Returning to the church’s cozy outdoor venue with perfect August weather, two amazing artists shared three of their uniquely original songs.  Connecticut’s own Pat Dalton and Kierstin Sieser offered a nice respite from these strange days in this latest session from the Olde Church Acoustic Series.

Pat Dalton is a leader in the Connecticut music scene while also a member of the band The Proud Flesh.  As he sings three originals here, one can sense the influences of his inspirations Leonard Cohen,Tom Waits and Paul Simon.  

As the leader of the band Tiny Ocean, Sieser (that’s pronounced “Caesar”!) is celebrating the recent release of her solo LP called “Shark Tooth Moon” and is generously donating all proceeds to the New Haven Creative Sector Relief Fund benefitting artists affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Listeners will hear the unplanned whistle of the CTRail train roll through during her third song, so Kierstin played a “bonus track”, technically making this the first “Seven Songs for Sunday” event!

If you are able, please support our artists by contributing to their Venmo accounts noted during the second song of each performance.  We thank everyone for their ongoing support!

We keep finding ways to bring you new music!

The Olde Church Acoustic series was honored to host Mark Mirando and Stefanie Clark Harris this week. 

Because of the oppressive heat and a stormy forecast, we recorded across the street at Gallery 53, the home of CT’s oldest arts and crafts association and a beautiful venue for the best local artists.  We are fortunate to have such great neighbors.  So, please take a listen, and if you can, please support our songwriters through Venmo contributions (accounts are noted in the video) and follow these artists on the various social media platforms!

We’re still trying to find the right balance of re-opening up the music series;  we want the performers and the attendees to all be comfortable and safe.  We recently stage an outdoor “soft” debut, with a few of our crew and spouses in attendance to get a feel for how we might do this again – even better. 

We were very honored to have Jason Ingriselli and Ashley Hamel each play a few of their original songs in the cool little outdoor nook behind First Church of Meriden.  You can enjoy their fine performances right here and, if you are able, please support their music platforms (details below). 

Special thanks to Meriden Police Chaplain Clarence Hayes for taking the initiative to prep our venue and thanks of course to First Church of Meriden for hosting. Thank you all for your continued support and see you soon.

Stay tuned for announcements soon on our plans to bring you more great music!

To support our performers:

Jason IngriselliVenmo @iJasonJamesor PayPal.me/iJasonJamesVisit www.themilesnorth.com

Ashley HamelVenmo @aahamel   or PayPal.me/ashleyhamelVisit www.ashleyhamel.com

These have certainly been trying times for everyone. Thankfully, there has been great music all around us to help manage the ups and downs.  Your Olde Church Acoustic team would like to give you these six songs recorded at First Church of Meriden for your listening pleasure.

Our good friend Denise Jones of Inner Groove leads off with three of her original tunes that are both fitting and therapeutic for these times.  New Haven’s S.G. Carlson closes with three of his songs that will get your toes tappin’.  

We would like to dedicate this event to Denise and all the medical workers who have been on the front lines during these stressful 60 days. 

Please, everyone, be safe and be smart so we can open the Series for live shows again soon!

As you can imagine, the Olde Church Acoustic Series music schedule is on hold because of the COVID-19 situation.  We look forward to the day when we’ll be back in action, but until then please do whatever you can to support your local CT singer/songwriters, artists, restaurants and local communities.

For Connecticut’s musicians and small businesses, here is a link to a recent Community Economic Development Foundation (CEDF) presentation that walks through potential SBA funding that might provide you support during this downturn:

https://www.cedf.com/workshops/recordedpresentations/.

Government programs are ever-evolving so be sure to stay up-to-date through CEDF or CT DECD (https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Information-For/Business-Resources)

Also, here is a site of potential resources more specifically geared to freelance artists:  www.covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com

Most importantly, please stay safe.  Our next show – whenever it will be – will be extra special.  Peace.

Dave, Denise, Frank, Mike and the entire OCAS team

On Friday, March 6th, the Olde Church Acoustic Series show returned to its familiar “Old Church” format with three great performances and an overwhelming turnout.  The night was extra special as it included the debut of the church’s Steinway piano!  

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The food – especially the Irish white bean stew – received rave reviews too!  

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We look forward to seeing everyone on Friday, Apr 3 when three more talented CT singer songwriters take the stage — Bill Ludwig with MARMO, Andrew Biagirelli, and Daphne Lee Martin.  Dinner at 6; music at 7!

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.

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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!

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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
• Bagged snacks (chips, etc) – $1
• Assorted Desserts – $2

While in the thick of planning the Meriden debut of the Old Church Concert Series, we could not have imagined a better outcome. Friday, February 7, 2020 was a spectacular night of music and community spirit with a veritable “who’s who” of CT’s finest singer/songwriters joining fans old and new to christen the new venue and honor Mike Wilcox, who created this unique series four years ago. We are so thankful he has trusted us with his “baby”.

Please bear with us – we have so many to thank! HUGE gratitude to Frank Critelli for handling the challenging emcee duties like the pro he is. Meriden is incredibly fortunate to have this man of music in its midst!

Pastor Bruce Miller and the First Church of Meriden enthusiastically opened their doors to us and have been tremendously supportive. The First Church’s amazing “kitchen krew” received rave reviews for the great food. Our crack operations team handled the million details and should be acknowledged as well — Bruce Burchsted, for not only his printing and signage skills but his wisdom as well. Pat Coffey and Steve Bradley embraced the setup and soundboard for 24 acts which is no small feat! Kathy Matula brought great ideas and greeted everyone with a smile at the door. Kate Garrahy coordinated the collectable T-shirts as a special treat for Mike and the team. Thanks also to the city’s Howard Weissberg and CTRail for bringing creative solutions to the mix.

Check out photos from Connor Gagne Photography here, and video from Hollywood East Productions.

We ask everyone to please support our many generous sponsors: Telefunken Elektroakustik; Gallery 53; the City of Meriden, CT; Midstate Chamber of Commerce; Prentis Printing Solutions; The L. Suzio York Hill Companies; The Downtown Coffee Shop; Kingship Recording Company; Illiano’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Meriden; Hunter’s Ambulance Service; Meriden YMCA; La Poblanita Restaurant; Sudor Taino Group Fitness; CaroVail, Inc.; The Local Pizzaria; Making Meriden Business Center; Meriden Parks & Recreation Department; and Joseph F Feest. Big thanks for continuing support from the Acoustic Blender – WESU FM, Middletown CT; Homegrown-The Connecticut Connected Music Show on WESU FM; WWUH; WHUS Radio; CYGNUS RADIO; iCRV Radio; WPLR’s Local Band Show; WPKN Independent Community Radio, and CONNECTICUT ROCKS! Radio as well. Be sure to check out their broadcasts.

Of course, this event would not have succeeded without the generosity of CT’s singer/songwriter community who volunteered their valuable time and amazing talent to honor Mike and help us kickoff the Series in Meriden. Please support these great artists whenever possible: No Line North: Canyon.; Chris Bousquet – American Elm; Elana Zabari; Say Love; Shannon Mulready Music Page; Jeff Burnham & the Insiders; Seth Adam; Gilead Road; Meggie; Zoo Front; Seat Of Our Pants; Still Rivers; Pigeon English; Kat Wallace and David Sasso; Shannon McMahon; The Moon Shells; Lys Guillorn; Among The Acres; Nick Depuy Music and Barbie Tatum; the “Professor” Richard Neal; and Frank Critelli. Of course, huge thanks to the beautiful crowd who attended and please mark your calendars for Friday, March 6 when we will be back to the standard three-artist format!

With sincere gratitude to all,
David Emmett Cooley & Denise Jones