Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Great Big Sean...

If you missed the phenomenon out of Newfoundland that is Great Big Sea, who absolutely delighted, energized and thoroughly entertained a capacity crowd at Boarding House Park last Friday night in their attendance record setting appearance (biggest show of the season so far) at the Lowell Summer Music Series, do not dispare...come down from the widow's walk and rejoice. Your ship has come in! ...so to speak.

The charming and charismatic Sean McCann (pictured center playing guitar) will be back in the area before you know it. His side project, Sean McCann and the Committed, are embarking on a northeast tour in support of their new record Son of a Sailor. Fans of Great Big Sea will not be disappointed by this offering and his area shows in early October. 10/5 @ The Brighton Music Hall and 10/6 @ The Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury Beach, MA.

Jack Baldwin and I had the pleasure of chatting with Sean last week, he had great things to say about our fair city of Lowell, the history of Great Big Sea as well as his other band, The Committed, that will be coming back through in October. Below is a link to that interview.



For more on the new record and upcoming shows visit http://greatbigsean.com/

Enjoy!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Lowell's prodigal bluesboy returns!!


Frank Morey and His Band will be playing the Backpage Club in Kearney Square this Saturday night, his debut in that new venue. I was in the club this past spring watching a the act du jour, and the Backpage is fast becoming known for solid bookings on a consistant basis, when I caught a glimpse of Lowell's own Frank Morey and Scott Pittman on the large screen tv. The pair were being profiled on NECN's Style Boston program for their increasingly epic tenure at the Plow & Star in Cambridge. I am so excited to see Frank and the Band back in Lowell in the flesh. For Lowellian music fans who can't get enough of their hometown, tastefully woven into passionate roots music, I highly recommend you try to secure a copy of Frank's early offering "Bourbon Soaked Halo"...you will not be dissappointed.

Frank called Jack Baldwin and I this morning on the Mid-Day cafe to talk about bringing it all back home, so to speak...below is a link to the interview.

http://soundcloud.com/wirelessmike/frankmorey980wcap-082411

Saturday, August 20, 2011

"Lowell Rocks the Vote" on LTC Channel 10

LIVE Broadcast Schedule: Thursday night segments 7-8pm

Oct. 6 - Register to Vote
Oct. 19 - Last day to register for Nov. 8 Election
Nov. 3 - Get Out the Vote!
November 8 - Election

A ComeToLowell.com production
A Lowell Center City Committee presentation

Resources:
Candidates Corner

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Riverwalk Extensions: Another base hit for Lowell National Historical Park

According to today's Lowell Sun, the Lowell National Historical Park (LNHP) has received a $1 million grant to extend the Riverwalk. (see http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_18706221).

Having attended some of the recent Master Plan update sessions, one of the areas of discussion involved connecting the neighborhoods with downtown and vice versa via bike routes and walking paths, and generally improving access across the City. The "Sustainability" theme addresses "walkability" as a critical goal and the City is to be commended for its foresight in this area.

So, once again we're seeing the partnership between the City and the LNHP in action as the Riverwalk extension will continue the "walk" from Boott Mills under the Cox (Bridge St.) Bridge along the mills to the Concord River inlet into the Merrimack River (see photo). Plans for the extension to MCC and the Lowell Memorial Auditorium are also in progress, with a total of $2.3 million needed to complete the package. My hope is that a pedestrian access point is planned at the Bridge Street Bridge.

Furthermore, the LNHP also has plans to extend the Riverwalk along Pawtucket Blvd. from the Esplanade to the School Street Bridge, and, to create a park at the Spaulding House grounds with a short extension to the Middlesex Canal area. Work along the downtown "canal walks" also continues. So the LNHP is well ahead of the funding with the planning. Thank you to grantwriter Christina Briggs for keeping an eye out for all available grants, and, to the City and LNHP in general for their foresight and perseverance.

Cross Posts:
City Manager's Blog
Canal and Riverwalk Map

Thursday, August 11, 2011

The ComeToLowell.com Blog Returns

The blog will pick up where it left off with discussions about "Lowell's Revitalization" and other subjects. Contributors for the site are now being considered, and we now announce that ComeToLowell.com associate "Wireless" Mike Flynn of 980WCAP is a resident blogger.

All posts are subject to approval prior to release on the Blog.

Tune in to 980WCAP on Tuesday's at 10:30am for "The Lowell Connection"; and Friday's for the ComeToLowell.com segment of "Livin' for the Weekend!" with Jack Baldwin. And of course, visit ComeToLowell.com for info about all things Lowell.