Vince Longo, general manager of the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset and the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, stated, “We are performing the greatest number of shows in the past ten years.” “We are still refining our schedules, but the pandemic has ended from a sales perspective.
Last summer, music lovers returned to some extent, but this year, people are eager to go out. We have kept our heads down and continued booking concerts, and the season is shaping up to be quite successful.”
The Melody Tent will open on June 3 with the jamband Umphrey’s McGee, followed on June 8 by the New Orleans legend Trombone Shorty with Mavis Staples, and then on June 9 by the country vocalist Kip Moore.
The Cohasset tent will open on June 9 with musicians Nancy Wilson’s Heart, followed on June 10 by Kip Moore, and then on June 14 by The Turtles, Gary Puckett, Little Anthony, and the Classics IV for the Happy Together nostalgia tour.
A diverse array of upcoming events
Longo has been pleased to examine a much larger selection of available musical performers, but he noted that the music industry as a whole is exploding this summer.
An examination of Vince Longo’s Music Circus recollections
Longo added, “There are also more touring acts coming to Boston.” “It is as though a rising tide raises all vessels. They are all busy: MGM Music Hall, Roadrunner, and the Xfinity Center. Naturally, we begin booking early and have been able to secure incredibly talented individuals at reasonable rates.
Our sales are significantly higher in July and August, which is normal. This is my 30th year in this position, so if I haven’t sorted it out by now, we’re in trouble.”
The Music Circus has six performances in June, twelve in July, six in August, and three in September, for a total of twenty-seven. The Melody Tent is bustling, with 12 performances in June, 14 performances in each of July and August, and three performances in September for a total of 43. In roughly 14 weeks, the two venues will host a staggering total of 70 performances.
Venues anticipate increased staffing levels.
The two tents will have an abundance of personnel, which should also contribute to the success of the performances. As a result of the pandemic and its aftermath, there were fewer individuals interested in working at the summer venues.
Longo stated, “This year’s staffing is significantly better.” “As school ends, we’ll receive more… and we have commitments from quite a few. Attempting to staff our venues in 2020 and 2021 was a nightmare, as we were forced to make do with only 150 employees, well below our normal workforce of 240. We now have more than 200 individuals, so it is still a little difficult, but improved. In addition, we have many more repetitions than I can ever recall. When individuals who have previously worked here return, knowing the procedures and so on, this continuity is extremely beneficial.”
Unintentional oversight rectified for 2023
The return of many more touring acts has also made it simpler for venues to rectify what was essentially an oversight during the previous season.
Longo stated that there was only one female artist last year. “I received messages about it. It was not done intentionally. It was just about who was traveling last year at our capacity (2,300 in Cohasset and a tad less in Hyannis). This year, there are seven distinct female headliners. One of the largest is Lainey Wilson, who is enormous this year in country music and for her role in ‘Yellowstone.’ Her performance sold out in two days.
“There are more female touring performers this year, and we’ve made an effort to book more singer-songwriters like Carly Pearce. Naturally, we strive to maintain a balance in our schedules, as overexposure to a particular genre can diminish its popularity.
various venues, various schedules
Since it is not located in a residential area, the Cape Cod venue tends to be noisier, and consequently, its reservations are typically more daring.