The Bands of Summer Continue

Atwater~Donnelly performed historical music and folk songs during a near-perfect evening at the Iron Works

By Laura Eisener

Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly have been performing for many years all over New England. This husband-and-wife duo from Rhode Island specializes in historical music and folk songs and often use unusual instruments in their concerts.

“Tell Me Ma,” sometimes called “The Belle of Belfast City,” is played on the Irish whistle and guitar. It is a traditional tune that sometimes accompanied children’s games, and with variations had been sung all over the British Isles in the 19th century. Lyrics such as “The boys won’t leave the girls alone. They pulled my hair and stole my comb” will bring back childhood memories for many people!

Some of the old songs have different versions because they were passed along orally by many people, sometimes with changes along the way. An example of one of these is “The Conscript’s Sweetheart,” also known as “Jeannette and Jeannot,” which required some research and restoration work by Atwater and Donnelly. This is a 19th century song about parting lovers expressing fear that the other will forget during the impending separation.

One song in particular refers to a historical person from Rhode Island; “My Bonny, Bonny Boat,” played on the mountain dulcimer, is sung from the point of view of Ida Lewis, first female lighthouse keeper. Ida Lewis Rock – off the shore of Rhode Island – is named for her. This song is on their album “The Boat You Row” in which they perform with some additional musicians.

Their books and recordings are available online at atwater-donnelly.bandcamp.com. They also have many recordings as well as a few songbooks and two volumes of Aubrey’s original poetry available on www.atwater-donnelly.com.

In addition to singing and playing various instruments, Aubrey Atwater demonstrated some steps including scissors, silent scissors, and wheel dance, from traditional clogging dance styles. While many songs included guitar accompaniment, some of the less familiar instruments were bones, several types of Irish whistle (they have a collection of them), harmonica, tambourine and dulcimers.

One of the more humorous songs was “The Mermaid from Ontario” written by Shel Silverstein, the author known for his book “The Giving Tree” and others. This one is known for its imaginative story line and impressive “vocabulario”!

The concert finished up with “Cluck Old Hen (She lays eggs for the railroad men).”

The mood was decidedly festive, with free refreshments and souvenirs available from two tables. Raising Cane’s, the new restaurant on Route 1, supplied lemonade and various toys and gift cards, their table presided over by a large plushy dog in sunglasses. The Saugus River Watershed Council gave out cookies and sliced watermelon. As for weather, this was one of the most perfect evenings of the summer, with very few people reaching for their fans or their sweaters. Lots of children and families used the back of the lawn for cornhole games, some continuing even after the music ended.

This marks the fourth consecutive summer that the Saugus Public Library and the National Park Service are collaborating on a local outdoor event that seems to get more popular every year. The concert series celebrates local musical talents in Essex County and creates opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with the park during evening hours. The remaining shows begin at 6 p.m. each Wednesday evening in August. People can bring blankets and chairs, snacks, etc. The events take place on the stage behind the museum building, and spectators can settle down on the upper lawn. It is suitable for all ages. Restrooms are available until nearly 8 p.m., when the concerts conclude. If weather looks bad for any particular Wednesday, concert goers are urged to check the library website (www.sauguspubliclibrary.org), which will update for cancellations on that day.

Ditto – which specializes in Acoustic Rock from the 60s and 70s – was scheduled to perform this week (Wednesday, Aug. 6). Here is the rest of the schedule for the summer:

August 13: John Jerome (Rock, Pop, Country, Hip-Hop);

August 20: Jon Waterman (a journey through the roots of American popular music);

August 27: Jump Street (Classic Rock, Motown, Jazz and Funk).