Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb

“Undercover” continued the Summer 2013 36th season of concerts at the Manchester Bicentennial Band Shell August 2 with two fun, hour long sets of oldies and Motown. The open air venue is located in front of an expansive lawn on the campus of Manchester Community College, in Manchester, Connecticut.

Sponsored by Shady Glen Dairy Stores, the Friday night concert kicked off with “Give Me That Old Time Rock & Rock” followed by “Let’s Twist Again” which the lead guitarist noted still tops the Billboard as an all-time favorite. The first set included numbers such as “Wake Up Little Susie”, “Brown Eyed Girl” and country artist Garth

Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places”. “How Sweet It Is” and “Under the Boardwalk ” followed, which got folks up onto the dance area. After a brief break, the second set began by featuring Motown standards like “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” and “My Girl” mixed in with more rock oldies and then Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”, now known as the anthem of Fenway Park (Go Red Sox!). 

The concert series runs through August with the country rock group Silverado scheduled to perform August 5.

Admission is free and free parking is available is on the grounds. Service dogs are the only animals allowed; smoking is not permitted. Donations are accepted during intermission. Concerts run from 7 – 9 p.m. – weather permitting.  Remember to bring chairs, blankets and a sweatshirt or sweater, when the sun goes down, so does the temperature. For a complete schedule go to http://www.manchesterbandshell.com