You have probably noticed that the days are getting shorter, which is a grim reminder that summer is fast coming to an end. So do get out there and enjoy what is left of it!
And if you haven’t taken advantage of the many summer concert series that our area offers, then you best move fast. One of the biggest series of the season, the Coop Concerts, which is held at the Energy Park in Greenfield every Thursday night during the summer months, will hold its final show tonight. The show will begin at 6 p.m., and like all the Coop shows will feature three acts: Roland LaPierre, Russ Thomas and Pat and Tex LaMountain. All of these musicians happen to be longtime Coop members and musicians who have all made their mark on the local music scene. It will be a mixed bag of styles when this talented group hits “the station” stage tonight.
LaPierre describes his music as a mix of country, rock n’ roll and traditional roots music with a touch of twang. Pat and Tex LaMountain are renowned Americana musicians whose sound is rooted in country, folk, jazz, rock and swing and then there is Russ Thomas, a folk musician whose songs include a liberal dose of humor.
So don’t miss your last chance to enjoy some fine music in the fresh air — and don’t forget your blanket or lawn chair. Music fans are welcomed to bring a picnic dinner or they can grab some eats at one of the many nearby restaurants. This is a family-friendly event, and admission is free. The Greenfield Energy Park is located at 50 Miles St.
Another popular summer music series here in Franklin County is Watermelon Wednesdays, held at the West Whately Chapel. If you haven’t been there this summer, it could very well be because the show that you wanted to see was sold out! According to Paul Newlin, the director of the series, out of 11 shows, eight were sellouts. As of today, the Aug. 31 show with The Revelers is close to selling out. The series will wind down with two shows in September. The Boston-based dance band Klezperanto will perform on Sept. 21, and the series concludes with a show with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason on Sept. 27. That show is sold out but there are tickets left for Klezperanto.
If there is any event that marks that the end of the summer is near, it is the annual Transperformance show which is always held on the last Tuesday in August (this year Aug. 30) at the Pines Theater in Look Park. This show is presented by the Northampton Arts Council and the Parent Teacher Organization of Northampton’s public schools, who join together to raise funds for arts enrichment in the schools and the ARTSEZ grant program.
The concept behind Transperformance is that some of the biggest names of the local music scene transform into some of their more famous musical counterparts. The shows always have a theme, and this year’s is “Labor Party,” which means that the artists must perform an occupation or a type or work. It’s a broad category and a glance at some of the lineup will provide you with a better idea of what is in store. The Lonesome Brothers will be playing the music of another local band, the Drunk Stuntmen. Outer Stylie will take on Talking Heads and Colorway will play the music of Foo Fighters. Mister G will be Dr. John and Mikey Sweet will perform as the Boss. Wishbone Zoe will be the Waitresses, and the Young at Heart Chorus will play the music of MGMT. And that’s just some of the talent that is lined up!
Most of the musicians do their best to duplicate the look of the musicians whose music they are playing. Overall, it’s a whole lot of fun — and funny — and every year also features some incredible knock-your-socks-off performances! This show is also very family-friendly, so bring the kids. The music begins at 4 p.m. Admissions is $10 for adults 13 and over, seniors 65 and older and veterans are $8, kids 12 and under are $5.
For more information, including the full lineup, visit: www.northhamptonartscouncil.org
The Pines Theater is located at 300 N. Main St. in Florence.
Songbird Sings receives donation from Pearl Jam
Congratulations to Robin Lane and everyone involved with Songbird Sings in Shelburne Falls. This nonprofit organization, of which Lane is the founder and executive director, offers songwriting workshops for survivors of trauma and was recently the recipient of a donation from Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy foundation.
During the first weekend of August, the Seattle-based rock band Pearl Jam played two landmark sold-out shows at Fenway Park in Boston. Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation donated $1 from each ticket sold to four different non-profit organizations, one of which was Songbird Sings. The donation from Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation will result in approximately $17,000 to each non-profit organization.
“It’s a very big deal for us as it puts us on the radar for bigger things,” wrote Songbird Sings assistant director and local musician Katie Hennessey. “We are really hoping that it will increase our visibility,” added Lane.
Songbird Sings provides free songwriting workshops for women, girls and veterans employing songwriting as a tool to aid in the healing of various traumatic events, such as domestic abuse, violence, trafficking and war. The organization’s Veteran’s Voices program, which was the recipient of the award, provides these songwriting workshops to combat veterans. Songbird Sings recently partnered with the Real School of Music to bring the Veteran’s Voices program to veterans across the country.
Of the four nonprofits chosen for this award, Songbird Sings is the only one located to in western Massachusetts. “I think they think of us as Boston, too, because I do most of my programs in Boston, ” said Lane.
Lane has a strong personal connection to the city. While she grew up in California and has resided in Franklin County since 2001, it was while living in Boston that her music career attained national prominence.
In the early 1980s Lane and her band the Chartbusters were a huge force on the Boston music scene and beyond. The band recorded three albums for Warner Bros Records and scored a huge hit with the song “When Things Go Wrong.” When the band split in 1983 Lane embarked on a solo career and while she continues to write and record, much of her time these days is devoted to Songbird Sings. The organization grew out of a workshop that she conducted at the Women’s Center in Turners Falls. Songbird Sings has also has presented workshops in Holyoke and Springfield.
Early on, Lane’s work with Songbird Sings caught the attention of former Red Sox Manager Theo Epstein, who with his brother Paul runs the philanthropic organization, The Foundation to be Named Later (FTBNL). That organization has been very supportive of Lane’s work and FTBNL’s CEO and executive director, Allyce Najimy, serves on the board of directors for Songbird Sings. It was through this relationship that Songbird Sings was brought to the attention of Pearl Jam.
FTBNL teamed up with Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation for the Fenway Park shows and committed to providing an additional contribution to the four awarded organizations.
“The funding provided by FTBNL and Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation will be used to create songwriting workshops for veterans with PTSD and will allow Songbird Sings to expand programing and reach more survivors in order to ease suffering caused by PTSD,” wrote Lane. “A huge thanks to Pearl Jam and FTBNL for their support, we couldn’t be more grateful”
If you are interested in learning more about Songbird Sings they have extensive information on their website at www.songbirdsings.org
Sheryl Hunter is a music writer who lives in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national magazines. You can contact her at: soundslocal@yahoo.com