Live music in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT

Robert Lester Folsom appears at Space Ballroom for an all ages performance presented by Premier Concerts and Manic Presents. A southern singer, songwriter, and psychedelic serviceman, Folsom’s rediscovered recordings have broadened his place in American folk rock. Anthology Recordings’ Sunshine Only Sometimes: Archives Vol. 2, 1972–1975 draws from sessions tracked around Georgia with a reel to reel in bedrooms, a barn, and a motel room, capturing a revolving cast of sharp studio collaborators. These early works mingle mellow folk, rural colors, and psych tinges with strong hooks and introspective writing, while his 1976 album Music and Dreams explored smooth West Coast AOR and the Laurel Canyon strain of soft rock Americana. His path included inventive home overdubbing on a Sears two track, close work with guitarist Hans VanBrackle, and the formation of the progressive southern rock outfit Abacus. The result is a body of songs that pairs light and shadow with a timeless feel, inviting continued discovery across generations.

Pam from Wild Bloom hosts a music bingo event at Wood-n-Tap in Hamden, Connecticut. Numbers are replaced by short song clips, and a screen shows the title and artist to help players keep up. The game features four rounds with varied patterns and categories, with each round’s winner choosing the category for the next one. Prizes are given to winners in all rounds. The format brings together music and gameplay, along with food and drinks.

Weather permitting, this car cruise features music, door prizes, a 50/50, and trophies including a Best in Cruise award. Vehicles from 2006 and earlier are the focus, and a specialty vehicle section is available.

Experience classic Grateful Dead music performed by a lineup of top Connecticut musicians as Mystic Dead takes the stage at Small Batch Cellars. Tickets purchased at the door will cost an additional $5.

Seeing Sounds World arrives at The Boathouse at Canal Dock in New Haven, bringing an immersive blend of arts, music, technology, and culture. Explore interactive experiences, enjoy live performances, take in visual art, and engage with the community in a setting that highlights creativity and innovation. The gathering brings together artists, designers, musicians, engineers, makers, creative technologists, educators, local businesses, and the public. It is created for dreamers and creators, as well as anyone with a passion for discovery and imagination. Lineups will be announced. Early bird tickets are available, and early purchasers receive early entry along with an exclusive Seeing Sounds gift.

Vitamin String Quartet teams up with vocal trio Girl Named Tom for a genre-blending concert at the Shubert Theatre. Fresh from an appearance in Season 4 of Netflix’s Bridgerton, the quartet showcases its signature take on pop and rock anthems, reshaped into virtuosic string performances. Girl Named Tom contributes radiant harmonies and soulful songwriting, the artistry that earned them the 2021 victory on The Voice. Together they offer imaginative renditions of timeless favorites alongside contemporary songs, with striking performances and memorable onstage collaborations.

A winery setting hosts an evening of live music as powerhouse vocalist Faye Green teams up with guitarist Mychael A. Ross. Faye brings a commanding voice and engaging stagecraft shaped by years of performances across Connecticut and New York City, including the Apollo Theater. Her 1980s group, Faye and the Funky Allstars, became a local fixture by blending jazz, blues, and funk, and she was recognized three years in a row as Best Jazz/Blues Singer by New Haven’s music journal The Advocate. She has opened for nationally known acts and collaborated with jazz artists such as bassist Mark Egan and the late Jaco Pastorius. Mychael A. Ross contributes smooth, expressive guitar rooted in blues and jazz, and he also performs with Le' Mixx, an eight-piece band with more than 30 years of collective experience among its members. Together they offer a dynamic pairing that highlights soulful grooves, jazz influences, and crowd-connecting energy.

