Stamford Downtown announced on Monday, December 2, 2024 that its beloved concert series, Alive At Five, which has been a cornerstone of the city’s summer entertainment scene since 1997, will not return in 2025.
“Stamford Downtown is re-imagining its event and marketing programming to be more responsive to the tastes of the rapidly growing day- and night-time populations within Downtown and to continue to position Downtown as the center for dining and entertainment for Stamford, surrounding communities, and the region,” said Michael Moore, President of Stamford Downtown.
“Alive At Five has been a driving force in the economic growth of the Downtown since 1997. We picked the name ‘Alive At Five’ to combat a perception in the late 90s that the Downtown effectively shut down at 5 p.m. when office workers went home. That is no longer the case and hasn’t been for a long time. Alive At Five accomplished its original goal beyond all expectations and helped pave the way for Stamford Downtown to become the 24/7 destination and home to thousands that it is today,” said Greg Caggainello, Chairman of the Stamford Downtown Board of Commissioners.
The concerts were held in Columbus Park for many years, providing the surrounding restaurants and bars with a huge financial boost. As the concerts grew and the neighborhood evolved with more family-oriented restaurants and fewer bars, the need to find a larger venue became apparent. The move to Mill River Park in 2021 allowed the concert series room to grow while still bringing thousands of people to the Downtown for a few Thursday nights each summer.
Beyond the economic impact, Alive At Five will leave a lasting legacy in Stamford. It is the most well-known and reputable recurring event in the region and is synonymous with Stamford for a generation of young people. Lynne Colatrella, Senior VP of Events and Marketing for Stamford Downtown has been producing and promoting the series since 1999. “Am I sad to see it go? You bet! When we began the series there wasn’t a venue for miles to see the level of national talent that we brought to the Alive At Five stage. We started modestly with local favorite Sharkey and the Unknowns and built the shows over the years that included Southside Johnny, America, Joe Bonamassa, and The Bacon Brothers. In 2006 in a citywide blackout, Hootie and The Blowfish took the stage. I was most proud of that show because we had a generator and, even though there was no power for miles, we had a major concert in our Downtown with a national artist! We loved bringing Boyz II Men to our stage as well as Sugar Ray, The Beach Boys, and Third Eye Blind, who shut down the Downtown with lines around the block. Foreigner, Creedence, Bret Michaels, Michael McDonald, Shaggy, OAR, and Jon Batiste were a mix of treasured artists and ones just receiving Grammy gold. Ashanti and All-American Rejects both sold out their shows at Mill River, with 7,500 fans dancing in the park. I’d have to say my favorite artist and the one show I am most honored to have presented was BB King. To have that legendary artist in our backyard was beyond magical. We accomplished what our mission was and what we set out to do was beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. It was an amazing ride,” said Lynne Colatrella.