Live Acoustic Music Near Portland, Connecticut

If you've never experienced hearing talented musicians perform in a small, intimate environment, you are in for a treat.

House concerts are a growing trend across the country, where people invite friends and neighbors into their homes for an up-close concert experience. And there are many house concerts being held in and around the Portland area that you can check out - you just need to contact the host and ask to be invited.

Churches and non-profit community groups around Portland host occasional coffeehouses that feature traditional folk musicians and other acoustic artists as a way of bringing the community together. Local libraries also host free concerts that are open to the general public.

In addition, live acoustic music can be heard in several listening rooms and small theaters in and around the Portland area. Local vineyards and restaurants and cafes in the area sometimes host nationally touring musicians as well.

Below you can find a listing of upcoming shows in these smaller venues by nationally and internationally touring artists.

Upcoming Acoustic Shows

November 19
November 19
Boston singer/songwriter Lee Totten has performed nearly 1400 shows over two decades as an artist, bringing his introspective, upbeat acoustic/rock/punk/folk songs and stories to audiences from Boston to Los Angeles and everywhere in between.
The Brownstone (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Hartford, CT
November 20
Space Ballroom (Neighborhood Bar)
Hamden, CT
November 20
Cantean Coffee and Tea (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Hamden, CT
November 20
MDB and Abbie Gardner's first time performance at The Cantean, presented by Bigger Beast Records.
Cantean Coffee and Tea (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Hamden, CT
November 21
Multi-instrumentalist, Folk Alliance International Album of the Year 2009 and 2024 for ABLE BAKER CHARLIE AND DOG and NINE BECOMES ONE. Joe's rhythm is infectious. He's is funny as hell one moment and transcendent the next.
Trinity Stage - Music on Main (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Middletown, CT
November 21
Paradise Hills Vineyard (Vineyard)
Wallingford, CT
November 21
Woodstock-tinged psychedelia, Americana, folk-rock. Voted "Best Band" by Upstate NY’s Chronogram Magazine for their rootsy, rockin’ psychedelia, the Slambovians' deep connection with audiences and exciting live shows are legendary
Unitarian Society of Hartford (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Hartford, CT
November 21
Woodstock-tinged psychedelia, Americana, folk-rock. Voted "Best Band" by Upstate NY’s Chronogram Magazine for their rootsy, rockin’ psychedelia, the Slambovians' deep connection with audiences and exciting live shows are legendary
Meeting House Presents (Listening Room)
Hartford, CT
November 22
Norbrook Farm Brewery (Brewery)
Colebrook, CT
November 22
Hops on the Hill Brewery (Brewery)
Glastonbury, CT
November 23
he most envied, the most imitated, and the most successful singing group, folk or otherwise, in all show business
November 29
The Oasis Pub (Neighborhood Bar)
New London, CT
November 29
C.J. Sparrow (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Cheshire, CT
December 2
December 5
Broad Brook Opera House (Listening Room)
East Windsor, CT
December 5
December 5
Roaring Brook Concerts (Listening Room)
Canton, CT
December 6
Kate Prascher is a songwriter with a haunting sound and clear vision.
The Packing House (Listening Room)
Willington, CT
December 6
"...a luminous voice and a buoyant stage presence... big-hearted lyrics embrace the sum of life... Herscovitch's music blows on the embers of a lagging spirit..." -The Boston Globe
Flagpole Radio Cafe (Small Theater)
Newtown, CT
December 6
The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts and Cultural Center (Performing Arts Center)
Middletown, CT
December 6
Stephen plays the harp guitar. His awards include the 2024 International Finger Style Guitar Championship and the 1987 National Flatpicking Championship. He is the only person to have won both of those awards.
Chester Meeting House (Event Space)
Chester, CT
December 10
Cafe Nine (Listening Room)
New Haven, CT
December 11
The Dirty Old One Man Band
Cafe Nine (Listening Room)
New Haven, CT
December 11
December 13
Bruce T Carroll has established himself as an Americana artist with a social conscience and deft lyrical touch.
Art & Soul Concert Series (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Meriden, CT
December 13
Americana artist with a social conscience and deft lyrical touch
Art & Soul Concert Series (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Meriden, CT
December 13
Bruce T Carroll has established himself as an Americana artist with a social conscience and deft lyrical touch.
Art & Soul Concert Series (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Meriden, CT
December 13
Vine and Vibes Summer Concert Series @ Small Batch Cellars (Outdoor Music Series)
North Haven, CT
December 13
The Social Bar and Kitchen (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
New London, CT
December 13
Space Ballroom (Neighborhood Bar)
Hamden, CT
December 13
Almost Famous Brewing Company (Brewery)
East Granby, CT
December 13
"...a luminous voice and a buoyant stage presence... big-hearted lyrics embrace the sum of life... Herscovitch's music blows on the embers of a lagging spirit..." -The Boston Globe
The Sounding Board (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
West Hartford, CT
December 17
Boston singer/songwriter Lee Totten has performed nearly 1400 shows over two decades as an artist, bringing his introspective, upbeat acoustic/rock/punk/folk songs and stories to audiences from Boston to Los Angeles and everywhere in between.
The Brownstone (Cafe, Restaurant or Coffee Shop)
Hartford, CT
December 18
December 19
MDB, Louise Coombe, and Sarah Mac in the round at the Sinners Circle hosted by John Fries at the Garde Arts Center.
Garde Arts Center (Concert Hall)
New London, CT
December 19
Meeting House Presents (Listening Room)
Hartford, CT
December 19
The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts and Cultural Center (Performing Arts Center)
Middletown, CT
December 20
December 29
January 9
The Olde Church Acoustic Series (House Concert)
Meriden, CT
January 10
Kenn?s rich baritone voice, his humor and charisma, and will create a musical evening rich with story, beautiful lyrics and an engaging performance.
Art & Soul Concert Series (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Meriden, CT
January 11
January 16
Meeting House Presents (Listening Room)
Hartford, CT
February 12
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Places to see live acoustic music in and around Portland, Connecticut

