Mystic River Celebration October 11th

The 4th Annual Mystic River Celebration returns to Medford on Saturday, October 11th, boasting a line-up of four not-to-be missed musical performances by award-winning Will Dailey, Medford-based Susan Cattaneo, Black Sea Salsa, and bluegrass band Chasing Blue.

Will Dailey, three-time winner of the Boston Music Award for Best Singer/Songwriter will kick-off the festival with this rock/pop-style performance. Dailey has performed alongside artists such as Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and John Mellencamp, and in collaborations with Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crowe, and Rosanne Cash. He stops by Medford hot on the heels of his tour of France celebrating the release of his new album “National Throat” which debuted in the Top 20 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart.

Medford-based singer songwriter Susan Cattaneo will return to the Mystic River Celebration for the second time. In addition to her usual show-stopping delivery of catchy rock, country, blues, and folk-style music, Cattaneo has written songs covered by artists in Nashville, launching the careers of several well-known musicians. Cattaneo is at home on the Condon Shell stage and has been seen at countless other venues around Medford and New England.

Black Sea Salsa, a favorite at the August Circle the Square street festival in Medford, will energize the Mystic River Celebration with an original blend of up-beat Afro-Cuban jazz. One of Boston’s premier festival performers, the band has a unique ability to get audiences up and moving to their irresistible rhythms instantaneously. Chasing Blue will present an equally up-beat, toe-tapping lineup of original bluegrass music. The band, formed in 2008 at the Berklee College of music, features guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, fiddle, and stunning vocal harmonies and can be found at Americana and Bluegrass festivals locally and performances throughout the country.

“When putting this line-up together, I really wanted to book a diverse range of musicians with different styles and who have ties to Medford and our neighboring communities.” Commented Laura Brereton, music coordinator for the festival. “It’s important to keep our music local – there are talented musicians all around us and I really think this festival will showcase some of the best around.”

At the base of the Condon Shell stage, the expansive out-door Mystic River Celebration will invite participants to enjoy live music and dance performances, artisan vendors, local food, an art installation constructed out of litter found along the Mystic River, and countless arts activities offered by local cultural organizations and businesses. The event is free and will take place from 12-4pm at 2501 Mystic Valley Parkway. The Mystic River Celebration is a part of Arts Across Medford, a month-long festival featuring over 15 arts and cultural events throughout the city. Arts Across Medford and the Mystic River Celebration are produced by the Coalition for Arts, Culture, and a Healthy Economy (CACHE in Medford, Inc.) and are funded in party by the Medford Arts Council and Brookline Bank.