MIKE DEL VECCHIO
This photo, of the trio Red Molly and the crowd at a Sanctuary Concerts show, accompanied a message announcing the end of the series.
The Sanctuary Concerts series at the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township has announced that it will be ending, after 16 years. The series had been on hiatus, with a possible return in the fall, but it has been announced on its Facebook page and in an email to supporters that it will be closing “with considerable regret and many fond memories.”
“As many of you know,” the message said, “our presenter, Mike Del Vecchio, has been battling serious health issues since last year. The many roles of a presenter — booking, presenting, producing, administering, and schmoozing — are just no longer possible for him, even with the enormous help from the rest of the Sanctuary volunteer staff.”
According to the message, which was titled “Sanctuary Sunset,” artists who have performed in the series over the year include Arlo Guthrie, Judy Collins, Nick Lowe, Roger McGuinn, Suzanne Vega, Marc Cohn, Rosanne Cash, Josh Ritter, The Roches and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
The message also included photos of some of these artists appearing in the series, along with others such as Red Molly, Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals, Janis Ian, Jorma Kaukonen, George Winston, Kathy Mattea, Jesse Winchester, Jimmy Webb and Dar Williams.
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2 comments
A terribly sad development.
The most fondly remembered Sanctuary concert had to be for me the last time I saw Richie Havens in concert for what was (unbeknownst to everyone) one of his final concerts. It was an evening that I will remember for the rest of my life from this man who epitomized such deep spirit and kindness to his audiences. And not a day goes by that I do not pray that someone (post pandemic, of course)will take up the reigns of this so sorely-missed venue.