If you are a regular reader of this column, you know that there is an abundance of talented musicians living here in the Valley. You enjoy their music at the clubs, theaters, festivals and various other venues that populate the area.
In addition to all these conventional venues, the area also supports a vibrant do-it-yourself (DIY) scene, where musicians come together and perform in living rooms, basements, garages, fields and on back porches — basically anywhere that is conducive to picking up an instrument and/or singing a song.
The talent of these DIY musicians and the sense of community of those shows will be celebrated this weekend when Nest Fest, a show featuring six up-and-coming young bands, is held at Shea Theater Arts Center on Avenue A in Turners Falls on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Emma June Ayres, vocalist for the band Old Flame, knows all about this DIY scene from both the perspective of someone who has performed and also hosted them.
“The vibrant DIY scene in the Valley is a hive buzzing with a frequency of creativity that would blow your mind,” said Ayres. “The anti-capitalist independent music scene specifically is home to some of the most incredible creators I’ve ever met. I am so grateful for this community.”
As a way to tap into and support this community, Ayres created The Nest a couple of years ago, a performance space that was originally housed in the basement apartment of home of her parents in South Amherst. The Nest was created as an all-ages space open to the community that would showcase acoustic music and has featured musicians from all over the Pioneer Valley, including members of Bella’s Bartok, the blues rock group Calico Blue, and Spirit Ghost, to name a few.
Ayres said she has had performers as young as 6 years old and old as 75 at the Nest, sharing this music with a multigenerational audience.
“I think it’s vital to create spaces for all ages. Western society divides and destabilizes the strength, productivity and grassroots organizing potential energy of community based on ageist separation,” Ayres said. “We all need each other. We are stronger together. The Nest strives to be this space.”
The Nest ultimately moved out of the basement and became a pop-up venue, presenting shows at venues like the Laughing Dog Bike Shop and the High Horse, both in Amherst. It also became a vehicle for community organizing and rallying support around a number of different causes.
“The Nest has become a network of artists and arts supporters who want to use their art as a form of resistance and a way to raise awareness around social issues,” said Ayres. “In the past year, we successfully raised money for the ACLU and took a trip to Standing Rock to deliver supplies and funds directly.”
The Nest is now spreading its wings, partnering with Shea Theater and Eggtooth Productions to present Nest Fest. As with previous Nest events, this show will be a benefit, raising funds for Tapestry Healthcare, a group that, among its many services, provides sexual and reproductive healthcare.
The local musicians performing are a talented group that includes DJ Quills, Bella, Old Flame, Workman Song, Carinae and Mamma’s Marmalade.
This group of young artists are worth keeping your eye on. The art-folk rock band Workman Song, led by Sean McMahon, is getting some strong airplay on WRSI (the River) in Northampton and will play the Green River Festival this summer.
Carinae is a psychedelic rock band that has a growing following and will open for Rusted Root in Holyoke next month, while Mamma’s Marmalade performs acoustic music that is heavy on the old-timey tunes.
You can expect plenty of distortion and reverb from Bella, and DJ Quills will also be on hand, spinning all types of music for listening and dancing.
Ayres, who is also an experienced writer, director and actor, will get a chance to step away from the behind-the-scenes running of this event and perform when her band Old Flame takes the stage. Old Flame is the band that Ayres formed with guitarist Sam Perry last fall in the wake of the presidential election.
The duo has a gritty rock sound, and has stated that their goal is to make their art an active form of resistance and never cease. Old Flame have a new EP called “Wolf in the Heather,” available on Bandcamp.
Shea Theater is a bit bigger than a basement, but Ayres hopes the spirit of community and artistic freedom will carry over. Every Nest concert begins with a potluck, as Ayres feels that the sharing of food is a way for audience members and musicians to meet and build a sense of community.
Ayres has said that she would like to see that carry over to the Shea Theater, 71 Avenue A and as an experiment, is encouraging people to bring a snack to share in the lobby before the show. This, of course, is not a requirement — most important is that people come out and enjoy a night of good music for a good cause. And to remember as Ayres likes to stress: “We are stronger together.”
Tickets are $10. Tickets are available at: www.sheatheater.org
Music Makes Good Neighbors
Since we are speaking of DIY shows, what better example of this than the Music Makes Good Neighbors Festival that will take place in Montague on Saturday. This is a musical house-concert tour and porch fest that celebrates local music and community in Montague. Now in its third year, this mini music festival was inspired by Porchfest in Boston. The music will begin at noon and go until 5 p.m.
Concert goers can walk, ride a bike or take a shuttle to various homes to experience a great musical lineup consisting of 15 different acts playing pop, traditional Irish, jazz originals and standards, country, classical cello and poetry, groove and funk, contemporary cello, foot-stomping fiddle and banjo.
Musicians participating are hales and frost heaves, Jim Armenti, the Franklin County Sweethearts and more. All of information, including performance times, is available at: www.montaguemusic.org
A donation of $10 to $15 is suggested, with all money going directly to the musicians.
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