The Elm Chamber Ensemble to perform in New Salem
The Elm Chamber Ensemble will perform classical piano quartets on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. at the 1794 Meetinghouse in New Salem. The group features Yu Mei-Wei on piano, Joel Pitchon on violin, Anthony Berner on violin and viola, and Volcy Pelletier on cello. These musicians bring international experience from prestigious venues, including the London and Barcelona Symphonies. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for youth ages 13 to 17, and are free for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at 1794meetinghouse.org/product/elmchamberensemble.
Mohawk Trail Concerts to host free show on Aug. 30
Mohawk Trail Concerts will host its Annual Thank-you Concert on Sunday, Aug. 30, from 3 to p.m. at the Charlemont Federated Church located at 175 Main St. in Charlemont. The free community event features musical performances by The Farmhouse Quartet, Masako Yanagita, Estela Olevsky, Jerry Noble, Tinky Weisblat and John Clark, followed by complimentary food and drinks provided by the board of directors as a thank-you to the community and Belden Merims. For more information, visit mohawktrailconcerts.org/thank-you-concert.
Greenfield Library offers free makerspace programs
The Greenfield Public Library will host three free Makerspace programs for teens and adults through the beginning of September. Programming begins on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. with a GPL Zine Club comics workshop led by artist Ashley Jablonski, which requires pre-registration at greenfieldpl.libcal.com/event/15973588. On Monday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m., the Needleworker’s Guild will host an “Embroidery for Everyone” workshop focused on crafting felt fall leaves with beads and sequins to help participants prepare entries for the Franklin County Fair. Finally, a drop-in mending clinic will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. for individuals with basic sewing skills looking to repair personal items using library equipment. For more information, contact the library staff at 413-772-1544.
Gallery A3 to present ‘Common Thread’ exhibition
Gallery A3, located at 28 Amity St. in Amherst, will present “Common Thread,” featuring new work by Martha Braun and Matthew Simons, from Sept. 3 through Sept. 26. An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. Braun’s exhibition, “Contemplating Resilience,” features abstract prints, paintings and photographs with collage elements exploring resilience and unseen forces, while Simons’ “The Space Between Us” presents abstract monotypes examining cultural and political divisions. The artists will discuss their work during a free Zoom Art Forum on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. Registration for the Art Forum and additional information are available at gallerya3.com.
‘Stitched Through the Seven Sisters’ opens Sept. 4
The Great Falls Discovery Center, located at 2 Avenue A in Turners Falls is hosting the Great Hall Art Exhibit titled “Stitched Through the Seven Sisters” from Sept. 4 through Sept. 29. This location-specific series by visual artist Kerry St. Laurent honors an almost-daily practice of communing with nature by stitching herself through her local trail system. The artwork features matte hot press photographic prints layered with matte gouache, nodding to mapping and ink, alongside colored pencil stitching that references woven comfort and the idea that wandering counters life’s unraveling. An artist reception will take place on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information, visit greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org or call 413-863-3221.
The LAVA Center to host art exhibit and a fundraiser
Christine Mirabal will present “Escape!” at The LAVA Center in Greenfield throughout September, with an opening reception Saturday, Sept. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The art exhibit features Mirabal’s abstract, nature-inspired acrylic paintings of landscapes, animals, flowers and other natural scenes, exploring nature as a place of refuge and escape. Mirabal is an emerging Latina artist who also creates zines and handmade journals, performs and teaches improv, and writes poetry. For more information, call 413-376-8118 or visit thelavacenter.org.
The center will also host a spoken-word party and fundraiser Sunday, Sept. 6, from noon to 6 p.m., celebrating National/International Beat Poetry. Hosted by Lifetime Beat Poet Laureate Paul Richmond, the event will feature an extended round-robin reading for poets, spoken-word artists and storytellers, with readings from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Doors open at noon for socializing and book browsing, and refreshments will be provided. A book table featuring publications from Richmond’s Human Error Publishing will also be available. A sliding-scale donation will benefit The LAVA Center.
RPM Fest returns to Montague
RPM Fest, New England’s largest heavy music campout, returns to the Millers Falls Rod & Gun Club, located at 210 Turners Falls Road in Montague, for its 10th anniversary Sept. 4 to Sept. 6. The volunteer-run festival will feature more than 40 rock, punk and metal bands, along with camping, professional wrestling, burlesque, karaoke, horror movies, trivia, yoga, drag bingo, vendors and food. Performers include High on Fire, Monolord, Khemmis, Whores, Dwarves, Acid Witch, Castle and many others. Tickets are $60 to $160, with children 12 and younger admitted free. For more information, visit rpmfest.org.
Live Edge Comedy Club debuts at Wendell Meetinghouse
On Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m., the premier show of the Live Edge Comedy Club will take place at the Wendell Meetinghouse. Darren “The Rice n Bean Joker” Rivera headlines, with Wendell’s own Joe Laur opening. A live audience talk-back immediately follows the show. Tickets are available for $15 in advance at bit.ly/4gjckaR or $20 at the door. This event is part of the Wendell Meetinghouse Community Arts & Conversations series, and is supported in-part by the Friends of the Wendell Meetinghouse and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. Additional information on the Wendell Meetinghouse and its series are available at wendellmeetinghouse.org/events.