Rockport Music On the Town

A free, day-long celebration of live music, pop-up performances, and contemporary circus across Rockport.

Across Town

Live music pops up throughout Rockport all day long, beginning at the farmers’ market in Harvey Park and continuing through downtown, Bearskin Neck, and Front Beach. Community stages feature rotating performances by musicians from across Cape Ann and beyond.

9am music starts at the Rockport Exchange Farmers’ Market

10-12pm community stage performances

3-6pm community stage performances

Shalin Liu Performance Center

The concert hall and third-floor reception room will be open for tours, hands-on activities, and a collage-style concert featuring short performances by community artists.

11am doors open for docent-led tours and kids craft activities on the third floor.

2-5pm collage concert of community stages artists

Millbrook Meadow

A tented performance space blends contemporary circus and live music, from an afternoon picnic-style performance to an evening spectacle. Visitors can also try circus activities throughout the day with teaching artists from Seaside Circus Cape Ann.

Feature performances

12pm Circus 617 Mixtape featuring the Balourdet Quartet and Mile Wilder

6:30pm Circus Extravaganza finale featuring the Boston Circus Guild and Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band

Find Yourself On the Town

Musicians

Calling musicians from the North Shore and beyond! We’re looking for performers across genres who are excited to share their work in an open, community-centered setting while maintaining a high level of artistic quality and engagement. Apply to perform here: On the Town Musician Application. Applications are due Friday, June 5.

There will be rotating performances on the hour at 5 outdoor Community Stage locations throughout Rockport, from 10am-12pm and 3pm-6pm. Each selected applicant will also have the opportunity to be assigned a 10 minute slot to perform at the Shalin Liu Performance Center stage.

Each group will receive an honorarium, dependent on number of performers and number of performances.

Volunteers

Interested in supporting Rockport Music On the Town as a volunteer? With music all over town and events happening throughout the day at the Shalin Liu Performance Center and our big tent on Millbrook Meadow, we almost certainly have a place for you to help out!

Volunteers will be scheduled in 2 to 3 hour shifts and will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of assignments including: Setup, Community Stage Monitor, Millbrook Meadow Activity Support, Shalin Liu Performance Center, Artist Liaison, and Breakdown/Cleanup. Read more to find what fits your interests and sign up here: On the Town Volunteer Sign Up.

Families

Rockport Music On the Town is for everyone–families, too! Millbrook Meadow will be a vibrant hub of activities include opportunities to try out circus skills with Seaside Circus Cape Ann, instrument exploration with Johnson Strings, and tours and nature activities from volunteers with the Millbrook Meadow Conservancy. The third floor of the Shalin Liu Performance Center will be an air-conditioned escape with crafting activities for kids.

Inquiries

If you are a member of the press, social media corps, or a business interested in learning more about On the Town, please reach out to Rockport Music Creative Content Strategist, Julian Mendoza: jmendoza@RockportMusic.org