Singing Songs for Singing’s Sake

On Monday, why not begin the longest night of the year with a very Vineyard thing — something casual, free, short, uplifting and all about connecting with other people? It’s musical, too, and, like so many events in this community, makes you wonder what other hidden talents your friends and neighbors may have.

The Songs of Peace, Hope and Light concert has a lumbering name but it is a very simple pleasure, which begins at 5 p.m. at the Hebrew Center in Vineyard Haven. It is not a Christmas concert, nor a Hanukkah nor any other holiday concert. It’s just, well, a good vibes concert, a deliberately informal performance of songs that range from Ziggy Marley to African tribal tunes, sung here by adults and children, for adults and children.

Maestro Roberta Kirn conducts her eighth annual winter concert, where she invites the audience to join in on a few simple songs — you’ll be amazed how good you sound if you try. And even if you just sit and listen for an hour, you’re guaranteed to leave filled with enough free peace, hope and light (not to mention cookies) to get you through that longest night, and then some.