Lineup announced for eighth music series at Mill Park in Newfield

When J.T. Tompkins and Michelle Menter were having a picnic with their families at Mill Park, they pictured the area, as Tompkins described it, as a “Norman Rockwell painting.”

That image led Tompkins and Menter to start the Newfield Music Series at Mill Park. Now in its eighth year, the series is getting stronger every year through community engagement.

“We thought it’d be awesome to have shows here, so we decided to make it happen,” Tompkins said.

This year’s series kicks off with The Yardvarks on June 26 at 6 p.m. The rest of the lineup is as follows, with each show beginning at 6 p.m.:

• July 10: Cast Iron Cowboys
• July 24: Tim Ball and Mark Bickford
• Aug. 14: Square dancing with caller Marc Faris
• Aug. 28: Rev Ezra

The goal, Tompkins said, is to settle on five shows for the series each summer “to bring the community together.”

“We look at what people are saying every year and try to align with Newfield’s values,” Tompkins said. “The goal is to add a lineup that the community likes every year. We try to get new bands and change it up.”

Tompkins said the theme for this year’s series implements a “little bit of country music,” noting the current trend with that genre. Square dancing and honky-tonk dancing will be mixed into the shows.

Deep Dive, a music venue in Ithaca, is involved in the current music trends in the area, Tompkins said.

“People like to dress up and go line dancing,” Tompkins said. “We’re piggy-backing on shows happening throughout the town. People just love putting on a denim shirt and getting out and dancing. We’re hoping to do that more.”

Tompkins, who used to book shows in Ithaca, collected connections with local bands over the years. Some of the shows that Tompkins was involved in took place at Grayhaven Motel and a bowling alley called Gutter Punk.

“It was just little things like that,” Tompkins said. “It was a real grassroots thing.”

While Tompkins booked shows that included punk and indie music, the series at Mill Park has more of a “family friendly” vibe to the music being performed.

“There’s been some overlap, but you start to meet people and make contacts,” Tompkins said. “I’m always drawn to artists and musicians. Even though I’m not one, I’m still a big fan.”

Tompkins said it helps that the Ithaca area has a “diverse selection” of bands.

“It’s just amazing, the quality of musicians we have in town,” Tompkins said. “[Groups] are always willing to collaborate. It’s a good feeling, and new things pop up every year. There’s a lot of places to play.”

It’s why, Tompkins noted, that the annual series lineup is hyperlocal. Tim Ball, who recently released his own Americana album, lives right in Newfield.

The series will see more local string bands and country bands than ever before — along with plenty of dancing, Tompkins said.

“I want to give the people what they want,” Tompkins said. “It’s a good way to meet your community, and it’s the most local it has ever been. It’s more folky than other festivals.”

Tompkins’ intention with the series is to make the first show special. This year, the opening show on June 26 will include a cake auction. People attending the event will have an opportunity to buy raffle tickets for a variety of cakes, pies and more.

All of the proceeds from the auction will go to the Newfield Food Pantry.

“It’s a way to get more out [to Mill Park],” Tompkins said. “It’s also a chance to call for the best bakers in town.”

The series will have a variety of food for purchase. The Covered Bridge Market & Pizzeria in Newfield will provide food. Stop, Pop and Roll Boba — a pop-up vendor in the Finger Lakes area — will handle drinks. Newfield Travel Club, through a connection with the Cornell Dairy Bar, will serve ice cream.

With positive community feedback and people coming to the shows in numbers, Tompkins is looking forward to a solid local vibe this summer.

“It’s more of the community and they know about it,” Tompkins said. “It’s been good to see and people recognize it as a good thing.”

Newfield Notes appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Town of Newfield adjusts office hours

The town of Newfield recently adjusted the hours for the clerk in Newfield Town Hall at 166 Main St.

The town clerk will now have office hours from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The office will be closed on Friday and Saturday.

The change in office hours will be in place until further notice.

Upcoming meetings in town

The town of Newfield has a couple of meetings scheduled in the next few weeks.

The Newfield town board will hold a work session on June 27 at 7 p.m. The town’s planning board has a meeting slated for July 3 at 7 p.m.

The public is invited to attend each of the meetings in person or via Zoom.