Dave Alves grew up walking and riding through Paskamansett Woods and Gidley Woods. Now a musician and occasional event organizer, those same woods were “the first place” he thought of for an outdoor venue. 

“I spent a lot of time here in these woods,” Alves said. “There’s always been something serene about playing in the woods — being in the woods.”

Alves approached the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust with the idea to host a concert in the woods, but also needed permission from the owners of Gidley Woods, Marge Waite and Neal Weiss. Alves didn’t realize that he already had a connection with Waite, as her grandson Lucas has taken piano lessons from Alves for the past five years. 

“He had no idea,” Marge said.

But Marge and Neal were happy to oblige, and Alves was able to host the “Evergreen Grove Sessions” in a pocket of Gidley Woods, in partnership with DNRT, on Sunday, Oct. 15. The half-mile hike to get there went through DNRT’s Paskamansett Woods. 

“It’s kind of surreal,” Lucas said about seeing his teacher perform live.

Five acts played in the natural “amphitheater,” meaning a relatively clear patch of woods with a hill facing an area of flat land, where Alves set up speakers powered by a silent, battery-powered generator. 

Jason Kelley, a friend of Alves from Dartmouth, performs as part of the J.Kelley Band. He said “there’s not as many venues as there once was” on the South Coast, and so shows like this offer a good opportunity to play for a crowd, and one that’s there just to see music. 

“As talented as [Alves] is as a performer and songwriter, I think he’s missing his calling as a concert promoter,” Kelley said. 

The proceeds from the show are shared with DNRT. 

“I personally love DNRT trails, I have probably walked them all,” Alves said. 

For performers, Dave tapped local connections, like Kelley, as well as connections from Providence, like solo act Mary McAvoy. 

“These shows are hard to come by, where you have a captive audience,” McAvoy said. 

“I think it’s beautiful, I think it’s a great setting for it, especially an acoustic gig,” said musician Cassie Lee. “I don't think I’ve ever been to a show in the woods before; it’s my first time playing at one and my first time being at one.”

The beginning of the show brought out about 30 or 40 spectators, but musicians played from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., so people continued to hike in throughout. 

With cooler temperatures, yellowing leaves and a partly cloudy sky, Alves “couldn’t have chosen a better fall day,” he said. 

Spectators Sandra and Peter Medeiros agreed: “We love music and we love the woods,” Sandra said. “We go everywhere for music.”