Coconut Grove welcomes veteran of the Greenwich Village folk scene Rod MacDonald to The Barnacle Under Moonlight Concert Series, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. (admission gate opens at 6 p.m. to attendees and picnic-goers).
“Visitors, friends, and neighbors truly love coming out for an evening of live entertainment by beautiful Biscayne Bay,” said John Palenchar, president of the Barnacle Society. “And there really is no better place to sit out under the night sky and to take in a great show — than at the vintage 1890s home of one of the Grove’s founding pioneers, Commodore Ralph Munroe.”
Concerts take place the second Saturday of each month through May, with proceeds going to maintain the historic estate and grounds, and fund a wide range of community entertainment and educational events. Attendees are encouraged to park curbside or in one of Coconut Grove’s many lots or garages and use the Freebee shuttle service or stroll over to The Barnacle Historic State Park at 3485 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, Florida.
About Rod MacDonald
MacDonald has been a regular on the Florida music scene since the mid-1990s. Early on, he was a constant presence at many of New York’s most prestigious folk clubs including Gerdes Folk City and the Bottom Line. MacDonald has 10 solo albums to his credit and has performed with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow, Richie Havens, Suzanne Vega, and the Violent Femmes.
As an accomplished guitarist, MacDonald now teaches Music Americana at Florida Atlantic University and performs throughout the state. Utilizing video and live performance, he gives numerous lectures and theme concerts such as Songs Of Greenwich Village, Songs Of Bob Dylan, A Brief History of Irish Music, and The Great American Songbook; he also does full concerts of his own material, and often mixes his own songs in with popular standards.
MacDonald plays a rhythmic style of acoustic guitar and sings in a clear tenor. He has considerable experience playing with bands as well (and currently is the lead singer in the local rock band, Big Brass Bed, which performs mostly Bob Dylan songs and has made three CDs). He has also worked with many notable musicians in the New York and south Florida scenes.
Upcoming Shows
- December – Folk Singer-Songwriter Rod MacDonald
- January – Brazilian Indie Musician Andro Baudelaire
- February – Indie Folk Artist Keith Johns
- March – Miami-based Indie-Folk Band, American Darling Valve
- April – Fusion Folk Americana duo Jennings & Keller
- May – Modern Day Troubadour Beth Woods
The Barnacle is the oldest home in Miami-Dade on its original site. Ralph Munroe was the founder of the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club and held the position of Commodore there for 22 years.
In addition to Barnacle’s Under the Moonlight Concerts, the Barnacle Society also hosts outdoor films and myriad other family-fun and cultural events throughout the year.
Concert Tickets at the gate for $10 (adults), $8 (Society members), $3 (kids 6 to 9), and free (under 6). Picnics, blankets, lawn chairs and flashlights welcome. No pets, please. The Barnacle Historic State Park is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and events are sponsored by The Barnacle Society, Inc., a non-profit organization created for the preservation and financial support of this historic site. The park is located at 3485 Main Hwy, Coconut Grove, FL. For information, call 305-442-6866 or visit the park website.
