Baxter Ruyl," who were early 20th-Century Hingham artists. "Any art lover will enjoy this display," Anderson said. There is a nominal cost of $5 to view the exhibit.
Anderson is pleased that this event is taking off. "Throughout the pandemic, I mentioned to the board of directors that we should be ready when the world reopens [to start providing programming and activities again]," Anderson said. However, she recently noticed that many events -- such as graduation, the prom, and some weddings were being modified according to state COVID-19 guidelines.
"I thought to myself, 'We have this window of time [before things are back to at least the 'new normal'], and the Society is eager to have more members, including the new generation of families who have moved to Hingham in recent years," Anderson explained. "This concert series will give people a real opportunity to get outside and to visit Downtown Hingham. We would like to attract longtime and new residents to the Hingham Square area so they can discover what happens in that big yellow building on the hill!"
Even though the Heritage Museum is situated on private property, there’s a limit of 150 people for outdoor gatherings of this kind under state COVID-19 guidelines.
Guests and everyone else who attends will be expected to wear face masks and to social distance. Be sure to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to enjoy the music!
This shouldn't pose a problem, according to Anderson. "That is the level we were at pre-COVID for visitors who stopped by the Society during the Arts Walk and Taste of Hingham," she said.
Here's the concert lineup:
Here's the concert lineup:
* Saturday, April 24, 2:00-5:00, Tim Curry
* Saturday, May 1, 2:00-5:00, Back Nine Band
* Friday, May 7, 5:00-7:00, Peter Mundt
* Saturday, May 15, 2:00-5:00, Take Out
* Saturday, May 22, 2:00-5:00, Smoking Jackets
* Saturday, May 29, 2:00-5:00, New Ragweed
Anderson expressed appreciation for Springham sponsors, including Hingham Institution for Savings, South Shore Bank, Realtor Mary Morrison, Realtor Eileen Richards, OAK Design and Development, Jeff Alexander Properties and Darleen Lannon Real Estate, Kathleen Cavanaugh and Wallis Bowyer Real Estate. The Hingham Anchor is thrilled to be the Society’s media partner for the Springham series.
"The sponsors will cover the cost of putting on the concerts," she said. "Hopefully these events will generate interest among those attending to join the Society as well as to help people get outside to have fun in a safe and responsible way," Anderson said. "We are fortunate to have this beautiful property in downtown Hingham. What better way to celebrate the community and spring than to bring everyone here to the Heritage Museum?!"
For further information about the Historical Society and how to become a member, visit hinghamhistorical.org.