Business

Record Store in Watertown Square Has Drawn a Crowd in Its First Year

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Anaïs MarkwoodA wide range of musical genres are available at Wanna Hear It. New and used albums are available

Calling all vinyl lovers, if you haven’t heard yet, Watertown is now home to a record store! Wanna Hear It Records opened during the COVID-19 pandemic in early December and has been operating a successful business ever since. 

Located right in Watertown Square at 7 Main St., Wanna Hear It sells records for a variety of interests. Many Watertown residents noticed a line around the block to get into the store on a few occasions throughout the summer, sparking curiosity about the new shop. Owner Joey Cahill described the store’s inventory as, “A mix of everything,” saying “our main focus is Indie Rock, Punk, Hardcore, Emo, some Top 40, hip hop [and] metal.” The shop also does record trading and has “about half and half new and used [records]”.

Arsenal Yards

Plenty of Fall Activities and Music at Arsenal Yards in October

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The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:

With fall in full swing, Arsenal Yards invites residents, workers, and visitors to (pumpkin) spice up their fall days through a variety of autumnal events happening throughout the vibrant new neighborhood this October. Guests and residents of Arsenal Yards are invited to enjoy outdoor live music performances, pumpkin carving, games and more at Fall Falladays! The festivities will kick off on Thursday, October 14th at Arsenal Yards’ Fall Falladays Festival, a can’t miss event of fall fun including live music, festive games, harvest treats and complimentary professional family photos with a surprise backdrop, sponsored by Blvd & Bond. For those who are 21+, beer and wine will be available for purchase. The festival will offer two sessions; one from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and the second from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person (children ages 5 and under are free) with all proceeds benefitting the Watertown Food Pantry. Tickets must be reserved online in advanced here.

Entertainment

See the Updated Watertown Summer Concert Schedule, New Band Added

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Southbound TrainSouthbound Train will perform at Watertown’s Saltonstall Concert Series on Aug. 18 with free dance lesson beforehand. Due to some weather cancellations, a number of Watertown summer concerts have been rescheduled and the revamped lineup includes two weeks when the Town will host a pair of performances, including a new act. The Compaq Big Band was moved from early August to Aug. 13.

Arts

Singers of All Ages Can Try Out for 51st Annual Christmas Revels

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Roger IdeChristmas Revels chorus performs in 2009 at the Sanders Theater in Cambridge. Watertown-based Revels sent out the following announcement:

September Chorus Auditions announced as The Christmas Revels returns to Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre in Cambridge for its 51st annual Winter Solstice Celebration! Audition for The Christmas Revels, one of the region’s most popular holiday entertainments! WHEN:  Sunday, September 12 &  Monday, September 13, 2021

(4-6 pm children ages 7-12) (7-9:30 pm adults)

WHERE:  Belmont-Watertown UMC, 80 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 

(By Appointment Only)

Revels seeks a diverse and talented volunteer chorus of adults and children to join us onstage for 15 performances of The Christmas Revels at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, MA.

Entertainment

Two Summer Concerts This Week: Compaq Big Band & Band from U.N.C.L.E.

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Music lovers will have not just one but two concerts to attend this week in Watertown’s Saltonstall Park Concerts. The regularly scheduled Compaq Big Band, with vocalists Ed Scheer from The Love Dogs, will play on Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. The band has been around for 46 years, and the 2021 edition includes a 19-piece band. The music ranges from Big Band legends such as Glenn Miller, to classics from Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday and others, and hits through the years up to today. See more about the Compaq Big Band by clicking here.

Around Town

August at the Library: Patio Concert, Summer Reading, Community Yoga

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Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Library has a wide variety of events going on this month, here is a selection provided by the library. Look at the calendar links for a full listing. LIBRARY REMINDERS

COVID-19 Reopening | WFPL has resumed full hours of operation, with some COVID precautions still in place. Face masks are required for all people 2 years and older in the Children’s Room. Learn more: watertownlib.org/reopening

Public computers are available for walk-ins and by appointment.

Commander's Mansion

Boston Midsummer Opera Performing Under the Tent at the Commander’s Mansion

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The Boston Midsummer Opera announced upcoming shows in Watertown at the tent outside the Commander’s Mansion. Boston Midsummer Opera presents

Mélange Operatique 2021: Scenes, Arias & Ensembles

July 22, 23, and 24 at 5:30 pm | July 25 at 3 pm

Directed by Antonio Ocampo GuzmanMusic Direction by Susan Davenny Wyner

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

In the Tent Behind the Commander’s Mansion

440 Talcott Ave. | Watertown, MA 02472

Wine, beverages, and snacks will be available for sale at the Tent. 

Parking is adjacent to the tent and is easily HC accessible. Learn More About the Commander’s Mansion

COVID-19 PROTOCOL

We will be following all State and Town mandates concerning events for outdoor venues as they apply for the week of July 18-25, 2021. Audience capacity will be limited to 50% (100 audience members). We are requesting patrons bring their COVID-19 vaccination card to show with their tickets or wear a mask to the event.

Entertainment

Watertown Musicians Return to Serenading Visitors of the Watertown Library

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Anaïs MarkwoodThe Watertonics play music and sign on the porch of Thomas Michel’s home, which overlooks the back parking lot of the Watertown Library. On Sunday he was joined by friend and soprano Maria Ferrante. This past Sunday saw the first Watertonics concert since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, an event welcomed by many Watertown residents.  

The Watertonics, self described by co-founder Thomas Michel as “Watertown’s leading front porch busking group” is a local music group who have been giving concerts from Michel’s front porch for a few years. 

The Watertonics’ front porch concerts began with Michel and his friend Ted Sharpe simply practicing together on Michel’s porch, which overlooks the back parking lot of the Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL). They noticed many library patrons stopping to listen to the music as they got in and out of their cars and decided to make it more official, naming themselves the Watertonics and establishing a weekly concert schedule of Sunday afternoons. . 

Michel and Sharpe met in graduate school at Duke University and have been playing music together for many years.