The best concert calendars have a little unpredictability built in. Between October and December, College Street Music Hall has plenty: indie favorites, comedy, a cult sci-fi classic with a live orchestra and a New Year’s Eve show that runs straight through midnight.
Rather than run down the calendar, we asked Sarah Stroh, Marketing Manager at Premier Concerts / Manic Presents, for the inside track—what she’s personally excited to see, who deserves more attention and where to stand once you’re inside.
First things first: Who are you most excited to see?
Soccer Mommy and Snail Mail are two fantastic women musicians coming October 3. They’re both inspiring to young women like myself, and I’ve loved their music for years. In December, I’m excited for American Football—an all-time classic emo band for me and one of the first bands I got into in middle school. It’s great to have them coming to Connecticut, especially after they weren’t playing shows for a long time.
How does a show actually end up on the College Street calendar?
We consider everything. We want to make sure an artist is in the proper room and that they’ll be able to sell tickets in that room. For new or up-and-coming artists, we’ll often get shows from agents we have relationships with and work to grow those artists in the market.
Give us one artist we should know before everyone else does.
Cannons, who will be here October 21, just had a single in the newest Spider-Man movie!
And one night that’s not your standard concert?
One of our coolest upcoming events is Blade Runner LIVE. We’ll screen the iconic film while a live orchestra performs the score alongside it. We also do lots of different programming, including comedy, with Zoltan Kaszas coming November 19.
Connecticut hasn’t always been an obvious touring stop. What makes New Haven work?
Connecticut was often seen as a drive-through state for touring musicians, and we pride ourselves on putting it on the map for national touring acts. We provide musicians with a premier experience, from top-of-the-line audio and green rooms to great dining—including all the New Haven pizza!
Okay, we have tickets. Where are we going before the show?
There are so many incredible food and drink options within walking distance. We love our friends at BAR Pizza, Geronimo and Mecha, which offer special deals to concertgoers. If you’re running late, there’s even a Geronimo taco cart in our lobby.
Now give us the advice only a College Street regular would know.
For a seat, try the Loge or Balcony for an incredible view of the entire stage. On the floor, my go-to is near the sound booth. I also recommend buying merch before the show ends to avoid the line afterward. And if you’re taking Metro-North, there’s a free shuttle from Union Station to the New Haven Green, just a block away.
One last date for the calendar?
New Year’s Eve. They Might Be Giants will play through midnight and perform all their hits. Tickets are already going fast, so make sure to get yours soon.
