Get outside, enjoy the return of live music to Hartford, and support our hometown musicians during this unprecedented summer. So grab your best mask, queue up your quarantine family and pals, and join us for the first-ever socially-distant Sunset Sounds Concert Series the first three Thursdays of August from 6 to 8 pm! Bring a picnic and your lawn chair or blanket to enjoy music on the Richard P. Garmany Fund Music & Education Terrace (made possible by Hartford Foundation for Public Giving) in the lovely setting of the Butler-McCook Garden. Or, watch the concerts from the comfort of your own home on Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/pages/Butler-Mc-Cook-House-Garden.

The Sunset Sounds Concert Series will kick-off on Thursday, August 6th with a mesmerizing performance by Orice Jenkins: Millennial Soul. Jenkins' genre sits firmly on the outskirts of Jazz, adjacent to folk music, and stilled in Rhythm & Blues. The ensemble is fronted by his baritone vocals and a double-trombone horn section featuring Nathan Davis and Michael Pallas. The rhythm section features fellow percussionists Jocelyn Pleasant and Nelson Bello, as well as bassists Matt Dwonszyk and Frank Brocklehurst, and Mike Carabello on the Fender Rhodes.

The sound of Orice Jenkins has evolved several times over the last decade. Jenkins has dubbed the style “Millennial Soul” to differentiate it from Classic Soul and Neo-Soul. In addition to his own use of the Wurlitzer 200 organ and an acoustic guitar, the sound is set apart by a distinct cast of musicians, many with roots in Jenkins’ hometown of Hartford, Connecticut. For more information, visit www.oricejenkins.com.

The series continues on Thursday, August 13th, with Jocelyn Pleasant & The Lost Tribe. Their blend of rich rhythms with sultry sounds creates a world music jazz afro-funk instrumental collective. Formed in late 2017 and led by drummer and percussionist Jocelyn Pleasant, The Lost Tribe features Seny Camara, Jamemurrell Stanley, Matt Belliveau, Doug Wilson III, Joel Hewitt, Mike Carabello, Karim Rome, Richard McGhee, and Nathan Davis. For more information, find them on Facebook @thelosttribeCT.

The series will conclude on Thursday, August 20th with the vibrant sounds of Ed Fast & Congabop. Congabop features top artists in jazz, dance and drumming, coming together to create a unique and powerful force in Afro-Cuban Jazz. When the music reaches its peak, solo dance artist Savana Jones joins the band with her special, sultry choreography. Ed Fast has performed worldwide in productions with stars including Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra Jr, Chita Rivera, Charo and many others. Congabop features top artists in jazz, dance, and drumming coming together to create a unique and powerful force in Afro-Cuban Jazz. For more information, visit www.congabop.com.

While visiting the property, stroll through our historic Jacob Weidenmann Garden and enjoy a variety of annuals and perennials. Installed by Eliza Butler McCook and her sister Mary in 1865, the garden is lovingly maintained today by The West Hartford Garden Club. Walk the gravel paths under mature shade trees and through beds of historic varieties. Access our new audio guide on any smartphone through the izi.TRAVEL app. Gates open for seating and garden tours at 5 pm.

All concerts are FREE and open to the community. The event is supported in part by: the Richard P. Garmany Fund at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; and the Evelyn W. Preston Memorial Trust Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee. Registration is required as space is limited. Please register your group (five or fewer adults per group) for one of our marked lawn areas to share. To be added to the wait list, email butler.mccook@ctlandmarks.org. Same-day registration will be allowed only if the site has not reached capacity. In the event of inclement weather, the Sunset Sounds concerts will be moved to the following day (Friday, August 7th, 14th and 21st).

In order to protect the health of our staff, visitors, and community, masks must be worn by all individuals, age 6 and above, to and from the property entrance to their lawn space (and any time outside their group’s marked space). Children should remain with their adult(s) during the event. The Amos Bull House restroom will be accessible during the performance. All other indoor spaces at the Amos Bull House and Butler-McCook House & Garden, are closed to the public during the outdoor event.

The Butler-McCook House & Garden is located at 396 Main Street, in Hartford. For more information, visit www.ctlandmarks.org and www.facebook.com/pages/Butler-Mc-Cook-House-Garden. Entrance to the Butler-McCook House & Garden is also available across the block at the Amos Bull House entrance at 59 South Prospect Street.