It’s time to bid farewell to 2017, and as you celebrate the end of this year and welcome in 2018, you will want music to be part of your celebrations. As always, you have plenty of options in our music-rich area, so grab your party hat and horns and consider ringing in the New Year at one of the following shows.
Every time Bella’s Bartok takes the stage, it turns into a party. When the sextet from Northampton combines its danceable brand of Eastern European/punk/pop music with its high-octane energy and a penchant for high jinks, the result is a theatrical and musical mash-up that’s made them one of the most popular bands on the Pionner Valley music scene.
Perhaps the band’s front man, Asher Putnam, sums it up best when he said a Bella’s Bartok show is, “A mix of the ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ and the ‘Rocky Horror Show.’” With a description like that, you know that Bella’s Bartok is the perfect band to ring in the New Year — and it will do just that when it headlines the second annual Strange One’s Ball at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield on Dec. 31, beginning at 8 p.m.
The first Strange One’s Ball was held last year at the Pearl Street Ballroom in Northampton and it was a huge success, complete with glitter and midnight hamster ball drop. This year, the ball was moved to Greenfield and should be better than ever. But, how do you top a hamster ball drop?
For starters, Bella’s Bartok is bringing along some friends. The Strange One’s Ball, being billed as “A Night of Muppets and Monsters,” will include the psychedelic fusion band Mammal Dap from Northampton and the art-pop power trio Arc Iris, led by Jocie Adams, formerly of the Low Anthem.
“This year, we plan on having far more audience interaction,” said Putnam. “We are going for a Muppet Show theme, with slightly scarier DIY puppets and masked monsters throughout the show to encourage participation and a general festive mood. Costumes are not a must, but they are certainly strongly suggested.”
Bella’s Bartok is currently wrapping up work on its upcoming album, “Is Me That Monster?,” which it plans to release in the spring. Look for the band to preview a few tunes at this show, which Putnam promises “is going to rock!”
Tickets are $17 in advance and available at: www.hawksandreed.com or $20 at the door. You must be 18 or older. Hawks & Reed is at 289 Main St. in Greenfield. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
The Root Cellar in Greenfield has done a lot to boost the area’s reggae scene, and it continues that trend when it welcomes in the new year with an evening of ska and reggae. They are calling this event “The Grand Finale,” and the festivities will kick off at 8 p.m. with a set by the Amandla Band, a reggae group from Hartford, Conn., followed by The Void Union, a roots-ska band from Boston with a history of playing various styles of Jamaican music. The Root Cellar promises that “this will be a sweaty dance party long remembered, so get ready to boogie!” There will be a free snack buffet at 10 p.m.
Tickets are $10 in advance and available at: www.therootcellarbar.com or $12 at the door. The Root Cellar is at 10 Fiske Ave. in Greenfield.
If you are looking for the ultimate musical smorgasbord, head to First Night Northampton, which takes place at 20 venues throughout downtown. Now in its 33rd year, this 12-hour event begins with a parade at noon and culminates with the traditional ball raising at the Hotel Northampton at midnight. As usual, this event has something for everyone.
First Night is a celebration of all types of arts, with its biggest emphasis on music. Heather Maloney, Ray Mason, Shokazoba, Wildcat O’Halloran, the Fawns, the Winterpills duo, Fancy Trash, The Lonesome Brothers and BeeDee and the Doo-Rites are just a few of the many acts that will be part of the festivities.
And, let’s give a special shout out to some of Franklin County’s own, including Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry, Katie Clarke and Lanny Leblanc, and Austin and Elliott, who will also be part of the extensive lineup. Most of the acts perform two shows each and First Night is very family-friendly — there are all types of activities for the kids, including a Nields family show on Sunday afternoon at 4 and 5 p.m. at the First Churches Sanctuary.
Another aspect of First Night that I like is that you can purchase a daytime only button that will cover admission to all events held until 6 p.m. For those of you who don’t like being out on New Year’s Eve, this is a nice way to enjoy some excellent music and still be settled in at home long before the clock strikes midnight.
For instance, you can check out the guitar rock of Colorway, which will play two shows at the Parlor Room at 2 and 3 p.m. The band, led by F. Alex Johnson, recently started recording a new album that it hopes to release in July, and it promises to give listeners a preview of some of this new material at the shows.
Another afternoon show that you don’t want to miss is The Woman Songwriter Collective. This ensemble includes Carolyn Walker, Lisa Marie Ellingsen, Christa Joy and Lexi Weege, and it is always a treat to hear these talented singers perform together. They will all play one show at First Churches at 2 p.m.
And that’s just scratching the surface! For the full schedule, visit: www.firstnightnorthampton.org. First Night buttons are available at a number of spots throughout the Pionner Valley, including the World Eye Bookshop in Greenfield. There’s also a First Night Northampton app available for download that will make navigating the event a little easier.
If you like the idea of a First Night celebration but find the Northampton festivities a bit overwhelming, you might want to consider Starry Starry Night in Orange, which is similar in spirit, but much smaller in size.
Starry Starry Night is an evening event that takes place in seven different venues in downtown Orange beginning at 6 p.m. and winding down at 10:15 p.m. with fireworks.
You’ll find plenty of music to enjoy, from the sweet harmonies of the Green Sisters, to the skilled fiddle work of Zoe Darrow, to the classic oldies sound of Shakin’ All Over. Pianist Dan Kennedy, country musician Will Corey and karaoke are part all of the Starry Starry Night program. One of the best things about Starry Starry Night is that you can enjoy all of this for free. For a full schedule, visit: https://starrystarrynight.org/
No matter where you live in Franklin County, your favorite neighborhood club is bound to have some type of New Year’s Eve celebration. The following are few not-to-miss events.
If you are looking for a night of full-out rock, head to the The Ashfield Lake House and be treated to the sounds of three local bands — rockers Kalliope Jones; Vimana, which fuses rock, jazz, funk and psychedelic sounds; and the Feldons, which plays a mixture of ’60s garage-rock and soul tunes. The music begins at 9 p.m. with party hats, horns and more. The Ashfield Lake House is at 151 Buckland Road in Ashfield.
I can’t think of a cozier spot to welcome in the new year than Underdogs Lounge at 14 Bridge St. in Shelburne Falls. The band She Said, which is the unofficial house band at Underdogs, will be ringing in the new year in fine style. Music begins at 9:30 p.m. and there is no cover charge.
The last Sunday of every month, The Rendezvous at 73 Third St. in Turners Falls hosts karaoke with TNT Productions, and that tradition continues this month. The big difference is that The Rendezvous is turning this one into a New Year’s Eve karaoke dance party. There will be singing and dancing beginning at 9 p.m. No cover charge.
Deja Brew at 57A Lockes Village Road in Wendell is hosting a reggae dance party, with music provided by Simon White. The music will play in the back dining room beginning at 9 p.m., and there will be free champagne at midnight. Pizza by the slice will be available all night. There is a $10 cover charge.
Happy New Year, everyone!
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