Dave Bennett shares his musical journey at The War Memorial
His musical versatility will once again be on display at The War Memorial.
Over the last 10 years, Dave Bennett has become somewhat of a War Memorial staple when it comes to musical entertainment, frequently gracing audiences at the nonprofit organization with his talents.
“The summer of 2014 was when I played my first concert at The War Memorial,” he said. “Someone who worked there called me about doing a show.”
Bennett is a multi-instrumentalist and singer who performs everything from jazz and swing to rock and roll. As a jazz and pop clarinet player, Bennett has performed all over North American at historic venues and festivals, including Carnegie Hall. His 2018 Mack Avenue Records release "Blood Moon" reached No. 24 on the Billboard jazz charts.
Some of his recent performances at The War Memorial include being part of the Winter Jazz Brunch Series in 2023 and 2024, and playing at the dedication of Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge in 2023.
“I don’t recall playing at many other places that have the beauty of The War Memorial,” Bennett said. “It’s a really nice setting, especially for the band because we get to look at nice surroundings. It’s top notch all the way around.”
Bennett is a clarinet virtuoso who plays electric guitar, piano, drums, and vocalizes. Saluting swing to rock, he covers music from the Swing Era to early Rockabilly and Country, to Elvis Presley and more.
The 40-year-old from Waterford estimates that in the last decade, he has played The War Memorial about 30 times, ranging from performing at the former Patriot Theater, to the Alger House, the Alger Center and on the lakeside lawn.
“Every show has been great,” Bennett said. “The whole staff has always been really good. The sound crew is always great, and when they give us meals, they are always top notch. It’s an incredible atmosphere at The War Memorial.”
On July 10, The War Memorial’s SummerFest Concert Series begins with the Dave Bennett Band, featuring Bennett’s special blend of rockabilly and jazz.
“There are things in our show like Benny Goodman and closing with Jerry Lee Lewis, but we also have some new things and other songs that I have written,” he said. “We’re trying to keep it fresh.”
Speaking about how The War Memorial as a venue plays well into his type of shows, Bennett says the theater always was very good, providing the band with quality acoustics.
“It was a pretty good size room and I remember the energy from the crowd being very strong,” he said. “No matter what the location at The War Memorial is, they’ve always been very comfortable.”
The July 10 concert is free to attend and begins at 7:30 p.m. on the lakefront lawn of The War Memorial. To register, visit here.
This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!