Time to say goodbye, or more accurately, good riddance to 2016! The year got off to a rough start with the passing of iconic musician David Bowie in January and, unfortunately, the Grim Reaper was just getting started. This past year, we bid farewell to many great musicians, among them Glen Frey, Merle Haggard, Prince, Sharon Jones, Leonard Cohen and then on Christmas day, George Michael. Locally, we lost folk singer Jeff Martell and bluesman Ed Vadas. Yes, 2016 was a year punctuated by great loss on the music scene.
But on a brighter note, there was an abundance of good music being made here in the Pioneer Valley, and one of the best things that happened this past year is the establishment here in Franklin County of more venues to enjoy live music.
At the beginning of 2016, WRSI radio personality Christopher “Monte” Belmonte, a resident of Turners Falls, took over management of the Shea Theater in Turners Falls. The theater had fallen on hard times and was in need of some repairs, so Belmonte assembled a top-notch team that has worked tirelessly to help him realize his goal of making the Shea, “the jewel in the crown of arts and culture in Franklin County.”
In March, the theater enjoyed a successful grand re-opening weekend and packed the house with shows by Red Baraat, Speedy Ortiz, and Heather Maloney. Since then, the Shea has welcomed the likes of Parker Millsap, Darlingside, the Suitcase Junket, The Felice Brothers and more to their stage. The Shea has already announced a March 23 show with singer Aoife O’Donovan and musicians Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge. We can’t wait to see who else will be playing at the Shea in 2017.
The Arts Block in Greenfield has blossomed under its new ownership. Bob Goldsher purchased the building and the nearby Pushkin in 2015, and this year the venue has been bustling with activity. The Arts Block is taking advantage of all the space that this beautiful old building has to offer, and the previously underutilized basement room, The Wheelhouse, is finally turning into the kind of rock club that we always knew it could be. While the Arts Block presents all type of entertainment, its primary focus is on music — and that means all types of music. The Arts Block welcomes the finest in local artists — everyone from newcomers to well-established acts. A quick glance at its calendar will reveal a heavy metal show, some jazz and a night of Latin dance music. And, that’s all in the same week!
This summer, another music club opened its doors in Greenfield. The Root Cellar, 10 Fiske Ave., has proven to be a welcomed addition to the local music scene. The Root Cellar hosts both local musicians and well-known touring artists to its stage. Rev Tor, Adam Ezra and Taj Weeks are just a few of the musicians who have performed there. Owners Wendell Rheinheimer and Shana Totino strive to create a club with a positive vibe. They have a great dance floor, an excellent sound system and they put the emphasis on local, including serving up local craft beers, herb-infused cocktails and, of course, lots of local music.
This year also saw the opening of the Underdogs Lounge at 10 Bridge St. in Shelburne Falls. In addition to being a perfect spot for drinks and good eats, the lounge offers up live music every Thursday through Sunday. It welcomes local jazz, rock and folk musicians, and so much more. The venue also hosts a monthly open mic and does not charge a cover for any of its shows.
We also have to mention that throughout 2016, the Ashfield Lake House continued to be a thriving, fun place to hear music. In addition to hosting local talent, it brings in acts from all over, and even hosted a show with rising indie star Arc Iris this past October.
The festival scene in Greenfield remained strong with the area’s biggest festival, the Green River Festival, enjoying another successful year in 2016. The crowds were treated to enjoyable sets by the likes of Dawes (who will play the Academy of Music in Northampton on March 14), the Tedeschi Trucks Band and country singer Margo Price, whose album “Midwest Farmer’s Daughter” is popping up on almost all the critics’ best-of lists. Mark your calendar as next year’s Green River Festival will be held on July 14 through 16. You can actually purchase earlybird tickets now at:
www.greenriverfestival.com
The StrangeCreek Campout will return to camp Kee-Wanee in Greenfield May 26 through 29, and you can purchase tickets for that festival for only $100 now through Dec. 31 at:
www.strangecreekcampout.com
Also the Upper Valley Music Festival will return on Saturday, April 29. This celebration of local music, which also raises money for the American Cancer Society, took a year off in 2016, but is back for 2017 and returning to Greenfield. Tickets are available at:
www.uppervalleyfest.com
More good new is that Wilco’s Sound Festival, held every other year at Mass MoCA in North Adams, returns June 23 through 25. Advance tickets are available at: www.solidsoundfestival.com
Wilco, whose management is based in Easthampton, released a strong album called “Wilco Schmilco” this past year. Expect lineups for all of these festivals to be announced in early 2017.
Signature Sounds has announced the return of the Back Porch Festival in March at the Academy of Music in Northampton. There will be a bluegrass night featuring Sarah Jarosz and others on Saturday, March 11, and then on Sunday, March 12, there will be a special afternoon show with Chris Smither and Lori McKenna.
The past year has been a good one for McKenna, who got her start recording for Signature Sounds in Northampton. She received a Grammy award for co-writing the song “Girl Crush,” and has been nominated for four 2017 Grammy awards, including Best Americana Album of the Year for her own album, “The Bird and the Rifle.”
There have been so many excellent local recordings this year, and one of my favorites, which came out of Nashville, Tenn. by way of Northampton, is “All American Mutt” by Jamie Kent.
Kent, who grew up in Northampton and was a strong presence on the local music scene until moving to Nashville a couple of years ago, is gaining national attention for this disc — a delightful mix of twang and pop. His song, “All American Mutt,” is about the diverse melting pot that is America. It was named one of the 25 best country songs of the year by “Rolling Stone Country.”
Another local singer-songwriter, Mikey Sweet, delivered an excellent collection of honest, world-weary tunes on his album, “Road Dog Gospel,” while the indie-pop group And The Kids continue to prove that they can do no wrong with the release of the album, “Friends Share Lovers,” another disc full of Hannah Mohan’s unique songwriting and singing.
I’m a sucker for a great pop song, so it’s no surprise that “Goodnight, Spacegirl” by The Fawns was one of my favorites of 2016. It had been 10 years between releases, but this new one by the Fawns, which is led by Lesa Bezo, was worth the wait, as it’s filled with irresistible pop tunes that you can’t get enough of.
Ray Mason released “The Shy Requester,” his first solo album in seven years, and it is filled with the kind of quirky, appealing songs we have come to expect from the local legend.
The Suitcase Junket (Matt Lorenz) has had an excellent year as he has toured all over the country while headlining a show at the Shea. He also released a strong EP called “The Dying Star” that proved that in addition to being an unconventional one-man band, he is a singer and songwriter deserving of attention. And we will be hearing more from the Suitcase Junket in 2017, because he plans to release a full-length album in the spring.
Here is wishing everyone a happy, healthy, music-filled New Year!
Sheryl Hunter is a music writer living in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in regional and national magazines. You can contact her at: soundslocal@yahoo.com