Seeing “Great Aunt” At The Cambridge Depot Restaurant

I can remember waiting in line at the Nassau Coliseum to get tickets for an Eric Clapton Concert or driving to the department store A&S in Hempstead Long Island,  where they sold tickets to concerts, like The Police at Madison Square Garden.

It was thrill for me back then, the big stadium with thousands of people all there for the same purpose.  I remember thinking it a bit scary the way we all stood in unison cheering for whoever was on stage.  When the energy was right, I thought, whoever was performing could say anything and we would do it.

Now I can’t imagine going to a big stadium to see a band.

Not only are tickets way too expensive, but the thought of being in such a big crowd has lost its appeal for me. Maybe I spend too much time in my studio and alone in the woods.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t like to see other people and hear live music.

Luckily we live in a town, small as it is, with lots of creative and talented musicians. We also have a new restaurant and performance space in the old train station.

Sara Kelly, who for years owned Over the Moon Graphics and  helped me create my posters and postcards, as well as selling her paintings at our Bedlam Farm Open Houses, now owns the old train station and has turned it into a restaurant called  Cambridge Depot.

This Saturday we gave a $20 donation and saw Great Aunt, a duo from Australia.

They play many more instruments, but traveling to the US, they only brought a few.  Megan Bird had her guitar and mandolin, and Chelsea Allen her double bass and a drum.  They’re known as a Folk Band, but I wouldn’t call them that.  They were hard to pin down, a mix of Folk, Indie Rock, Blue Grass and Jazz.

Whatever name you want to paste on them, they were wonderful.

Their original music and lyrics was thoughtful and moving.   Also, the energy between them glowed.  Before they began each song they told the story of its origins.   By the end of the night I almost felt like I knew them.  They were warm, generous and appreciative.

Great Music, no lines or traffic, every seat a good seat, delicious fresh, inexpensive food,  a warm and inviting space and a twenty dollar donation.  It’s more than I could have hoped for.

Great Aunt will be performing  throughout the United States through November.  Here’s a list of their tour dates….https://greatauntmusic.com/tour-dates. Who knows maybe they’ll be in your big or little town.