They say that Memorial Day marks the start of summer, but I say the season begins tonight when the Coop concerts summer series kicks off at the Energy Park in Greenfield at 6 p.m.
Now in its 14th year, the Coop concerts are presented by the Franklin County Musicians Cooperative — a non-profit of over 40 musicians who are supported by various local businesses and grants. The Coop members are a talented group who perform all types of music including folk, country, string band, singer-songwriter, zydeco, rock, Celtic, pop and Americana. The series will run through the end of August.
The format of the concerts hasn’t changed over the years, and each concert features three acts, which are often quite stylistically different from each other. Taking the stage tonight is singer-songwriter Joe Graveline, a longtime Coop member who is also known for his skills as a guitarist. Also on the lineup will be guitarist and singer Bruce Colgrove and the Desmond Burke Trio, an acoustic group that plays a mix of original and cover tunes.
Next week’s concert will have an indie-folk edge with performances by Daniel Hales and Austin & Elliott. The folk/bluegrass band The Boyz of the Landfill will also perform. The entire summer schedule is available at www.coopconcerts.org
The Coop concerts are very family-friendly, so bring the kids. Be sure and bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Picnics are encouraged, so pack your own snacks or grab a bite to eat at one of the nearby restaurants. Check out the Coop’s Facebook page for any schedule changes or cancellations due to weather. The concerts run from 6 to 8 p.m. and are free.
Watermelon Wednesdays
begins May 31
Another summer music series that is about to kick off is Watermelon Wednesdays which is held at the West Whately Chapel on, well you guessed it, Wednesday nights.
The series, which runs through mid-September, features all styles of music. Jazz singer Dara Tucker, swing band The Western Flyers, Celtic band The Seamus Egan Project and singer-songwriter Molly Tuttle are just a few of the names you’ll find on the 2017 lineup.
The series begins next Wednesday night with a show by the husband and wife team of ukulele player James Hill and cellist Anne Janelle. The Canadian couple’s performances are an uncommon pairing of instruments, yet one that works beautifully. Hill, who the Waikato Times called “possibly the best ukulele player in the world,” grew up playing folk, jazz and blues, while Janelle is a classically trained musician. The teaming up of the high, pitched ukulele with the deep, low sounding cello in the hands of these two accomplished players is perfect. Janelle is also an excellent songwriter and vocalist and the pair play original compositions alongside covers of classic songs spanning a variety of genres. This show marks their first appearance at Watermelon Wednesdays.
“As is true for many of the acts that play here, they come highly recommended by people I respect, mostly musicians and other people who have been performers here themselves,” said Paul Newlin, the founder and director of Watermelon Wednesday. “I’m excited about James in a similar way I’m excited about Matt Haimovitz (who has played here several times and will again this summer). Both Matt and James play a wide variety of music not always associated with their instrument. Also, I love the combining of cello and ukulele.”
Hill and Janelle have performed all over the globe and their live show is known to be extremely entertaining and even funny at times.
“There are a lot of excellent musicians, but there are fewer people who play well and relate to the audience as well and who make live performances memorable experiences. I’m told James and Anne are just such people,” added Newlin.
This show promises to be the perfect start for the 2017 Watermelon Wednesdays season.
Watermelon Wednesdays shows begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7:15. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. This is a small venue and you don’t want to be turned away at the door because a show is sold out. As an extra treat, watermelon is served during the intermission. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: www.watermelonwednesdays.com.
Memorial Day weekend festivals
Now in its 15th year, The StrangeCreek Campout will descend on Camp Kee-Wanee in Greenfield this weekend. The festival, which features over 50 acts providing three full days and nights of music, boasts a strong selection of local acts like Llama Lasagne and the Alchemystics alongside touring artists from throughout the country including the Ryan Montbleau Band and the namesakes of this event, Max Creek.
Sunday is the one day that you can buy a single day pass. The lineup for that day is a strong one that includes Bella’s Bartok, Zack Deputy, the Eric Krasno band and concludes with a lengthy set from Pink Floyd tribute band The Machine. Tickets for Sunday will be sold at the gate for $60. To view the weekend lineup in its entirety and to get information on weekend passes visit: www.strangecreekcampout.com
If StrangeCreek is more festival than you can handle, the Forest Fusion Fest might be just what you’re looking for. The band Shokazoba has teamed with Deja Brew in Wendell to host the first ever Forest Fusion Fest on Sunday from 7 p.m. to midnight. The lineup will feature rock band Colorway from Northampton and JAM ATAN ABINA of Amherst — a band that blends Jola, Latin, hip-hop, reggae and world music. There will also be a set by Shokazoba who will treat the crowd to their heavy danceable Afro-beat funk mix, which also carries with it a positive message. The night will conclude with DJ Vibe Wise spinning tunes until midnight.
Deja Brew is continuing to present music and hosting festivals like this one, although it no longer operates as a restaurant.
“We hope to positively contribute to a new era of appreciation of the Deja Brew with this jump start of positive energy and regional enthusiasm,” said Shokazoba vocalist Jason Moses, who with Deja Brew owner Patti Sutari, organized the festival. “The Forest Fusion Fest aims to inspire renewable and continued success for the Deja Bew with wide- spread community appreciation in the upper valley and beyond.”
The Fest will be held in the backyard at Deja Brew at 57A Locks Village Road in Wendell. Tickets are $10 and available at the Wendell Country Store. Tickets will be also be sold at the event. Kids 12 and under are admitted for free.
In the event of rain, the festival will be held on Monday. The schedule for the event will be shifted two hours earlier if it’s on Monday.
Triple bill of pop-rock
bands at the Root Cellar
What better way to celebrate the start of summer with a heavy dose of pop inflected music? It doesn’t get any better than the triple lineup of Treefort, Beach Honey and the Fawns. These three bands will have you moving on the dance floor.
Treefort, a rock band led by Paul Hansbury, was a major presence in the local scene back in the heyday of the Bay State in Northampton. The band played its first show in over three years back in November and now they will return with a show at the Root Cellar in Greenfield on Saturday at 8 p.m. It’s very rare that you get to hear this band so don’t miss out.
The Fawns, fronted by Lesa Bezo, create delightful pop-rock songs with a psychedelic tinge. Rounding out the lineup will be one of the area’s other strong pop bands, Beach Honey. Advance tickets are $6, $8 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at www.rootcellarbar.com.
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