OXFORD - A summer tradition returns to Oxford, 6 On The Square will host concerts at Lafayette Park in Oxford on the four Sundays in July. The lineup will include a mix of folk-rock, bluegrass and Celtic bands as well as a Grateful Dead tribute act.

On July 6, Philadelphia-based Stella Ruze will kick off the concert series. The award-winning folk-rock band blends four-part vocal harmonies with New Orleans-style rhythms and horn arrangements to create a new, genre-bending sound. They group has performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival and played shows with nationally touring acts. Their latest album, “Origin,” was released in 2024.

Dead to the Core will bring the jam-band energy of the Grateful Dead on July 13. The Syracuse collective of singer-songwriters and acoustic musicians is led by musician/author Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers. The band celebrates the Dead’s music not through note-for-note re-creations but by playing the songs their own way, with creative arrangements featuring unexpected instrumental colors (such as clarinet, flute, Strumstick, mandolin and accordion) and lush vocal harmonies.

On July 20, Binghamton-based Simmerin' Stew will share their eclectic fusion of bluegrass, folk, jazz and American roots music. Their latest album, "Salt the Earth," explores the complexities of love, happiness, deceit and murder as well as the existential struggles of the human condition. The afternoon will begin with a tribute remembering community member Bob "Doc" O'Keefe.

Concluding the series on July 27 will be upstate New York’s Hair of the Dog. The Celtic band has released 10 albums and performed around the Northeast and Ireland. Founder Rick Bedrosian (guitar and vocals) has performed with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Marshall Crenshaw, Gene Clark of The Byrds, John Stewart of The Kingston Trio and Garth Hudson (The Band). Bedrosian is also a music producer, award-winning filmmaker, international tour guide and photographer. The lineup also includes fiddler Larry Packer, a former lead guitarist of Sha Na Na and member of the New York State Blues Hall of Fame.

All concerts start at 2 p.m. Bring your own chair or blanket. In case of inclement weather, the concerts will move inside 6OTS. The summer series is sponsored by the R.C. Smith Foundation, Pete Perkins and Chenango County Tourism. For more information, go to 6onthesquare.org.

Open Mic Night

Open Mic Night returns to 6 On The Square on Thursday, June 5, with emcee Ray Stark. Sign-in begins at 6:45 p.m. with performances at 7. Musicians and poets are encouraged to share their talents.

Performers will use our professional sound equipment, and we'll provide a sound tech. There is no charge to perform or be in the audience — but we'll gratefully take donations.

Coming up

This spring at 6OTS: John Flynn (May 31), Laurie MacAllister of Red Molly with opener Fred Gillen (June 7) and our 18th Anniversary Show with Vance Gilbert (June 21).

6 On The Square Inc. is an intimate, not-for-profit, volunteer-based acoustic music listening room and arts venue located at 6 Lafayette Park in downtown Oxford.


- Information from 6 on the Square