If the Towne Crier isn't already on your regular destination list for hearing live bluegrass, folk, Cajun, Swamp-Pop, country music, and performances from major stars who you may not have realized were guitar heroes, like Jeff Daniels, then you need to investigate this major music hall.

Beacon locals may know it as the large restaurant that was one of the first to occupy the empty space in what is now known as "Market Square". A market indeed, of tea, wine and extreme fitness training, as its neighbors are More Good, Locomotive Crossfit, and Oak Vino. Behind that vast dining space is the music room - the big stage that hosts Grammy award winners and other adored musicians most Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. And on Mondays and Wednesdays, you may have attended a friend's performance or spotted a local star at the Towne Crier's Open Mike Night.

Coming up very soon in August, is an appearance from Rusted Root, a Top 40s favorite from my high school days, when they were then known as a different sort of sound.



Rusted Root would just be an introduction to the amazing talent that comes to Towne Crier regularly. Take Alison Brown for instance, a celebrated banjoist, and a 4 time Grammy nominee, winning one Grammy, and has recorded 10 critically-acclaimed solo albums.


And then there are The Revelers, two bands originally knows as The Red Stick Ramblers and The Pine Leaf Boys out of Louisiana, who " joined together to form a Louisiana Supergroup which combines Swamp-Pop, Cajun, Country, Blues and Zydeco into a powerful tonic of roots music that could only come from Southwest Louisiana. And PS: they really like fire, although they call it cooking.


Jeff Daniels? What? Music critics probably already know he was a music sensation and unstoppable playwrite, having written 15 plays for his theatre company in Chelsea, Michigan, The Purple Rose Theatre Company,  named for his role in Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo.  Jeff has written more than 400 songs, and played over 300 gigs over the past 12 years by touring with his son’s band, the Ben Daniels Band.  Someone has hitched himself to some coattails to book touring mileage!


If you need a dinner and music destination for friends vising you for the weekend, Towne Crier is a pretty safe, yet musically thrilling bet for a great meal, delicious dessert from a famous pastry chef, and then onto your show.