The 2023 Connecticut Sea Music Festival is a traditional maritime folk festival, partnering with the town as well as with individual venues to bring you the music, produced by The Maritime Music & Tradition Society. For more information, including the full schedule and festival t-shirts, see the Festival website https://ctseamusicfest.org/.
When: Friday, June 9, 9am – Sunday, June 11, 6pm
Where: Essex, CT
Admission: Daytime events are free, with donations accepted. Evening Concerts are ticketed; purchase tickets here or at the door.
Performers include:
40 Degrees South from Australia, The Ancient Mariners Chanteymen, Bob “Bobaloo” Basey & Tracey Wright-Basey, Bob & Jeanne Zentz, Dan Milner, David Iler, David Jones, Jeff Davis, The Johnson Girls, Ken Sweeney, Nick Apollonio, Rick & Donna Nestler, Skylark, Stout, The Dirty Blue Shirts, and Pressgang Mutiny from Canada.
Abbreviated Schedule:
Friday, June 9th: The weekend starts with our famous Symposium on the Music of the Sea, directed for the second year in a row by Faye Ringel, which will be held at the Essex Town Hall at 29 West Ave, Essex, CT from 9AM-5PM on Friday, June 9th, with a break for lunch.
The Symposium is free to attend, and will be streamed to our YouTube channel for those who are unable to attend in-person. Music kicks off on Friday at 7:00 P.M. with our first Evening Concert, held at our marquee tent on the Essex Town Green.
Saturday, June 10th: Saturday morning, music and workshops begin at 10:00 A.M. at multiple venues throughout the town. The Saturday Evening Concert begins at 7:00 P.M.
Sunday, June 11th: Sunday morning begins with the traditional maritime hymn sing at 10:00 A.M. and continues with music and workshops throughout the town from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. The final concert of the festival will be Sunday afternoon, and end at 6:00 P.M.
Monday, June 12th: Still standing after a weekend of music? Come to Survivor’s Night at the Griswold Inn for some farewell music & merriment. 36 Main St, Essex, CT from 7:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.