After enduring two summers of cancelations and postponements due to COVID-19, music fans will be happy to hear that some of their favorite local festivals will return in 2022.
One of the area’s largest festivals, the StrangeCreek Campout is back this weekend at Camp Kee-Wanee in Greenfield on May 27-29. The festival, which is presented by Wormtown Trading Co. of North Attleboro, has been held at the camp in Greenfield since 2003. The family friendly event, which includes wooded camping with the ticket price, hosts over 50 bands performing on three stages.
This year’s lineup includes Dumpstafunk, a New Orleans based funk and jam band that features Ivan Neville, the Pink Floyd tribute band called The Machine, Max Creek, a long running Jam band from Connecticut, Badfish, who perform the music of Sublime, Prince/Bowie, an all star jam of members of various bands who play the music of Prince and David Bowie, and Spafford who are a jam band out of Arizona.
Tauk, The Adam Ezra Group, Strange Machines, Consider the Source, Shakedown, Leon Trout, The Trichomes, Playing Dead, Bearly Dead, Creamery Station, and others will also perform.
StrangeCreek is heavy on local bands and some of the many regional acts include Bella’s Bartok, The Alchemystics, Beau Sasser Trio,The Equalites, Rice: An American Band, and Rebel Alliance.
And then there is Outer Stylie, a psychedelic jam band based here in the Valley who are reuniting at StrangeCreek. The popular band hasn’t played together since the last StrangeCreek Campout in 2019, so don’t miss this opportunity to see them live.
This is quite a lineup, so I had to ask Derek Kipp, the event coordinator of Wormtown, if this is what the 2020 StrangeCreek Campout would have looked like if it had happened?
“We tried as best we could to replicate the lineup we’d been planning for 2020,” said Kipp in a recent email exchange. “Not all of it could be worked out but Dumpstaphunk, one of the main headliners, is one piece that did work out. We always love the New Orleans funk they bring.”
As for some bands that he’s looking forward to hosting at the festival?
“Spafford is a popular jam band we’ve never had before and people seem excited that they’re coming to StrangeCreek, so I’m excited to hear them because I haven’t yet myself,” Kipp said. “The Machine, a Pink Floyd tribute with a great laser show, closes out the Main Stage on Sunday and is always a big hit across all generations and walks of life — so I know that will be a highlight.”
Then there is all the local talent. StrangeCreek has always supported our local scene, and over the years have nurtured the careers of many of the area’s musicians. Bella’s Bartok is a perfect example of this as they have played the festival for years, starting out on one of the smaller stages and as their popularity has grown they are now playing two sets this year.
“Bella’s Bartok bring such a unique and infectious energy,” said Kipp about the band’s popularity at the festival. “Another cool story is West End Blend, also doing two sets, who are getting hotter and bigger these days and were once in our ‘battle of the bands’ years ago.”
StrangeCreek is more than music as there are activities for kids and teens, craft and food vendors and more.
Since launching the festival, Wormtown Trading Company has committed to giving back to the community, having done this through the improvements they have made to the camp and also helping fund the camp’s summer programs. Camp Kee-Wanee is an all-inclusive summer day camp with an emphasis on the arts.
This year Wormtown will also host a non-perishable food drive to benefit the Franklin County Community Meals Program (FCCMP). As part of this drive, they will also be collecting various personal hygiene products that will go to local families in need. In addition, a portion of every ticket sold, as well as certain proceeds from soft drink sales by vendors at the show, goes directly to supporting the camp’s summer programs.
After a two year absence the festival is ready to return and welcome their fans who are referred to as “the worms.”
“We’re just so glad to be able to revive this happy gathering,” said Wormtown founder Mark Blanchette. “The response has been wonderful and we’re grateful to the many fans who held on to their tickets from 2020. Thanks for keeping the faith.”
Tickets include parking and camping which is mostly in the woods. Gates open at 9 a.m. on Friday the 27th. Campgrounds clear by noon on Monday, May 30. Attendees under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and children 15 and under are free. Single day tickets are $100 at the gate (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) and full weekend passes are $220 at the gate. Tickets purchased at the gate are cash only. For more information:Campstrangecreek.com
And another, much smaller festival is returning after a two-year hiatus as it was announced last week that Good Music Makes Good Neighbors, a community music festival in Montague, will return on Saturday, June 4. Similar to Boston’s Porchfest, Good Music Makes Good Neighbors is a walking music festival where attendees stroll throughput the town center, enjoying music being played in barns, backyards and porches as well as the Montague Common Hall, the Congregational Church and the common itself. All of the music is conveniently located so that attendees can easily walk from show to show. The goal of this event is to celebrate the music that is created here and to cultivate a spirit of community.
You can experience all types of music at this event — alt-rockers Frost Heaves & Hales, banjo player Michael Nix, Klezmer band KlezKabal, and the Americana duo Pat and Tex LaMountain are a few of the 22 local musicians that will be participating.
This year Good Music Makes Good Neighbors has grown to include some events that the audience can participate in and these include an opening parade with the Expandable Brass Band, singing on the common, and a contra dance jam session. The fun begins at 10:30 a.m. and goes until 5:30 p.m. A $10 donation is requested.
For more information including a schedule printable schedule visit: montaguemusicfest.com.
Last week, Hawks and Reed announced the return of the Charlemont Reggae, which like the StrangeCreek Campout has not been held since 2019. This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Charlemont Fairgrounds from 2 to 10 p.m. The lineup has not yet been released, but some of the acts should be announced soon. However, you can buy presale tickets at the early bird price of $40. But move fast on these as the price will go up. You can take advantage of a special off where $55 will get you a ticket to the festival and to a show by reggae artist Marlon Asher, which will be held at Hawks and Reed on Thursday, June 9, at 8 p.m.
For ticket information:hawksandreed.com/crf.
Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com..