COVID-19 has dramatically affected every facet of our lives and concertgoing is no exception. Not only is it necessary for venues to find ways to keep the public safe, but the performers as well. They face the same risks of the pandemic as the rest of us coupled with the additional hardship presented by the inability to perform live, creating a significant loss of income.

Through the generosity of the Robert Allan Keeney Memorial Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Wethersfield Historical Society has been providing these concerts to the community free of charge for over fifteen years. In deference to our audience and our artists, we are committed to doing the same this year and to protecting everyone’s health at the same time.

Enter the solution to these hurdles in the form of an empty Keeney Ballroom, Video Producer Jessica Glass of Glass Eyes Productions, Audio Engineer David Raymond of Farmtone Recording, YouTube, and our willing artists. This year’s Keeney Koolers Concert Series will be presented virtually on the Wethersfield Historical Society website.

First up are traditional Celtic musicians, The Jolly Beggars. Consisting of Jeff DesRosier, Christopher Vece, Greg Wilfrid, David Uhl, and Matt Torcellini, the Beggars’ irrepressible joie de vivre comes through with every note. Perhaps their own website describes what they do best:

“The Jolly Beggars bring the rich tradition of Celtic folk music and storytelling to modern day audiences. Based out of Connecticut, their traditional songs and musical arrangements have exposed many to the joys of Celtic music. They tell traditional stories from Irish folklore and intersperse their musical arrangements with traditional reels and jigs. Characterized by their tight harmonies and use of guitars, mandolin, tin whistles, octave mandolin, mandola, tenor banjo, double bass, bodhran, spoons, and more, The Jolly Beggars have quickly built a solid following and continue to spread their music around the east coast.

The band performs music that is largely Celtic in origin (Irish and Scottish), with some pieces coming from an extension of that music in other cultures.”

It is our great pleasure to present…

The Jolly Beggars!

(To get the most out of this experience, WHS recommends viewing the video full screen and using the best audio reproduction available to you, i.e. ear buds, head phones, or if it’s an option, watch the video through your smart TV and whatever audio solution you have there).

Up next on the Keeney Koolers Concert Series is the Goza Latin Band. Their website tells us that the ensemble takes its name from the Spanish word for “Joy”. Dulce Santana (vocals), Dave Giardina (guitar), Jeff Taylor (sax and flute), Brian Wallace (trumpet), Asher Delerme (congas), Jenaro Thomas (bongos), and Matt Dwonszyk (upright bass) deliver on that promise from the opening notes of their performance through the concert’s finale. Let this vibrant performance lighten the COVID blues and serve as a reminder of the “joy” of live music.

Wethersfield Historical Society and the Keeney Koolers Concert Series is pleased to welcome…

Goza Latin Band!

(We are very proud of the work videographer Jessica Glass and audio engineer Dave Raymond did to capture this stellar performance. WHS recommends viewing the video full screen and using the best audio reproduction available to you, i.e. ear buds, head phones, or if it’s an option, watch the video through your smart TV and whatever audio solution you have there).