As we bid farewell to 2019, it’s time to look back on the year in local music.
It was a banner year that saw some exciting new acts cropping up, the release of some excellent albums and more opportunities than ever to enjoy live music here in Franklin County.
The days of having to hop in the car and head to Northampton or another city to hear live music are long over. Nowadays, thanks to venues like the Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center and 10 Forward in Greenfield, as well as the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls and others throughout the region, music fans have the option to not only enjoy the finest in local music but nationally known touring artists as well.
Hawks & Reed has played a huge role in upping the entertainment options here in Franklin County. In addition to a packed schedule of music, the venue offers everything from drag queen bingo to theater and comedy. And when it comes to music, Hawks & Reed presents one of the most diverse musical lineups that you’ll find anywhere — even accommodating little bands with the addition this past year of the successful Music in the Morning Series. Indie-pop icons Deerhoof, electronica-hip-hop artist RJD2, rootsy jam band Donna the Buffalo and American Songster Dom Flemons were some of the acts that graced the stage of Hawks & Reed in 2019.
This past year saw Hawks & Reed introduce the Resonate Series, hosting shows at the beautiful Pushkin Gallery, which is located at the corner of Main and Federal streets. The venue also stepped in to run the Charlemont Reggae Festival, which was struggling to stay afloat after the death of longtime festival leader Ras Jahn Bullock in 2017.
Hawks & Reed isn’t the only local venue that stepped it up in the past year. The Shea Theater continues to grow; Signature Sounds Presents hosted shows with acts like Rachael and Vilray and Lori McKenna; DSP Shows brought in renowned artists like Natalie Merchant (that show sold out in minutes). In 2019, the Shea started hosting its own shows under the banner “The Shea Presents” and the venue welcomed everyone from local acts Ona Canoa to touring artist Fred Eaglesmith. The Shea also launched a new ongoing series called the Shea lobby Listening Tapes Series, which presents intimate stripped-down performances in the venue’s lobby.
Under new ownership, The Root Cellar on 10 Fiske Ave. in Greenfield changed its name to 10 Forward, a name inspired in part by the bar on the television series “Star Trek, the Next Generation.” In its own words, the venue specializes in “eclectic, experimental and world-class artists,” according to promotional information. The venue is keeping shows for all ages and most can be seen via a sliding admission scale of $7 to $20.
Some new music venues popped up in 2019 in some rather unusual places. Stone Church Arts in Greenfield is the name of a new program that is presenting shows at the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew at 8 Church St. in Greenfield. The shows, which are not held on any regular basis, lean toward world music. To follow the program’s schedule visit the Stone Church Center’s Facebook page. All shows are held in the Whiteman Room in the church.
Hitchcock Brewery Company relocated from Whately and settled to 203 South St. in Bernardston, bringing not only great beer to town but also the addition of a nice music venue. The brewery offers up free live music on Friday and Saturday nights at 6 p.m. and on Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m. The brewery has hosted everyone from Lexi Weege and the Wondertwins to the ‘60s Experience and has already posted an impressive lineup scheduled for the months ahead. There’s even room for dancing.
The Hive Maker’s Space at 156 Main St. in Greenfield won’t be open in full until late spring, but the building has been far from dormant. In November, the venue launched a music series aptly called The Maker’s Space Series Presents and is hosting shows each month. You can view the venue’s schedule on its Facebook page. Admission is by sliding scale of $10 to $25, with no one turned away due to a lack of funds.
The Main Street Bar and Grille opened its doors in Greenfield in September and, since then, has hosted music every Monday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. for diners’ enjoyment. Past performers include Heath Lewis and Lenny Zarcone.
Thanks to the regional New Music Alliance radio show, you can now enjoy local music without having to leave your couch. The New Music Alliance is a group that helps local musicians advance their careers while promoting the music scene here in Western Massachusetts. This past summer, the program launched a radio show that spotlights new and well known local musicians. It airs on four stations. You can catch it in Greenfield on Saturdays at 4 p.m. on WMCB-LP 107.9. You can also stream it at ValleyFreeRadio.org
Local music fans were treated to some excellent recordings this past year — everything from the strikingly beautiful “Bone Almanac” by Philip B. Price to Peyton Pinkerton’s “Ex Tomorrow,” an album brimming with memorable melodies and impressive guitar work.
The year started out strong when, a few days into 2019, Kalliope Jones released “Bubblegum Heart,” six tracks of indie pop-rock that showcased the group’s growth as musicians and songwriters. The title track is a catchy honest look at teen frustration and was a standout.
Looking back at other releases of 2019, it was an especially good year for debuts. Ona Canoa, a trio of friends who are relatively new on the music scene, released its debut EP “Good Dream” this past November. The disc features five folk songs, marked by the group’s sterling harmonies and strong songwriting.
Alt-country group Opal Canyon, led by singer/songwriter Debra DeMuth, gave us “Beauty and Loss,” a disc that’s a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n roll. Speaking of country, Christa Joy, who has been on the local scene for years, formed the band The Honeybees and released a total gem of a twangy country album called “Get on, Heart!”
Indie rockers Old Flame released its full-length debut “Young & In Debt,” a fierce collection of songs that cover both personal and political concerns. The long-awaited self-titled, full-length debut from Carinae found the band pulling from various influences of the past — from 1980s pop to 1960s psychedelic — to create a sound that is uniquely their own.
Zoki Band, a trio of young women who came out of the Institute for the Musical Arts in Goshen, debuted with a fresh take on indie-rock with “Take One,” displaying a maturity far beyond their years, while She Said released a self-titled debut that proved that age doesn’t matter — and that it’s never too late to form a band and rock out.
Haley Morgan’s powerful vocals combined with Eric Hnatow’s danceable beats made “Spiritus,” an album by experimental, electronic pop duo Home Body — one of the finest releases of 2019. This album, the group’s third, does a good job of capturing the incredible energy of the pair’s live shows.
Then there’s “Mean Dog Trampoline,” the newest addition to the Suitcase Junket’s (aka Matt Lorenz) catalog, and one that finds him incorporating some blues and pop into his one-man-band sound.
And that’s just some of the great music we heard this past year! Wishing everyone a happy, healthy 2020 filled with music.
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