1. Lynyrd Skynyrd at Mohegan Sun – Friday May 24 at 7pm
Original members Ronnie Van Zant, Bob Burns, Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, and Larry Junstrom formed the band in 1964, originally known as My Backyard, the band changed to its famous name in the early 1970s, and became popular in the Jacksonville, FL area, where the original members were from. They signed with Sounds of the South Records in 1972, and released their self-titled disc the following year. The album that featured “Free Bird,” arguably the most-recognized single in the Southern Rock genre, has sold more than 2 million units since its release. Later down the road the band recorded iconic tracks “Sweet Home Alabama” and “What’s Your Name.”
The band’s story took a tragic turn in October 1977 when a plane crash took the lives of Van Zant, Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines, and several of their road crew. The band took a decade-long hiatus before reuniting for a tour and live album, Southern by the Grace of God. Since then, the band has toured and recorded extensively, with their most recent release being Last Of A Dyin’ Breed. The band’s current line-up includes original member Rossington, Johnny Van Zant, Rickey Medlocke, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
2. Pat Metheny at the Narrows Center, Fall River – Friday May 24, 2019
Metheny’s versatility is nearly without peer on any instrument. Over the years, he has performed with artists as diverse as Steve Reich to Ornette Coleman to Herbie Hancock to Jim Hall to Milton Nascimento to David Bowie. Metheny’s body of work includes compositions for solo guitar, small ensembles, electric and acoustic instruments, large orchestras, and ballet pieces and even the robotic instruments of his Orchestrion project, while always sidestepping the limits of any one genre.
3. Operation Stand Down Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial – May 24-27, Fort Adams State Park, Newport
4. Gaspee Days Arts & Crafts Festival – May 25-27, Narragansett Parkway, Warwick.
Come enjoy a day outside where shopping, eating, music and friends are all brought together in one place! The Gaspee Days Arts & Crafts Festival is a free, fun, and family-friendly experience that showcases over 100 fine artisans, community groups, and non-profits where you will find one-of-a-kind arts and delicious craft fair eats. Over the course of three days, Pawtuxet Park fills with live music by our hand-picked local bands while children enjoy the many amusements available. Over 60,000 people will walk up and down Narragansett Parkway on Memorial Day Weekend, enjoying the atmosphere of this long-time tradition. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out so come join the fun!
5. Memorial Day Parades
The following communities will have Memorial Day parades on Monday, May 27.
Barrington: Parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. at Park Avenue and ends at Evergreen Cemetery.
Bristol: Memorial ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at the North Burial Ground on Hope Street, followed by a parade along Hope Street at 10:30 a.m.
East Greenwich: Parade steps off at 10 a.m. from the Swift Gym on Pierce Street.
East Providence: Parades steps off at 10 a.m. at Crescent Park Carousel, then travels north along Bullocks Point Avenue onto Turner Avenue and then right onto Willett Avenue before ending at the Riverside American Legion Post around 11:15 a.m.
Lincoln: Chase Farm, 667 Great Rd. Celebration at Chase Farm to follow.
Little Compton: At the Commons, starts at 10 a.m.
North Kingstown: Ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Civil War memorial at 80 Boston Neck Rd. Parade begins at 10 a.m.
North Providence: Parade begins at 1 p.m. at North Providence High School.
South Kingstown/Wakefield: Downtown Wakefield, from Holly Street to Main Street, ending on High Street. Starts at 10 a.m.
Warren: A ceremony will be held at the Vietnam Memorial at the corner of Market Street and Kickemiut Road on Sunday morning at 9. O
Westerly: Parade begins in Pawcatuck, Connecticut at 9:30 a.m. and ends in Wilcox Park.
