6 On The Square (6OTS) will kick off its free summer concerts in Oxford’s Lafayette Park at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 9, with Richie and Rosie. (Submitted photo)

OXFORD — 6 On The Square (6OTS) will kick off its free summer concerts in Oxford’s Lafayette Park at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 9, with Richie and Rosie, a.k.a. Ithaca-based duo Richie Stearns and Rosie Newton.

Stearns started playing banjo at age 14 and Newton began classical piano lessons at 8, eventually moving to classical viola as a teen. Both had musically immersed childhoods: Sterns’ family founded the iconic GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance (where he is now president), and by her junior year of high school, Newton was playing fiddle and touring with folk-rock band The Mammals.

During that time, the two were introduced at Saratoga Springs’ Flurry festival — a meeting that would spark a friendship and musical bond.

During Newton’s freshman year at Ithaca College studying viola, the two began touring together as part of the Evil City String Band. Eventually they decided to pursue their music as a duo. They have released two albums: 2013’s “Tractor Beam” and 2020’s “Nowhere in Time.”

Bring your own chair or blanket. In case of inclement weather, the concert will move inside 6OTS.

Coming up are Damn Tall Buildings on July 16, Alice Howe with Freebo on July 23, and The Pairs on July 30. The concert series is generously sponsored by the Robert C. Smith Foundation, NBT Bank, Pete Perkins, and Patocka's Restaurant.

6 On The Square Inc. is an intimate, not-for-profit, volunteer-based acoustic music listening room and arts venue located at 6 Lafayette Park in downtown Oxford. Learn more at 6onthesquare.org.

-Information provided by 6OTS