Britt Connors

November Greetings! I was reflecting on the meanings and connotations my favorite color, blue, can produce. I'll admit that I'm prone to a bit of “the blues” this season when it starts getting dark at 4pm and motivation plummets. Then again, singing or listening to “the blues” can boost the spirits right back up. When the sun shines this season, the sky can look mighty blue in contrast with the oranges and browns of falling leaves and soon-to-be barren trees. Then, there's “blue noise,” which Mike has been tortured with in his ears, ever since the same week he was able to drum again post broken arm - it's been over 4 months of the very understandable blues for Mike with Lyme Disease, a broken arm, and debilitating blue noise with a high dose of anxiety, all due to Eustachian tube clogging. But, his marginal improvement began out-of-the-blue this week and coincided with a miraculous national “blue wave.” I'm not sure I can express the lightness I've been feeling after 10 years of our country being held hostage by evil, corruption, and hatred. But, I'll continue to surround myself in my favorite color until my wise sister reminds me that I should branch out and “try wearing something NOT blue?!”

Ok - back to the music. We've got some fun stuff coming up. This has been my busiest musical year ever, and I really hope to keep the momentum through 2027!
* Sat, Nov 14th - Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center (Barside) in Maynard, MA - 2:30pm - 5pm - two more of our monthly residency (hoping they'll invite us back for the new year?!) and we'll have special guest Jim Kelly on guitar joining Ed Lucie on bass/vocals and Mike Connors on drums
* Wed, Nov 18th - Songwriters in the Round - new location at Cafe Zing in Porter Sq Cambridge, MA - 7:30pm - 9pm - I'll be playing solo with 3 other talented musicians, including the amazing host and curator, David Scott. I love these nights of meeting and hearing other songwriters.
* Fri, Dec 11 - Progression Brewing Company - Northampton, MA - 7:30pm - 9pm - our first western Mass show ever! Bringing Ed and Mike to play trio and share the night with our new friend, Tommy Feeley - please come say hello if you're out that way!
Sat, Dec 12th, we'll be back for our final Sanctuary hit of the year, but we just added an exciting show:
* Sat, Jan 16, 2027 - Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA - we're bringing the full band cuz this will be our last show there, as they're closing their doors for good next spring :(  Details and ticket links to come soon

Finally, last March, I got to go back to my roots and play in my hometown of Worcester, MA (affectionately known as "the Woo") for a special songwriter night that was captured on video. Michael McGlynn and Patrick Hanlin put together a beautiful film, highlighting the amazing and generous host, Sarah Louise French, and the scene that she's helped to cultivate there. I feel really lucky to have a couple clips in it, and you can watch it HERE.

I'll be back in your inbox one more time before year's end, but here's a huge thank you for being part of this email list - in today's algorithm'ed world of social media, the real connection is in-person and off of those sites. I'm very grateful for your eyes and ears when there's so much that needs your attention. Bathed in blue,  Britt xx

Sept 2026 Newsletter: “Autumn Healing Vibes”

Happy Autumn, friends! Usually, I'm a little melancholy when fall rolls around, but this year, summer wasn't the kindest to Mike between Lyme Disease and breaking an arm… BUT, it's a miracle - he's healed up and back to playing the drums, so all is finally right in our world.
I try to send these newsletters just once a month so as not to inundate your inboxes, so please excuse the fact that this is still September as I type, mostly because I wanted to remind local folks that we have our big show at City Winery Boston this Thursday, October 1st at 7:30pm! (Tickets HERE) The whole point was to have a full band show with horns, but we sadly canceled the horns weeks ago when we were uncertain about having drums… NOW, we will have our 5-piece rockin' crew of Ed Lucie on bass/vocals, Bethany Weiman on cello/vocals, Jim Kelly on guitar, and Mike Connors on drums! So excited to debut “Waltz for Dolly” for which you can see a little teaser from our first run-through HERE.

We've got 3 more months of our Second Saturday residency at Sanctuary in Maynard, MA (here's hoping they re-up for the new year), so we'll be back there October 10th 2:30-5pm.

