Jazz vocalist Donna Burn will close out the 2021 Maudslay Arts Center (MAC) Summer Concert Series this Sunday, Aug. 29, at 2 p.m.
“Donna is terrific,” MAC Music Director Nicholas C. Costello said. “People love her and for good reason. She’s a tremendous musician and with her husband Marshall Wood on bass the group is tremendous. It’s a pretty great thing.”
Byrne has been invited by none other than Tony Bennett to open several of his shows both in the U.S. and abroad, including a concert at Royal Albert Hall in London.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” Tony Bennett said. “She’s the real McCoy.”
Jazz Times called Byrne “one of the best singers currently on the scene, one who approaches her lyrics with both intelligence and swinging time, and without distorting syllabic emphasis or resorting to stagy histrionics to get her meaning across.”
Maudslay Arts Center is located at 95 Curzon Mill Road, Maudslay State Park, Newburyport MA 01950. The concerts are held rain or shine, moving to the indoor performance hall with limited, socially distant seating adjacent to the patio when weather dictates. Tickets are non-refundable.
This summer social distancing requirements will limit the number of patrons. All Covid-19 protocols will be followed to keep our patrons and musicians safe.
“Just in case we need to move indoors only 125 advance tickets are sold for each concert,” Costello said. “We won’t have tables inside the barn, just chairs. It will strictly be a concert. Of course, when the weather is good we can open it up to many more patrons on the patio and the lawn. We’ll have tables on the patio and encourage people to bring a picnic lunch.”
Advance tickets for the Donna Byrne concert are sold out but if the weather is good, same-day patio and lawn tickets will be available at the gate (cash or check only) starting at 1p.m. the day of the concert. Sunday afternoon concert tickets cost $20, with children ages 12 and under admitted free. For lawn seating, patrons should bring their own chairs or blankets.
To abide by pandemic restrictions no refreshments will be sold this season, but concertgoers should feel free to bring their own.
“We’re limited as to what we can do safely,” Costello said.
Since its beginning, MAC continues to operate through the effort of volunteers. All costs are offset by gate receipts, rentals for special occasions, and donations from patrons and businesses. No tax dollars are involved. As you enjoy this beautiful mini-Tanglewood, become part of our vision. MAC welcomes your financial support, your gift of time or expertise to maintain the buildings.
Patron parking is available in the Maudslay State Park lot. Only handicap parking is available on MAC site. For further information, visit the MAC website at www.maudslayartscenter.org.
The series is supported by The Newburyport Bank, dedicated MAC volunteers and patrons, and the staff of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
