WESTFIELD – Music will fill downtown Westfield beginning June 18 when ArtWorks’ Downtown Live!(free) Concert Series begins.

Hosted in the parking lot next to Mina’s Liquor shop at 153 Elm St., the lot opens at 6:30 p.m. with entertainment starting at 7 p.m. Organizers are very happy to be bringing events back in person after the pandemic shutdown.

“The ArtWorks Westfield team is very excited about getting back to our roots of in person arts and cultural experiences and engagement in the city,” said ArtWorks President Bill Westerlind. “All through 2020 and into early 2021, most of our activity was done digitally through online art shows, live online art demos and community cultural pages. It feels so good to get back to live, in person experiences!”

ArtWorks returned to in-person events this spring.

“Following the ever-changing CDC and state Covid guidelines, our Poetry in the Park poetry open mic event on the Green in April marked our initial in person cultural experience in 2021. That was followed by the Authors on the Green author and book show in mid-May,” Westerlind said. “Last week we kicked off the ‘Westfield Is Fantastic’ community mural project at the Westfield River Esplanade. The community is invited to join us on Saturdays throughout the summer to create our second community mural.”

After a one-year hiatus due to the global pandemic, Open Air Open Mic kicked off in May and will continue at the pavilion at the Park Square Green each Monday evening through the end of July.

“The Downtown Live! Friday Night Concerts series continues our efforts to bring free cultural experiences to downtown Westfield,” Westerlind said. “Our mission is to bring together creators and community and this event fits the bill. The series features six local and regional bands, three of which will be performing for the very first time in Westfield.”

Plans are in works for a late summer Artwalk Westfield event in the downtown Westfield Gaslight District, the annual Autumn Art & Author Show in October coinciding with the WOW PumpkinFest and the fifth annual IMAGES: A Holiday Pop Up Art Show & Sale.

“So many art and cultural experiences are happening in our great city after the 14-month Covid lockdown and we are thrilled to be part of it,” Westerlind said.

Mina’s owner Prob Reshemwala is an integral part of the series.

Organizer Tom Sawyer said Reshemwala donates the use of the parking lot and has been an active planner.

“He has really been my partner the past few years,” said Sawyer, noting that ArtWorks President Bill Westerlind and other members help bring the series to fruition.

“The Cultural Council makes this possible with a grant, which they generously gave us and then allowed us to use this year after having to cancel last year during the pandemic,” said Sawyer.

Sawyer said he, Reshemwala and the rest of the concert organizers are thrilled to be back this year.

“We are all so excited,” he said. “We started talking to the Board of Health early in the spring and it looked like we could have 150 people, but now that the COVID restrictions are lifted, we could not be happier.”

The Downtown Live! (free) Concert Series’ lineup begins June 18 with The Lisa Martin Band; June 25, The Mac & Vinnie Band; July 9, Mac’s Slowhand Band, July 16, The Wildcat O’Halloran Band; July 23, Whiskey Traveler; and July 30, The O-Tones. The lot opens at 6:30 p.m. and music begins at 7 p.m.
Sawyer said beer and wine will be sold and food vendors will offer a variety of items for sale.

“Bring a chair and enjoy live music again,” Sawyer said.

In addition to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Downtown Live! Concerts are sponsored by ArtWorks, Fleury Lumber, The Maple Leaf Pub, Lisa Oleksak-Sullivan, Westfield Cultural Council, Mina’s Liquors, State Rep. Kelly Pease, Advance Mfg., John Morizio/Real Living realty, RE/MAX Compass Real estate, Beyond Builders, Myers, State Sen. John Velis, Whip City Music, Commercial Distributing, Rocky;s Ace Hardware, Witalisz Associates Real Estate, FitzWilly’s, George’s Jewelers and White Lion Brewing.