Three days of
fun, food, and dazzling free entertainment on multiple stages, plus a myriad of
special events for families and friends, from nine to ninety marks just some of
the activities planned for the 2019 Norwalk Oyster Festival hosted by the
Seaport Association on Friday, September 6, Saturday, September 7, and Sunday,
September 8, 2019, at the 35-acre Veterans Memorial Park in Norwalk. “This is
our 42nd year as an organization and it has been one of our best
with the addition of a free-standing timber pavilion on Sheffield Island that
will host parties and events for years to come. Our mission has always been to preserve and share our maritime heritage, to help with the environment of Long Island Sound, and to have children experience our 151-year-old
Lighthouse and Gate Keepers Cottage,” says Mike Reilly, President of the
Norwalk Oyster Festival. All entertainment including the headliners Mike
DelGuidice & Big Shot and Brian Howe, former lead singer of Bad Company are
included in the ticket price. For tickets click here https://www.seaport.org.
Headliner of
Oyster Festival, Sept. 7 –
Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot @ 8:30 pm
The late summer tradition of the Norwalk Oyster Festival is one of Connecticut’s
most iconic festivals which is why Mike DelGuidice, a multi-instrumentalist, and
vocalist touring internationally with Billy Joel is taking a night off from his
touring schedule to perform with his band, Big Shot on Sept. 7 at 8:30 pm. In addition to producing two of his
own albums, one of DelGuidice’s original songs, “Ordinary Guy” was the theme
song for actor/comedian Kevin James sitcom, “Kevin Can Wait.” Kevin James also
stars in DelGuidice’s new music video featuring his new original song, Mona
Lisa, https://youtu.be/TvOZNVW_nsc.
DelGuidice
has spent the last 18 years building and perfecting his encyclopedic knowledge
of Joel’s musical catalog. After Billy Joel heard Mike sing, he hired him,
literally on the spot to be in his band. Mike is probably one of the few
artists around where the front guy of the band is actually in the band of the
artist his band covers! DelGuidice’s
band, Big Shot includes other current long-time members of Billy Joel’s touring
band including guitarist Tommy Byrnes and drummer Chuck Burgi, along with John
Scarpulla, Carmine Giglio and Nick Dimichino, who also have impressive resumes.
DelGuidice
and Big Shot packs hit after chart-topping hit in an amazingly high-energy show
that leaves audiences wanting more. “We are thrilled that DelGuidice is taking
a night off from touring with Billy Joel and performing at this years’ Oyster
Festival. DelGuidice stature as a well-known worldwide performer makes his
band highly sought after because they are such crowd-pleasers. After all,
DelGuidice was handpicked by Billy Joel himself and hired, and on Saturday
night he will be rocking the Oyster Fest. We
would also, once again, like to acknowledge that First County Bank is our
presenting sponsor for the ninth year in a row.” says Mike Reilly, President of
the Norwalk Oyster Festival.
Main Stage Performance – Sept. 7 @ 7:30 p.m.
To
get Saturday night rocking, Alex Shillo takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. with his
eclectic brand of rock and country music with a nod to his hero, Bruce
Springsteen. Growing up in a musical household has its
advantages. One super advantage is that Shillo grew up in a home with a
recording studio where a variety of musicians had sessions. Needless to say,
Shillo has been enthralled by music since a very early age and his performances
show a depth of style and experience well beyond his years. Shillo finds
inspiration in his father and is following in his footsteps. Shillo’s dad was the
founder/lead singer/songwriter of the late 70s and 80s band SILVERADO that had
songs on the Billboard charts and toured with Steppenwolf and others. Recently
Shillo released his first CD, “Had It All, ” that shows his sound is matched by
his excellent songwriting skills.
Main Stage
Performances Sept. 6, 7, and 8
Music
on the Main Stage is scheduled for all three days and features a variety of crowd
pleasing musical entertainment. “The Oyster Festival is the last big thing that
takes place before the end of the summer. This is the perfect time for folks to
come to the Festival and say goodbye to the summer of 2019, and to help us celebrate
151 years of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse,” says Mike Reilly, President of
the Norwalk Oyster Festival.
Main Stage –Tim
Curries Tumblin’Dice Band Sept. 6 @ 6:30
On Friday, Sept.