I'm also excited to be back at the Songwriters in the Round Series on Wednesday, November 18 at their new location in Cambridge, MA at Cafe Zing in the Porter Square Shopping Center.

Finally, for those of you not on social media (God bless you, and I'm envious), Mike and I made a weird little promo video for the City Winery show, using the theme music he wrote for our Covid-era project of filming the “Britt and Mike Variety Show.” It didn't go very far, but it was a shame not to repurpose his hilarious and ridiculous theme song, so you can see that HERE :)

Thanks for reading and listening. I'm super inspired after hearing Madison Cunningham play a transcendent show last night, and I hope I can write a song half as good as hers this year… and get all these new songs in the recording studio. That's the goal. I know you have many talented folks to give your time to, and I so appreciate your ears for even a moment. Be well and stay human…
xx Britt

Sept 2026 Newsletter: “Broken Wings but the Cat Lady Still Sings”

Happy September, friends! August has come and gone, and while I usually get a little melancholy when signs of Autumn creep in, I'm a little relieved that September is here. Some of you may already know that Mike Connors (drummer and husband, in that order!) broke his arm 2 weeks ago. For a guy who lives and breathes drumming, it's been devastating. I think he married me because I was ok with having racks of his drums in our bedroom. One morning many years ago, I woke up to see him staring at his drums with a smile on his face, saying something like “I love waking up and being able to look at drums :) ” So, we are getting by over here, but Mike's never gone this long without having gigs, and the withdrawal is REAL. 

I never have great luck with press releases, but I had sent out a bunch regarding our City Winery show, touting the “Epic Full Band with Horns Show!” on the exact morning that Mike broke his arm… BUT, we have reconfigured, and we will have a pared down quartet with the incredible musicians I get to call bandmates: Bethany Weiman on cello and vocals, Ed Lucie on bass and vocals, and Jim Kelly on guitar. We will lean into the tunes with a lot of 3-part vocal harmonies, Mike will be head videographer and road manager, and we will plan on a full band show this winter when Mike is healed up. Maybe, just maybe, Mike will be able to join us for a few tunes… get your tickets and find out, AND, we so appreciate your support on this one :)  
*Thursday, October 1st at 7:30pm - City Winery Boston (Haymarket
  Lounge) - Tickets HERE (start at $24)

And, barring any more scheduling conflicts on their part, we are slated to be at our monthly “Second Saturday” residency at Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center in Maynard MA - Sept 12th from 2:30-5pm - Mike will have to sit this one out, but I'll have Ed Lucie and Jim Kelly with me for some trio action! Never a cover for these barside shows, all ages - come hang with us and hear some new tunes and arrangements!

Occasionally, as a songwriter, I've had the experience of truly feeling like a vessel for a song that comes through me with very little to no laboring… With the sad passing of Dolly Parton, I've been immersing myself in documentaries, articles, interviews that have only served to make me more in awe of her musicianship, humor, humanity, and light. And, a couple of days ago, I had a quick break between things and realized I heard Dolly's voice in my head, singing a song that I had never heard. I ran to my guitar and realized that I was writing my first true country song (or, I think Dolly wrote it and I just recorded it…), and I can't wait to play “Waltz for Dolly" for you at these shows. 

Hope to see you out there, and thank you immensely for reading and following along. And for listening to artists. And humans. And even creatures. 
xx Britt

Aug 2026 Newsletter: “'Tis August - Official Garden Party & Covid-era Yard Party”

Happy August, to all who celebrate! It's been a whirlwind, and to those of you who read the last newsletter, here's a tick update: Mike - 1, Lyme Disease - 0.5... I sincerely hope you haven't been struck with any of the increasing tick-caused maladies cuz they really suck! He's getting better, but it's been slow and frustrating for him. I'm also probably not doing a great job selling our next 2 shows, which are both outside, in gardens, in nature… 

*Thurs, August 6 - New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill - Boylston, MA - 5:30 - 7:30pm - Tix $0 members/$12 children/$24 adults (you can even get a ticket for your dog!) - tix for the evening summer series include a visit from 5-8pm to explore the stunning grounds, bring a picnic or purchase some food or beverage, hear us play some tunes! With Mike Connors on drums, Ed Lucie on bass/vocals and Jim Kelly on guitar

