Sunset Sounds concert series brings live jazz to Butler-McCook House Museum

Sunset Sounds concert series in hartford, Connecticut — Sunset Sounds 2025 courtesy of Connecticut Landmarks

Connecticut Landmarks will host its free Sunset Sounds concert series on the second Thursday of every month from June through September. The outdoor performances take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Butler-McCook House and Garden, located at 59 S. Prospect Street in Hartford.

Concertgoers are invited to bring lawn chairs and picnic dinners, with the museum grounds opening at 5 p.m. ahead of each performance. In addition to the live music, attendees can access free tours of the house museum’s first floor, listen to an audio tour of the garden, and view featured artist exhibitions at the Amos Bull and Butler-McCook houses.

The 2026 concert lineup features four monthly performances:

June 11: Tubby, a long-time project led by tenor and soprano saxophone player Matt Parker, will perform a tribute to the jazz heritage and saxophone traditions of New Orleans.
July 9: Hartford hip-hop lyricist and poet Ghazi Omair will present “I, too, sing America. I, too, am America,” a performance blending spoken word, hip-hop, and jazz.
August 13: Alto saxophone player and Hartford-area native Kris Allen will lead a quintet featuring Nat Reeves, Jeff Tain Watts, Bruce Harris, and Zaccai Curtis to pay tribute to bebop and hard bop musicians.
September 10: Vocalist April May Webb, the 2024 winner of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, and trumpeter Randall Haywood will lead the ensemble SOAR, blending jazz with country, R&B, and gospel.

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The venue will also host a separate event for Make Music Day Hartford on Saturday, June 20 at 6 p.m. The String of Pearls Big Band will perform swing music and selections from the Great American Songbook from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.

“Our Sunset Sounds Concerts invite the greater Hartford community to enjoy locally and internationally renowned jazz musicians at the heart of the capital city,” Jana Colacino, assistant site administrator at the Butler-McCook House and Garden, said.

The concerts take place outdoors on the terrace at the Amos Bull House, located at the rear of the property. If there is inclement weather, the performances will move inside to the Amos Bull Community Room.

The series and the June 20 performance are free to attend, and walk-ups are welcome. Organizers note that registration is appreciated, and community members can sign up or view parking details online at ctlandmarks.org.

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June events at Fairfield Theatre Company

6/9 – Melissa Ferrick
6/10 – Cheese Fries & Chili Dips
6/11 – Louden Swain
6/12 – Andy McKee
6/13 – Friends of the Brothers
6/13 – Rob Morton
6/14 – The Sadies
6/16 – Devon Allman’s Blue Summit
6/18 – Pizza, A Love Story
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6/19 – Greg Hawkes with Eddie Japan
6/19 – FTC Summer Jam
6/20 – Black Uhuru
6/20 – Daniel Glass Trio
6/21 – Make Music Fairfield
6/23 – Caitlynne Curtis
6/25 – Livingston Taylor
6/26 – FTC’s 80’s Dance Party
6/27 – Albert Cummings
6/28 – Midnight North

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June events at Rentschler Field

6/22 – Post Malone, click here to purchase tickets

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Sunset Sounds concert series brings live jazz to Butler-McCook House Museum