July 7 from 6-8 pm -- Lois Vaughan Trio (via Town of Middletown)

Get ready for some free outdoor tunes in Middletown this summer. The town is rolling out its “Music In Middletown” series, with concerts every Monday in July at Paradise Valley Park and in August at Second Beach.

Here’s what’s on tap for July at Paradise Valley Park (19 Prospect Ave.):

  • July 7: Lois Vaughan Trio (Jazz/Latin)
  • July 14: Megan Chenot (Pop)
  • July 21: La Méchante et le Connard (Jazz/Pop)
  • July 28: Putnam Murdock (Americana)

The shows run from 6 to 8 p.m. They’re family-friendly, alcohol-free events with a “bring it in, take it out” policy.

Hungry? Food trucks will be there each night. Blount Food Truck and Del’s are kicking things off on opening night. Throughout the series, you’ll also see Mac’s Screaming Corn and Taco, Ben and Jerry’s, and W’s Wood Fired Pizza.

The lineup features both local favorites and touring artists. Lois Vaughan, a pianist with over 40 years of experience in Southeastern New England, starts things off. You’ll also catch Megan Chenot, a singer/guitarist who’s performed around the world, and Putnam Murdock, an Americana artist who’s shared stages with big names like Taj Mahal and Martin Sexton.

There are no rain dates scheduled, so keep an eye out for updates if the weather looks iffy.

The town hasn’t released details for the August concerts at Second Beach yet, but stay tuned for more info.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...