This week, we have more summer music series opening their doors or, in some cases, inviting people onto their lawns.
The 1794 Meetinghouse in New Salem kicks off its impressive 2026 season on Saturday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m., with Ray & the Lovers, a soul group from the Boston area known for their exciting live show.
This show will also mark the launch of the new Meet the Artist program the 1794 Meetinghouse is implementing at concerts this year. This is time set aside before the show begins, during which the audience can meet the performers and ask them questions. Meet the Artist will take place from 6:30 to 7 p.m. at the old Academy building, which is directly across the street from the meetinghouse.
“The idea of the pre-show chats (or “meet and greet”) came from Brian Casey, one of the trustees of the New Salem Academy. They recently finished renovations on their building, and they are eager to put it to use,” explained Matthew Duncan, the executive director of the meetinghouse, about the roots of this new program.
“We are borrowing their space during concerts to use as a greenroom for artists, and their modern bathroom during intermissions,” he said. “He essentially is offering a grant of $200 to any artist who wants to use the space for a 30-minute talk before shows. So far, most are opting to do it.”
The old Academy building is the name of the site; the New Salem Academy runs it.
Ray & the Lovers is led by guitarist and singer Ray Hendricks, who grew up in Athol and now lives in Boston. His father was a jazz musician, so music was always part of his life, but he didn’t start writing songs seriously until the early 2000s. You might remember him from his earlier band, the Ray Hendricks Revival, who released their first album, “Lost in the Year,” in 2007.
Now, Hendricks plays with the Lovers, whose members include Pat Patterson on guitar, Bill Thompson on bass, Wes Brooks on drums and Scott Royal on keyboards and vocals.
Their music is inspired by classic blues and R&B, with lots of funky grooves. Hendricks’ heartfelt songwriting and energetic performances make them a great pick to launch the 2026 season.
Hendricks has always stayed connected to Athol, and the band often plays at local venues and festivals, including the North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival.
Also at the Meetinghouse on opening weekend, Quabbin Valley Pro Musica will perform on Sunday, June 7 at 4 p.m. They are the Meetinghouse’s resident chorus, led by Music Director Geoffrey Hudson and pianist Judy Johnson. The group brings together singers from across the area and will perform uplifting choral music, including pieces from Handel’s “Deborah,” songs by Fanny Hensel, and “De Profundis” by local composer Carolyn Brown Senier.
Tickets for these shows is available at 1794meetinghouse.org. Kids 12 and under get in for free.
Permaculture Place hosts The Green Sisters at the Mill in Shelburne Falls
The nonprofit Permaculture Place who present shows at the Mill in Shelburne Falls will see the start of their summer season next weekend. Their first show will be with the Green Sisters on Saturday, May 13 at 7 p.m.
The Green Sisters are longtime favorites of the Permaculture Place and this will mark their third time performing at the venue. Kay Cafasso Parker of PermaCulture Place, who presents the shows at the venue, is thrilled to have them back, noting that they are talented musicians who play uplifting music.
The four singing siblings — Melody, Betsy, Brianna and Rebecca — from Hubbardston are talented multi-instrumentalists and create glorious harmonies. They also share hilarious stories between songs. Their acoustic music, which defies easy labeling, is a mixed bag of bluegrass, barbershop, blues and country.
They have released two albums with the most recent being “Blink of an Eye,” which came out in 2020.
The show will be held outside on the lawn so bring your chair and blanket and even a picnic if you so choose. In the event of rain there will be an available space indoors.
Next up it will be an evening of dancing on the lawn. Permaculture Place brings the Gaslight Tinkers to the Mill on Thursday, July 30 at 7 p.m.
The Mill is located at 49 Conway St. Tickets are available at Permacultureplace.org. Tickets for children are pay-what-you-can. If you would like to request sliding scale tickets, contact Permaculture Place.
Local musicians pay tribute to Kate Wolf
If you are a fan of the music of Kate Wolf, you will want to be at the Parlor Room in Northampton on Friday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m., as a group of Franklin County musicians will join together to pay tribute to the music of the late folk singer.
The event will be hosted by folk and bluegrass musician Katie Clarke and Carrie and Michael Kline, who specialize in Appalachian folk music. Clarke will perform with her longtime musical partner Larry LeBlanc, along with Stephanie Marshall and Jenny Goodspeed from the Boxcar Lilies, an Americana group Clarke used to be part of. Gail Hegeman (Psychedelic Farm Girls) will accompany them on bass. The Klines will be joined by Joe Blumenthal on upright bass and Jim Armenti on mandolin.
Kate Wolf was a folksinger whose career was short but who left a lasting mark before she passed away from cancer in 1986. She is best remembered for songs like “Here in California,” “Love Still Remains,” and “Across the Great Divide.” Her music is known for its simplicity, beauty and emotional honesty, often making listeners feel as if she is speaking directly to them.
Artists like Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith have covered her songs.
The musicians playing in this tribute all admire her work and say she inspires them.
“Doing the Kate Wolf Tribute was Joe Blumenthal’s inspiration. He knows we always include her music in our sets. He has come to love her music and we have for a long time,” said Carrie Klein about the decision to do this show. “As fellow members of the Franklin County Musicians Co-op, Katie and I learned that we both love Kate’s music, so we asked her to share the evening. We’re going to be weaving in and out of each other’s sets.”
Tickets are available at ironhorse.org/parlorroom. The Parlor Room is located at 32 Masonic St. in Northampton.
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.