Happy anniversary, Tree House! This weekend, the popular brewing company will celebrate its fourth anniversary at the South Deerfield location. In honor of the occasion, they will welcome Connecticut-based jam-rock band Eggy in for two special shows. Eggy will perform at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16 and Saturday, Jan. 17. Each night the music will take place in the taproom. Please note that these are ticketed shows.
Eggy includes Jake Brownstein on guitar and vocals, Dani Battat on keys and vocals, Mike Goodman on bass and vocals, and Alex Bailey on drums and vocals. Their career is rising, and they appear to be following the path of Goose, another successful band from Connecticut’s jam scene.
Playing at Tree House is a return to their roots. Brownstein and Battat started Eggy in 2013 while still in high school. They named the band after a childhood friend, settled into the current lineup in 2016, and played their first paid show at Tree House Brewing Company in Monson.
Brownstein is not certain of the year of that first show, but thinks it was around 2016 when both the band and Tree House were just beginning. The brewery started in 2011 in a barn in Brimfield and moved to a bigger space in Monson in 2013.
“Tree House has always been a part of the Eggy story,” recalled Brownstein, calling from a tour stop in New York state. “They were our first real gig. I remember we were paid like $600, and I thought ‘wow, we’ve made it.’ It was their Oktoberfest, and it was a brutally cold day, but it was an amazing experience getting to connect with Nate, the owner, and it just sort of started a long line of experiences together.”
As Tree House grew, they continued to support Eggy. When the brewery opened its large, main facility in Charlton in 2017, Eggy was engaged to play in their much-improved performance space. Then, when the South Deerfield location was established in 2022, Eggy had the opportunity to perform there and became the anniversary party band. Watching the brewery grow and establish itself in these beautiful new locations, while remaining true to its vision, has been an inspiration to Eggy.
“They have always been a huge model for us of how to build with intention and with integrity,” said Brownstein, noting how the brewery has expanded without losing the qualities that made them special and unique to begin with. Eggy aspires to do the same with their music.
“Everything they do is heartfelt and intentional, and it just resonates in a really powerful way,” he said.
Eggy has come a long way since that cold day in Monson. They have built a devoted audience through dedicated touring and energetic live shows. Their music blends funk, psychedelic rock and jazz, showcasing their musicianship and the vocal harmonies of all four members.
Their shows blend original songs with creative covers and feature a lot of improvisation, which has made them a hit in the jam band scene. But touring isn’t everything. When the pandemic stopped live shows, they moved into a house together, kept writing and working on music, and used streaming to stay connected with their growing fan base.
Unlike some bands in the genre, Eggy writes strong songs that can stand on their own, which has helped them become even more popular. And while some bands cringe at the jam band moniker, Brownstein said Eggy wears it proudly.
“We’ve definitely grown from that world, and it’s been a big source of inspiration. I think the people who call us that really love it,” said Brownstein. “I’m happy we can represent something positive, inclusive, and community-oriented.”
To date Eggy has released two studio albums and toured across the U.S., playing at events like Bonnaroo and at Red Rocks in Colorado. Brownstein described this past year as “amazing” because it included My Morning Jacket’s music festival and a five-show run with their musical hero, Bruce Hornsby. “It was like a dream come true,” he recalled. “He is a musical force and one of the kindest, warmest people we’ve ever met. We couldn’t have picked a better hero.”
Looking ahead, 2026 looks even brighter for the band. In the coming weeks they will play at Widespread Panic’s music festival in Mexico and join a jam band cruise to the Bahamas. Their schedule for the remainder of the year is filling up but includes time set aside to start working on their next album in February.
But before all that, the band has the shows coming up this weekend. They always look forward to returning to Tree House and catching up with everybody there. These anniversary shows are extra special because the brewery provides a celebratory atmosphere, providing a stage in the taproom and installing a special sound system.
“It will feel like a concert, but you’ll be in their beautiful taproom,” Brownstein said. “We’re really excited because we’re doing something new. The sound system they’re bringing in has almost three-dimensional capabilities, like surround sound. It’s going to be a fun weekend and something we’re really looking forward to.”
This is an all-ages show and tickets are available at treehousebrew.com/live-music-and-events.
Cajun Dance at Great Falls Harvest in Turners Falls
If you’re looking to shake off the winter blues, come dance to the Back O’Town Cajun Band this Sunday afternoon at the Great Falls Harvest in Turners Falls. There’s no better music to get you moving than the traditional Louisiana Cajun music this band plays. It’s great music for two-stepping and waltzing, according to band member Michael Pattavina.
Back O’Town Cajun Band is a newer group featuring Michael Pattavina on acoustic guitar and vocals, Linda Simoneaux on Cajun accordions and vocals, Peter Simoneaux on fiddle and vocals, Steve Frankel on electric bass and Bonnie Anderson on percussion.
Dancing begins at 2 p.m. If you’d like a Cajun dance lesson, arrive at 1:30 p.m.
Great Falls Harvest is at 50 Third St. in Turners Falls. Admission is $10.
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.