Local music fills the Eli Whitney Barn as The Bargain returns for a second appearance in the October in the Barn series. The trio features Frank Critelli on vocals, Muddy Rivers on guitar with harmony vocals, and Shandy Lawson on mandolin. Their performance spans guitar-driven acoustic pop and soaring ballads, shaped by influences that stretch from The Band to Metallica to Goethe and highlighted by layered harmonies and mandolin. A suggested donation of $10 per person will be collected at the door, with all proceeds supporting the mission of the Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop. Free parking is available at the Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop. After parking, cross Whitney Avenue and take the first right down the gravel path to reach the historic barn.

Premier Concerts and Manic Presents present a live music night at Space Ballroom featuring performances by Life in Your Way, With Honor, Ghost Trader, and Outer Gloom. The event is open to all ages and brings these bands together on one stage. Tickets are available.

An intimate night in the cellar at Small Batch Cellars pairs Tannersville with Model Decoy for a showcase of storytelling and genre-bending energy. Tannersville brings finely wrought Americana that focuses on everyday people and fleeting moments, delivered with singable melodies, textured arrangements, and harmonies with an instantly lived-in feel. Rooted in the Catskills since the early 1970s, the band first took shape at The Pinecone, an eight bedroom farmhouse on Route 23A at the base of Hunter Mountain during a vibrant musical period, and went on to open shows for the J. Geils Band and the Edgar Winter Group. They continue to write and record, and their fifth independent studio album, The Little Eureka Cafe, carries forward their character-centered songs and careful craft. This set features Scott Williams on vocals and rhythm guitar, Tim DeHuff on guitar, Rich Louie on bass, and Mike LaRocco on drums, with Tina Pagnini and Laura Pagnini on backing vocals. Model Decoy is the duo of Doron Monk Flake and Ari Sadowitz, rooted in rock with a generous streak of R&B that nods to the soul of Stevie Wonder and the grit of Soundgarden. Flake’s lyrics tip their hat to heroes and stories from comics and beyond, and the debut EP spins narratives about Thor, Hulk, Fantastic 4, Scott Pilgrim, Kill Bill, and the cult TV series Community. The project grew out of their earlier band The Smyrk, building on pop culture pieces like Dial V For Venom and The Ballad of Fletcher Reede, then digging deeper with The End of Jason Todd and Farewell to Arm, about Batman’s lesser known Robin and the horror comedy Evil Dead. Bruce Campbell praised their work on Twitter.

Rupert Wates brings his acoustic, melodic art folk to Cantean, weaving in touches of jazz, vaudeville, and cabaret for a memorable performance in a cozy listening room. Food is available before the show. Early arrival is recommended to secure a spot, and tickets are available.

The Great American Soulbook makes a second consecutive appearance at Parson's/Veteran's Auditorium in Milford, CT, featuring classic songs from the Motown catalog. Ticket prices begin at $45.

Now in its third year, this jazz and gospel brunch brings the community together at ConnCAT’s new headquarters, First Haven in Dixwell, for a spirited afternoon centered on music and excellence. The William Fluker All-Star Jazz Band sets the tone with live jazz and gospel. The occasion also includes tributes to Lucy Gelman, Karen DuBois-Walton, and Pastor Kevin Hardy. Admission is $50 and covers an unlimited buffet, live performances, and a raffle entry. Ticket availability is limited.

Direct from Jamaica, Plié for the Arts' AMALGAMATION lights up the Shubert Theatre stage with a high-energy blend of dance and music. The Plié Collective and the ASHE Company join forces in a single production that channels passion, precision, and standout talent. Bold visuals, vibrant rhythms, and collaborative artistry power a celebration of excellence as two premier Jamaican ensembles perform together.

Digital Tracks Entertainment brings Mixtape Match to The Cellar on Treadwell, a music driven spin on bingo where songs replace numbers and you mark your card to match what you hear. There is no cost to participate and no music knowledge is needed because the host announces the titles and artists. The game unfolds over three rounds, each with its own theme that might include 80s favorites, TV theme songs, classic rock, current hits, 90s alternative, one hit wonders, hair bands, or old school hip hop. Play any portion you like or stay for all three, and there is a chance to leave as a big winner.