Nothing brings community together or cuts through the noise of the day like a song sung well!
We’re stoked for our first “official” Olde Church Acoustic concert on Friday, March 6th! We appreciate the warm welcome extended by Pastor Bruce Miller and the First Church family as they have offered this majestic, yet intimate, meeting place as a unique venue to promote the lively and diverse spirit of Connecticut’s best singer/songwriters. (And the food is great too!)
Our debut in February was a tremendous success, attributed first and foremost to the outpouring of support from over 25 talented artists who gave their time to pay homage to our founder, Mike Wilcox. In so doing, they helped keep the music series Mike created moving forward.
And for Friday night’s show, Frank Critelli is back as emcee to bring you an incredible line up of new musicians and some old friends.

Sixteen year old Brooke Dougan has been crafting fine songs for several years and sharing them with audiences at CJ Sparrow in Cheshire, Best Video in Hamden, the State House in Hartford and a variety of coffee shops in the region. We are excited to have her open up our first “official” show!

Bandshes is a trio from Hartford, CT and describe their sound as “reminiscent of Doris Day, if she had been born in the 90s, listened to a lot of Regina Spektor, and then wrote music with her best friends.” Come enjoy their harmonies and the Series debut of the Old Church’s Steinway piano!

Closing out the evening will be an exciting new songwriter collaboration, “The Bargain”. In January 2019, Mike “Muddy” Rivers showed up at the home of Frank Critelli with a bottle of whiskey and a guitar. Shandy Lawson arrived soon after. The three made a bargain with the Devil – and each other – to write down, record, and perform the songs they lassoed while sitting around the kitchen table. No better venue than the oldest church in Meriden to show off songs written by these talented storytellers!
Dinner is available for purchase starting at 6pm in Smith Hall at the back of the church.
- Main Dish – $10
- Corned Beef with carrots, potatoes, cabbage and Irish soda bread
- Lighter Meals
- $3 Bowl of Irish white bean chili (vegetarian & gluten free)
- $5 with Irish soda bread (regular and gluten free)
- $2 Hot Dogs
- $3 Bowl of Irish white bean chili (vegetarian & gluten free)
- Bagged snacks (chips, etc) – $1
- Assorted Desserts – $2