CAPE COD TIMES – Adam Epstein is extending the island reach of his Innovation Arts and Entertainment (IAE) company by taking over the Martha’s Vineyard Food & Wine Festival and expanding the lineup for the summertime Martha’s Vineyard Concert Series.
Epstein, president and CEO of the company behind the late-August, three-day Beach Road Weekend Music Festival, has announced that it has reached an agreement in principle with the Edgartown Board of Trade to acquire the food and wine festival that has operated for 13 years. The plan is to move the four-day festival from fall to spring, so it will return in May 2023.
The Edgartown-based event typically involves local culinary talent and chances for attendees to get to know island farmers, fisherfolks, oyster producers and artisans they work with as well as guest chefs and vintners from around the world.
In a written statement, Julia Tarka, a member of the Edgartown Board of Trade, called the partnership with IAE “transformative for the festival” and a way to “widen the festival’s reach.”
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For its music projects, IAE has also announced the lineup for its Martha’s Vineyard Concert Series based in Oak Bluffs and the order of performances for Beach Road Weekend in Vineyard Haven.
More than 20 concerts are scheduled for the concert series, which includes several venues, including the refurbished Loft in Oak Bluffs.
Concerts will include (at the Loft, unless otherwise indicated): July 3, Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs, and Neighbor at the Loft; July 6 (and July 12 and 19, and Aug. 9 and 15), Dalton and the Sheriffs; July 7, Crooked Coast; July 16, comedian Paula Poundstone at the PAC; July 20, Deer Tick; July 21, Brett Dennen; July 26, Sierra Hull/Della Mae; and July 27, Graham Nash at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown.
In August, Aug. 1, David Bromberg; Aug. 2, Ruston Kelly; Aug. 10, Tom Rush; Aug. 11, Livingston Taylor at the Whaling Church; Aug. 14, Andy Frasco & The U.N.; Aug. 16, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, at the PAC; Aug. 21, Bumpin Uglies; Aug. 23, Indigo Girls, at the PAC; and Aug. 24, Low Cut Connie.
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Beach Road Week After-Parties at the Loft will include RIPE on Aug. 26, Sammy Rae & the Friends/Neighbor on Aug. 27; and Guster on Aug. 28.
Information and membership: MVConcertSeries.com.
Epstein’s company has also announced the schedule for the headliners for the dozens of musical acts for Beach Road Weekend. On Aug. 26, the Avett Brothers, with Khruangbin, Lord Huron, Mt. Joy and more; on Aug. 27, Beck with Billy Strings, Guster, Dawes and a full day of bands performing on two stages; on Aug. 28, Wilco with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Caamp, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and more. Full lineups and other information is listed on BeachRoadWeekend.com.
Chamber music fest: 9 shows in 18 days, 5 towns
The Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival will be back on the Outer Cape for its 43rd season, with an expanded schedule of concerts for Aug. 2-19. Artistic directors Jon Manasse and Jon Nakamatsu have programmed a lineup of nine shows in five towns with four string quartets and five world-class pianists presenting music that spans four centuries.
The season includes debut by Ariel and Verona quartets, with the Ying and Borromeo string quartets returning. The festival finale will be a “Piano Extravaganza.” Concerts will be 60-80 minutes in length without intermission, all starting at 5 p.m., except the free public concert at 7 p.m. on Aug. 16 at Cape Cod National Seashore.
Tickets: $40 or $55, depending on the concert; $15 for college students; free for age 18 and under and for the Aug. 16 concert. Reservations and program information: 508-247-9400 and capecodchambermusic.org.
On tap: Aug. 2, the Ariel Quartet at Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Falmouth Road; Aug. 3, the Verona Quartet at First Congregational Church of Chatham, 650 Main St.; “Miraculous Masterpieces” with both Ariel and Verona quartets, Aug. 5, First Congregational Church of Wellfleet, 200 Main St.; “Concerto Gala,” Aug. 8, with Manasse on clarinet, Nakamatsu on piano and the Ying Quartet, First Congregational Church of Chatham; and “An Evening with the Ying,” Aug. 9 at the Cotuit center.
Other shows are Aug. 12, the Ying Quartet and pianist Brian Zeger, First Congregational Church of Wellfleet; “An Evening with eGALitarian Brass,” Aug. 16, Salt Pond Visitor Center, Cape Cod National Seashore, 50 Nauset Road, Eastham; “Borromeo Returns,” with Borromeo String Quartet, Aug. 17, Dennis Union Church; “Piano Extravaganza,” Aug. 19, First Congregational Church of Wellfleet.
By Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll, Cape Cod Times