House Concerts

Connected Arts (Southbury)
Dionigi House Concerts (Durham)
GuitartownCT (Hamden)
Sow a Seed Concerts (New Hartford)
The Olde Church Acoustic Series (Meriden)

Listening Rooms

Best Video Film & Cultural Center (Hamden)
Broad Brook Opera House (East Windsor)
Bruces Blues Cafe (Southbury)
Cafe Nine (New Haven)
First Congregational Church of Canterbury (Canterbury)
Meeting House Presents (Hartford)
Nightingale's Acoustic Cafe (Old Lyme)
Roaring Brook Concerts (Canton)
The Packing House (Willington)
Westfield Athenaeum (Westfield)

Folk Music Coffeehouses

Art & Soul Concert Series (Meriden)
Friday Night Folk at All Souls (New London)
No Cover Cafe (Enfield)
Salmon Brook Music Series (Granby)
The Bread Box Theater (Windham)
The Sounding Board (West Hartford)
Trinity Stage - Music on Main (Middletown)
Unitarian Society of Hartford (Hartford)

Vineyards & Breweries

Brignole Vineyards (East Granby)
Hopkins Vineyard (Warren)
Ox and Oak Vineyards (Lebanon)
Paradise Hills Vineyard (Wallingford)
Preston Ridge Vineyard (Preston)
Priam Vineyards (Colchester)

Cafes, Restaurants & Coffee Shops

C.J. Sparrow (Cheshire)
Cantean Coffee and Tea (Hamden)
The Brownstone (Hartford)
The Flour Girl Cafe (Hebron)
The Social Bar and Kitchen (New London)

Libraries

Between the Stacks at Beekley Community Library (New Hartford)
Simsbury Public Library (Simsbury)

Small Theaters

Center Church on the Green (New Haven)
Flagpole Radio Cafe (Newtown)
The Kate Theater - Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (Old Saybrook)

Outdoor Music Series

Northwest Park Coffee House Concerts (Windsor)
Vine and Vibes Summer Concert Series @ Small Batch Cellars (North Haven)

Bars & Nightclubs

Space Ballroom (Hamden)
The Oasis Pub (New London)