In 1985, Jerry Christen opened “A New Song Coffeehouse”
in order to bring quality independent acoustic music to Bedford.
A New Song Coffeehouse is known for its friendly audiences and
first-rate concert environs. Average attendance is 150, with shows
held one Saturday a month from September to May, except for December.
Dress is casual, and free parking is available in two church parking
lots, one in front of the church, and a larger one behind it.
On-street parking in front of the coffeehouse is also free. Concerts
are held in a spacious fellowship hall with excellent acoustics
and lighting, padded chairs and tables. The shows are secular,
and presented as a community project by a volunteer committee
of church and non-church members.
Later, Jerry was instrumental in forming the Boston
Area Coffeehouse Association. Rather than compete, the Boston
area coffeehouses nurture each other, helping to make Boston one
of the most vital folk music scenes in the country.
Jerry died after a nine-month struggle with non-Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma; he left a legacy of music which we hope will be remembered
for years to come.