6 the first night of the festival, Norwalk’s own Tim Curries will entertain
audiences at 6:30 p.m. Get ready to rock
out to the 1960s with songs by some of the best artists of the decade. The
range of music played is amazing from Carol King and Guess Who to Lovin’
Spoonful, Grass Roots and many more. The music of the 1960s is contagious and will
have you tapping your feet and, dancing as the sunsets! Tim is the drummer and
is surrounded by some of the best musicians in the area that will bring you
back to the summer of love.
Main Stage – Sacred Fire – Sept. 6 @ 8:30
p.m
You are
in for a treat if you like Latin music, because the headliner act, Sacred Fire is taking the Main Stage on Sept. 6 @ 8:30 p.m. They are a fantastic Tribute Band to Santana with an amazing repertoire. The robust energy of this band’s live performances makes Sacred Fire a band to be
reckoned with! Sacred Fire is blistering six-piece Latin rock band considered
by many to be one of the hottest, hippest live shows that perform the songs
spanning the entire 50-year career of Carlos Santana. Sacred Fire brings a
sound that sizzles with guitar, organ, percussion, and vocals.
Main Stage – Ripchord – September 7 @ 2 p.m.
Saturday afternoon kicks off with a
Connecticut favorite, Ripchord, the Official Band of the Connecticut National
Guard. The 102 Army Band plays a variety of music from classical and jazz to
rock and patriotic; sure to please listeners of all ages. As goodwill
Ambassadors of Connecticut and the nation, they perform at concerts,
ceremonies, and parades all over the U.S. and around the world.
Main Stage – Virginia Military Institute
Commanders
Sept. 8 @ 1 p.m.
Get ready to swing
into Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. with the Commanders that will perform music from
the Big Band Era and beyond. Listening to the music of Benny Goodman, Tommy
Dorsey, Duke Ellington, and Glen Miller you will be doing the Lindy Hop, (named
after Charles Lindberg’s Trans-Atlantic flight) before you know it! The VMI Commanders
have a long and distinguished history. They were first formed in 1917 as the
Ramblin Keydets and have provided music for dances, and social events since that time.
The big band, is styled after Glenn Miller’s Band from the 1940s swing era and
consists of 17 cadets at the “I” and a vocalist. Today this band travels all
over the world performing at a variety of venues. The cadets in the band are
from all majors and branches of the Military ROTC Department at the Virginia
Military Institute.
Main Stage Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band,
Sept. 8 @ 2 pm
Great
ready to escape to “Margaritaville” at the Oyster Festival on Sunday, September
8, beginning at 2 p.m. when the ultimate beach party tribute band, Jimmy Kenny
and the Pirate Beach Band plugs in and lights up the stage...after all, it is
almost 5 o’clock somewhere! The good time vibe of the Jimmy Kenny Band will put you in an endless summer state
of mind. So put on your best “Parrothead” gear - your favorite Hawaiian shirt, straw
hat, and flip-flops - grab some food and drinks from one of our nearby vendors
and get ready to sing and dance along to some of the best of Jimmy Buffett,
Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band plus a variety of country favorites,
summer pop, reggae, and tropical classics.
Main Stage –
Bad Company former Lead Singer
Brian Howe @ 5 p.m.
Brian
Howe, former Lead Singer of Bad Company will close out the 42nd Norwalk
Oyster Festival with style, exuberance, and a blast from the past with some of our favorite songs ever. Howe has
one of rock’s most legendary voices and as he croons hit after hit he will have
you dancing as the sun goes down. Howe fronted Bad Company between 1986 and 1994
and provided hit vocals on hit albums including Dangerous Age (1988) and Holy
Water (1990). Today he is performing all the Bad Company hits like “Feel Like Makin Love,” “Good Lovin’ Gone
Bad,” “Can’t Get Enough,” and other hits. Howe has pursued his solo career with
passion and enthusiasm, and he always ignites and entertains the crowds that he
performs for.
Multiple Stage
Performances Sept. 6,7,8
In
addition to Main Stage performances, the 2019 Oyster Festival features dozens
of local and regional acts on multiples stages. For a complete list of multiple-stage
performers check out our website https://seaport.org/Entertainment.
About the
Oyster Festival
Proceeds
go to The Norwalk Seaport Association (a not-for-profit 501 C3 organization) that
is wholly responsible for organizing and financing the annual Oyster Festival.
Funds raised from the Oyster Festival allow the Seaport Association to continue
its educational programs, stewardship for the 1868 Sheffield Island Lighthouse,
Norwalk Islands, habitat restoration projects with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, and other services. The First County Bank has
been a presenting sponsor for eight years.
