The three young women of the pop/rock band Kalliope Jones — drummer Aloutte Batteau of Shelburne Falls, bassist Amelia Nields Chalfant of Conway and guitarist Isabella DeHerdt of Ashfield — have been making music together for five years. During this time, they have played some gigs that would impress any band, but even more so for a group whose members are still in high school.
This past weekend, the band returned to the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, a venue they have played numerous times. This time they were opening for the Nields. Kalliope has also opened shows at the Horse for And the Kids and Antigone Rising. The trio has played Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in upstate New York, the Wolftrap Center for Performing Arts in Virginia and Club Passim in Cambridge, among others. Here in the Valley they have played a wide range of festivals, fairs and venues. Some of those shows are high pressure, high profile gigs, but Kalliope Jones has the confidence and chops to pull it off.
One thing about most of these shows, though, is that Kalliope Jones is usually playing in front of audience the majority of which are adults. It’s rare they get to play a show with bands their own age and in front of a crowd their age.
According to Aloutte Batteau, 15, when the band does get the chance to do a show like Brattrock, the yearly festival in Brattleboro, Vt., which showcases young musicians, they have an absolute blast. So, Kalliope is very excited to play an all ages show at the Root Cellar this weekend.
Kalliope Jones and their friends in the quartet Raspberry Jam of Greenfield will play at The Root Cellar on Saturday at 4 p.m. The show will wrap up at 6 p.m. and will not interfere with the Root Cellar’s regular Saturday night schedule of music.
“We love doing shows with other young bands, said Batteau. “I go to Four Rivers School with all of the people in Raspberry Jam and we’ve played gigs together before and we wanted to have a big show together, and we’ll get to do this at the Root Cellar. It’s the Root Cellar’s first all ages show so that is exciting.”
Batteau got some help from her mom, musician Katie Hennessey, whose band, People of the Forest (Aloutte’s dad Brook Batteau is also in the band), played The Root Cellar last month.
Hennessey approached Wendell Reinheimer, the co-owner of the club, with the idea of hosting an all-ages show, and said he was open and excited about the show right from the start.
“I think it’s a great idea because there aren’t many all-ages shows, and it’s a chance for Kalliope Jones to play a show that will be fun for them,” said Hennessey.
According to Batteau, “It’s an entirely different experience playing in front of a group of your peers.
“There is a very different vibe. We have played some shows where all of our friends come and it’s a really young crowd and they are a blast. We can totally have fun and laugh and goof around and do whatever we want and they are going to be supportive no matter what. So, I think it’s a really valuable thing for us — it feels like having a big party and playing live music for ourselves.”
Josh Gibson, 16, bassist for the alternative rock band Raspberry Jam, shares her enthusiasm for the upcoming show.
“We’re honestly super excited to be playing there, because this is the first all-ages show at The Root Cellar,” wrote Gibson. “We’re also bringing in a surprise guest to play with us for a song or two. It’s also super exciting, because Kalliope Jones is such an amazing band, so we’re always happy to open for them.”
Raspberry Jam, which formed in 2014, also includes Mac Almeida on guitar, Milou Rigollaud on drums and Elise Almeida on vocals. Two of the band members attended Matt Kim’s Academy of Rock in Greenfield.
Gibson said that even though they were not all students, Kim worked with the band and played a crucial role in making them who they are today.
Like the Institute of Musical Arts in Goshen, which is where the members of Kalliope Jones met and formed their band, the Academy of Rock is a teaching facility for aspiring young rockers.
Given the success they’ve experienced, perhaps Kalliope Jones is in a position where the members could be a role model for other young bands?
“I don’t know,” Batteau said, with some hesitation. “Maybe for younger kids who are trying to cultivate a music experience with friends and maybe form a band.
“But there are a lot of kids who are just trying to get together and jam and have fun. It’s more of a peer connection.”
This show will provide opportunities for peers to connect, and it’s also a chance for young people to access live music, which isn’t always easy for them to do.
There have been some afternoon all-ages shows in the area, but they are rare and most have focused on metal music. And while a lot of venues offer all-ages shows, these often don’t start until later in the evening, and most young people are dependent on an adult for transportation. And then there are theater shows where the cost of tickets don’t often fit into a teenager’s budget. The cost for this show is only $5 at the door.
“It can be really tough,” Batteau said. “There is also the whole aspect that some people don’t take kids our age seriously — they think it’s just like some garage band or something.”
Batteau said it’s nice to have a venue available that caters to all ages.
If this show is goes, owner Wendell Reinheimer said he would very much be open to hosting all-ages shows at The Root Cellar in the future.
Kalliope Jones doesn’t have the time to do a lot of shows during the school year, but is gearing up for a busy summer. The band will have a new album out by then, which will feature re-recorded old tunes, along with new material.
In the meantime, Kalliope is ready to have a good time and do some serious rocking at this show.
“We are getting a bunch of people to come, even some our teachers,” said Batteau, with a laugh. “It will be chill, and people can dance. I think it’s just going to be a really fun experience for everyone.”
For more information, visit: www.kalliopejones.com
The Root Cellar is at 10 Fiske Ave. (above Mesa Verde restaurant) in Greenfield.
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