The historic grounds of Springfield Armory National Historic Site is once again the stage this summer for live music. Bring a lawn chair and dust off your dancing shoes and enjoy a free, energizing, twilight jazz and blues orchestra performance on the lawn in front of the Commanding Officer’s Quarters.

On Saturday, at 6pm, Bad News Jazz and Blues Orchestra will perform for the annual big band concert. Led by Jeff Gavioli, Bad News Jazz and Blues Orchestra is a 19-piece orchestra that has been performing since 2012, playing swing music from the 1930s and 1940s.

Annual Big Band Concert

In honor of the historic 1943 Benny Goodman Armory show. In 1943 Benny Goodman and his band came to the Armory as part of his nationwide Twilight Tours. Goodman made a point to play to war workers like those at Springfield Armory as a thank you for their dedication and patriotism. The Armory workers were essential in the manufacturing of firearms for the military during WWII.

Benny Goodman playing clarinet with band pictured behind him.