*Sat, August 8 - Concord Yard Show!  2:30-5pm (weather permitting)
It was supposed to or “Second Saturday” Residency at Sanctuary, Maynard but they just told us that there's a scheduling issue, so it's been canceled for this month :(  I was hoping to celebrate my birthday with y'all, so I was super bummed…HOWEVER, some folks have been asking if we'd ever resurrect our Covid-era yard concerts (remember when all we could do was livestream? or play outside, 6 feet apart from everyone?! While we did lose a lot during those times, I sometimes miss the community togetherness and the need we all had for art and music and togetherness…) If you're local and would like to come to our yard in Concord, MA, you can reply to this email, and I'll send the deets - we're calling it BYOE (bring your own “everything”) anything and everything you need to come listen to some tunes, though we'll have some refreshments and some bug spray!!! We can even do a tick-check-conga line at the end if y'all want that :)

I'm the luckiest to get to take some time off to do a little songwriting retreat soon, but I'll be back in your inbox before our September show, and I want to let you know that tickets are now on sale for our big full-band show with horns:
* City Winery Boston - Thurs, October 1st - 7:30pm - we SO loved playing in the cozy Haymarket Lounge for the release of “Exhale,” and are stoked to be back in that room! We sold out last time, so feel free to get your tix early!

Whether you like summer or not, there's a feeling in August that Ed and I tried to capture in a song, so I'll leave you with this listening of “August Passes.” Be well, watch out for ticks, and I can't wait to see you soon.
xx Britt

July 2026 Newsletter:  “Summer - Dangerous Pests and Also the Best(s)”

Summer greetings! I'm sure I annoy some of y'all with my exuberance over my favorite time of year and maybe over my disdain for the New England winter and cold, but NOT being cold is still my favorite thing, with longer days that somehow make me less tired and more energetic… I hope your summer is going great, and if it's not, I'll share the one thing I'm now hating about summer… TICKS. Those bastards are gonna take us all out, and they've partially taken Mike (husband and drummer) out for a little while now with Lyme. Scary stuff, messing with coordination and the brain and his life's work of drumming and usual superpower-level of coordination… he's finally turned the corner and on the awful but thankfully powerful antibiotic, but I wish you all a tick-free and tick-disease-free life cuz this is no joke!

I meant to get this newsletter out last week, but I was waiting to hear when our tickets would go on sale for our full band show at City Winery Boston on Thursday, October 1st (on the lovely Haymarket Lounge stage), and the answer is… next week! We sold it out when we played there in 2024, so please feel free to get your tickets next Wednesday if you're a member, or next Thursday for the general public! I'll update the link on my SHOWS page once it's up!

Tomorrow/Saturday, July 11th is our “Second Saturdays” show at our fave local place, Sanctuary in Maynard, MA - we play in the Barside room 2pm-5pm (generally start closer to 2:15, as doors don't open til 2pm!). We've loved having this residency, and it's given me an excuse to learn a few more covers as well as write songs a bit more urgently… we'll playing a new original as well as a new cover by one of my heroes, Deb Talan. And, we'll have the Trio with Ed Lucie on bass/vocals, and Mike Connors on drums (he'll have to leave for another gig before our last set, just FYI!), and special guest/bandmate Bethany Weiman on cello/vocals. 

I'll be back in your inbox once more before this, but tickets are now on sale for our fun show on Thursday, August 6th at New England Botanical Gardens (at Tower Hill) in Boylston, MA - 5:30-7:30pm. If you've never been, it's a most magical place - you can buy a general admission ticket for that date, wander around the gardens with sculptures and artistic features, and listen to some music in the courtyard! (Fun fact: I went to my senior prom there as well as sang for the wedding of some close friends - it's a very special place :)

I'll end this here, but as I type, a hummingbird is flitting around the bee balm and razoring through the air outside the window. Despite the ticks, I still love you, summer. Thank you so much for reading and for spreading the word - I know I'm not changing the world with my little songs, but connecting through music and art still feels like it can help our humanity. Here's a song for you today. Carry on, friends…
xx  Britt