Andy & Judy will perform on Saturday, March 15.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
TOLLAND — Each month on Saturday nights the Tolland Cultural Council will offer the community its Music in the Hills — 2025 concert series featuring some of region’s most unique acoustic musicians like Andy & Judy who will perform on Saturday, March 15.
“The series is about bringing together people in the region to gather as a community,” said the council’s Lise LeTellier about the series that is funded in part by a grant from the Tolland Cultural Council, a local agency, with is supported by the Mass Cultural Council.
While the council tried to start the series in February with Open Mic Nights for local talent, the weather conditions made it difficult to travel, so the start of the series was rescheduled to begin in March, LeTellier said.
The performances are mostly coffeehouse-style events with light refreshments like coffee, tea, cookies, cracker and cheese on most nights but during the summer it may include ice cream.
Events are mostly coffeehouse style events, with light refreshments: coffee, tea, cookies, and crackers and cheese, on most nights.
In the summer, the performances may include ice cream or there are plans to invite a food truck to the events in the fall.
The performances kick off at 6:30 p.m. and usually last an hour and a half and are held either in the Tolland Community Room in their Public Safety Complex, on the Town Green, or in the old Church adjacent to the Town Green.
Up first, are Andy & Judy who perform their original, lyric-driven songs featuring close harmonies that blend Judy’s evocative alto and Andy’s rich baritone, according to their website, and have been entertaining audiences in throughout New England, the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Great Lakes Regions.
“Singing as a community has always been an integral part of life in New England. So, we felt this was a good opportunity to continue that tradition in Tolland,” the duo said, who will perform at the town’s Public Safety Complex at 204 West Granville Road.
“Beginning instrumentally with a classic folk guitar base, Andy & Judy have deepened their sound through the addition of mandolin, banjo, piano, harmonica, ukulele, percussion, and more. Even though their songwriting style has its roots firmly planted in traditional and folk music, the influences of country, gospel, blues, and bluegrass can be heard in their songs,” according to their website.
“They put the fun back in folk music,” said Steve Ide, the artistic director of the Rose Garden Coffeehouse in Mansfield, of Andy & Judy.
“They are sure to brighten the hearts of those attending,” said LeTellier.
The council will then feature award-winning songwriter Les Sampou on Saturday, April 5 at the Public Safety Complex.
Les Sampou (pronounced “Less Sampoo”) is an Americana singer-songwriter, who got her start in the Boston folk scene and moved on to national prominence and acclaim, according to her website.
Sampou has performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival, SXSW, the Toronto Blues Festival, the Kerrville Folk Festival (where she won the New Folk Songwriting Award), the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Winnipeg, and Falcon Ridge to name a few.
She has appeared on top syndicated radio programs such as Acoustic Cafe, World Cafe, and National Public Radio and released seven albums, five on her own label and two on Rounder Records. Her album, “Fall from Grace,” topped the Gavin Americana Charts nationwide. Her release “Lonesomeville” charted number two on the US/European Americana F.A.R. Charts and led to her performance at the SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas.
In 2021, Les won the 26th Annual International Songwriters Award for lyric writing for her song “Lies From Truth.”
“Les is sure to bring a touch of rocking class to the Hilltown of Tolland,” LeTellier said.
The series will continue with performances on May 17, June 14, July 19, Aug. 2, Sept. 14, and Oct. 4. Each musician or band will be featured in The Westfield News and the Pennysaver prior to their performance.
For more information, email CulturalCouncil@Tolland-MA.com.
