The Upper Valley Music Festival, which was held downtown Greenfield this past weekend, proved to be the perfect start for festival season. This event — in which crowds enjoyed music at the Arts Block, Root Cellar and the Second Congregational Church — was a reminder of how much fun festivals are in that we get to hear some of our favorite artists and discover new talent at the same time. So a shout-out to the Byrnes family for putting this event together, which raised money for the American Cancer Society and Franklin County’s Relay for Life.
If you are looking to further gear up for festival season, particularly the Green River Festival, then head to the Black Tie-Dye Ball next weekend. This event, presented by the organizers of the Green River Festival, will be held at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls on Saturday, May 13, at 8 p.m. Since this show is over a week away, that gives you plenty of time to dig out that favorite tie-dye shirt of yours.
The ball will celebrate the music of the Grateful Dead with local band Dead Collective putting their spin on their tunes. But don’t go expecting them to play note for note duplications like bands such as the Dark Star Orchestra do, Dead Collective offers up its own interpretations.
The band; which features Steve “Trembo” Tremblay on bass, Thomas Williams on guitar and vocals, Gail Hegeman on drums and vocals, Douglas Hegeman on drums and Mark Kurber on guitar and vocals; have been together since 2013. The members’ connection with the music of the Dead goes back many years.
“I was in one other Grateful Dead cover band in the late ’80s and ’90s. Tom was in one other band as well,” said Kurber. “Both Gail and Doug have a longtime relationship with the Grateful Dead and various folk/psychedelic rock bands.”
The Dead Collective has performed throughout the Pioneer Valley, including taking the stage before 15,000 people at the Extravaganja in Northampton last Saturday.
“We had a terrific time,” said Kurber. “Dead Collective and the entire audience created an atmosphere of togetherness.”
There will be plenty of twirling about as the Dead Collective’s great guitar work and harmonies turn the ball into a Deadheads’ delight. This music continues to remain as popular as ever.
“When Trembo and I first started talking about forming Dead Collective in April of 2014, we realized that in the (Pioneer) Valley proper there wasn’t quite enough Grateful Dead music going around,” said Kurber. “I believe we helped foster yet another resurgence of interest in Dead music by adding our up-tempo “peppy” musical styling to these great tunes. We continually add to our repertoire to keep our shows varied and exciting.”
“It’s great, timeless Americana songs in which the live music context fosters a strong sense of community and shared experience,” said Hegeman about the enduring impact of Grateful Dead music.
The ball will also have chances to win Green River Festival tickets and special merchandise from Almost Dead — Joe Russo’s band known their improvisational skills and creative interpretations of Grateful Dead tunes — who will be at the festival this year. Berkshire Brewing Co. will also have a special Grateful Dead-inspired brew on hand for the occasion.
Doors open for this free event at 7 p.m. and the music begins at 8. The Shea Theater is located at 71 Ave. A in Turners Falls.
Do you think the band you play in with your high school friends has what it takes to play the Green River Festival? Or do you know of a young band that deserves to be heard by a wider audience? If your answer is “yes,” then you are in luck because the festival is looking for five bands whose members are under the age of 18 to play at the event this year.
Signature Sounds, who present the festival, are introducing the Next Wave Stage this year to showcase some of the best up-and-coming regional acts on Friday.
Bands entering must be comprised of members in the area, which the website defines as anywhere from Springfield to Brattleboro.
This is a fantastic opportunity for young musicians and those chosen will perform a half-hour set. All members of the five acts will each receive weekend passes to the Green River Festival and be featured in a Valley Advocate sessions video.
To be considered for this opportunity, visit: www.greenriverfestival.com/next-wave. All applications must be submitted by June 1.
The Green River Festival will take place July 14 through 16 on the grounds of Greenfield Community College.
And while we are on the subject of young rockers, The Snaz — a quartet of high-schoolers from Brattleboro who made some excellent indie-rock — have called it quits.
The Snaz, best known for its song “Anna,” released its second full-length album “Sensitive Man” in January. They were popular here in Pioneer Valley, where they played most of our venues including the Upper Valley and Green River festivals.
The band cites the reason for the breakup was that things were getting too stressful and some of the members are going off to college.
You’ll have to head to Vermont to catch the band’s final shows. They will play on Friday at Scout & Co. in Winooski as part of Waking Windows, and on Saturday, June 10, at the Scout Film Festival in Stowe.