Free Acoustic Sets Return at Deepwells

Continuing the path it started seven years ago in the former Cool Beanz cafe, this Saturday marks the beginning of Acoustic Long Island’s 7th Annual Summer Concert series.

Now held at Deepwells Mansion in St. James, the man who started the popular live sets - which can also be found as a popular podcast on iTunes - is hoping the shows will continue to flourish and showcase local talent.

"From its beginnings at the former Cool Beanz Cafe, Acoustic Long Island has attracted standing-room only crowds to its monthly performances," said Dave Dircks. "Now, it is not unusual to see 150 smiling faces filling the seats."

The first Wednesday of every month, the free concerts run from 6 to 10 p.m. and feature food and drinks for the audience as well.

, and Dircks says the ambiance at the concert's location is part of what makes it special.

"One of the things that makes this concert so magical is that it starts in daylight and then as the sun goes down, the house is lit with lights for the early evening portion of the show," Dircks said.

He bills the free podcast as the No. 1 acoustic podcast on iTunes, having exactly 100 recordings going into the 2012 summer season.

"For the last two years, this concert has attracted an audience of about 2,000 and we're confident that this year will be no exception,"Dircks said. "Fortunately, our local audience returns year after year and fills the front lawn of Deepwells Mansion."

This year, people can enjoy the acoustic, original sounds of a combination of solo and group artists. Some featured musicians are; Barnaby Bright, Ernie Halter, Antigone Rising and Little Toby Walker.

The Barnaby Bright duo is a Brooklyn-based indie folk rock group known for their original songwriting and music making. Ernie Halter gets his inspiration from pop and soul legends, such as Beatles, Elton John, Otis Redding and Stevie Wonder, first making a name for himself in 2005. Antigone Rising is an all female grassroots rock group that has toured with bands, such as The Rolling Stones, The Allman Brothers, Dave Matthews Band, The Bangles and others. Little Toby Walker shares a passion for blues, rags, folk and other traditional American music.

There will be Acoustic Long Island hats and T-shirts for sale as well, in which all profits go to support events at Deepwells throughout the year.