Part of the fun of going to music festivals is getting to meet other people who appreciate the music and people who are part of the music scene.
Michael Bruccoleri, Karl Green, and Conor Mahoney pause for a photograph during Danbury Fields Forever, a two-day Beatles-themed music festival at Ives Concert Park in Danbury. Green, the original bassist with Herman’s Hermits, appeared at the festival Saturday, July 26, during a two-week visit to the United States.
- People who attended Danbury Fields Forever on Saturday had the chance to meet a founding member of Herman’s Hermits, a band that was part of the British Invasion that began 50 years ago with Beatlemania. Karl Green, a bass guitar player, made his first trip to the United States in 34 years after accepting a friend request on Facebook from Conor Mahoney of Indiana.
- Mahoney, 21, explained that he sent Green the friend request because as a young bassist himself, he figured, why not? He had already gotten to know Michael Bruccoleri of Valparaiso, Ind., formerly of Brooklyn, who performs with the band Good Clean Fun. Bruccoleri is very familiar with the music of the ’60s, having played in British Invasion tribute bands.
Bruccoleri and Mahoney decided to invite Green to the U.S., and Green agreed to a two-week trip. The three men included a stop at Danbury Fields Forever, where Green met fans, posed for photographs and signed autographs.
“I’m not a bread-head,” Green said. “I’m not all about money. This is a vacation for me, a chance to see and talk to fans. We couldn’t do that when Herman’s Hermits came to the U.S. years ago, except maybe for a few minutes if some fans came backstage. We were brought right on and then escorted out to the next place.”
The next stop for Green? Bayshore, N.Y., where he’ll join Good Clean Fun at Molly Malone’s Pub & Restaurant, 124 Maple Ave., tonight and tomorrow.
Anyone who missed Danbury Fields Forever today, or needs another day of music, has a chance to enjoy the art, food and music again tomorrow, when the second day of the festival begins at noon. Another 10 bands will play between noon and 8 p.m. For more information, call 203-795-4737 or visit www.fab4musicfestival.com or www.ivesconcertpark.com.