January is usually a slow time for the music scene, but as the month goes on, more new music and shows begin to appear.
Luke DeRoy is one musician whose schedule is looking quite full. He just released two songs with his band Red Loves Blue, and will play a solo show at Incandescent Brewing in Bernardston on Saturday, Jan 24 at 6 p.m. Then on Tuesday, Jan 27 at 3 p.m., DeRoy will lead the Songwriter Development Circle at the National Spiritual Alliance at 2 Montague Road in Lake Pleasant.
DeRoy, who lives in Turners Falls and grew up in Amherst, studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Berklee College of Music in Boston. Last year, he started Red Loves Blue, an indie folk-rock group influenced by artists ranging from Sam Cooke to Radiohead.
DeRoy plays guitar, sings and writes most of the songs for the band which features guitarist Lucas Solórzano, bassist Josh Hirst and drummer Ian Hass. Even though they have only been together a short time, the band has already played at the Iron Horse, the Drake and the Stone Church.
The band released three singles in August and plan to release more throughout the year. Coordinating the band members’ schedules can be tough since bassist Hirst divides his time between here and New Orleans. Still, they hope to finish an album by the end of the year and then focus on touring in 2027.
Last week, they released “Patient” and “Hourglass.” Both songs have a haunting, beautiful sound, led by DeRoy’s gentle vocals and acoustic guitar.
“They both exist to remind us of the power of creating spaces in a time of urgency,” DeRoy said.
“Patient” stands out with added textures, such as shaker percussion that provides the rhythm and swirling electronic sounds in the background. “Hourglass” is just as captivating, with more focus on guitar and vocals, which are eventually augmented with piano and drums.
When he isn’t playing with the band, DeRoy performs solo or as a duo with Solórzano, who has previously played with the band Bella’s Bartok. At Incandescent, DeRoy will perform solo, mixing original songs and covers.
“I’m excited about playing Incandescent because I haven’t played there before,” he said. The show is free.
This following Tuesday, DeRoy will be heading up the new Songwriter Development Circle as part of the Pond Lily Project (more about this project in weeks to come) located at the National Spiritual Alliance in Lake Pleasant.
“That is a very new thing — this upcoming Tuesday is only our second session,” DeRoy said. “It’s going to be held on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 3 to 4 p.m. This upcoming session is free, but starting in February, it will cost 15 dollars per session.”
Those who attend the first session can also learn about additional opportunities for artists participating in the Pond Lily Project Artist-in-Residence program.
“The idea behind the songwriting circle is to bring more songwriters into the scene and to get songwriters actively meeting each other and talking about songwriting,” said DeRoy.
DeRoy will lead the circle which welcomes songwriters of all levels and ages. The goal is to help them find their unique voice and develop their skills through community learning and creative exploration.
“People can bring in a song for us to work on, and if they feel ready they can share it with the rest of the circle,” DeRoy said about the workshop format. “There’s also enough space in the room for people to break out, do some co-writing, or even spend time writing alone before coming back to share.”
For the past year, DeRoy has been running a songwriting challenge on his Patreon page (patreon.com/Redlovesblue) where each month he sets a topic to write a song about and then invites others to join in. He will share these monthly prompts at these workshop for those who might want to participate.
“With so many songwriters in our area, the songwriter circle will offer a helpful and supportive space for them to connect,” DeRoy said. “It’s a new thing, and I’m just excited about bringing community together. We especially need art now.”
Hani Thompson to celebrate new album at the Shea
Hani Thompson (Hannah Rosenbaum) is marking the release of her new CD, “Rituals,” with a show at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. The concert is part of the Shea’s “In the Lounge” series, which takes place in the theater’s lobby for a more intimate, relaxed atmosphere than the main stage.
Thompson is a singer-songwriter currently based in Turners Falls, known to many for her work with Sodada and as a member of Old Flame. She has been active in the local music scene for years and is also an accomplished artist who works in several different mediums.
Thompson, a New York native, released her solo album “Rituals,” in November.
The album’s seven songs range from a jazzy, soulful style of “Song For Today” to the more rockin’ sound of “Earth Alien,” which features a standout guitar solo by Nate Mondschein, who also produced the album and played several instruments. Cellist Matthew Thornton adds depth throughout the album. Be sure to arrive early to catch the opening act Cloudbelly.
Tickets available at sheatheater.org. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Frigg returns to Watermelon Wednesdays
Last March, the Watermelon Wednesday series in Whately hosted a show with the Finnish folk band, Frigg. The show was such a success that Paul Newlin, the director and founder of Watermelon Wednesdays, is bringing the group back. Frigg will return to Watermelon Wednesdays on Wednesday, Jan 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Whately Town Hall.
Frigg is a six-member band with three fiddle players who blend Nordic folk music with Americana, a blend that has earned their music the nickname “Nordgrass.” At first, Newlin didn’t know much about them, but their booking agent suggested he give them a try. He eventually paired Frigg in a show with Tim Kliphuis and Johnny Grant and he was glad he did.
“Last year I was mesmerized watching and listening to these six incredible musicians produce their blend of traditional and new music,” he wrote on his website. “I was struck not only by their sound but by how they moved and swayed together as they played.”
Tickets are available at watermelonwednesdays.com
Love Crumbs benefit for Michael Dubuque’s daughter
Love Crumbs, Michael Dubuque and Ali McTavish are playing a special benefit show for Michael Dubuque’s daughter at the Parlor Room in Northampton on Friday, Jan 23 at 7:30 p.m. The band rarely performs, so it’s not surprising the show sold out fast.
I wanted to share that there’s still a way to help Michael’s daughter, Juliet, who lives in Greenfield. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with a tumor on her spinal cord that surgery couldn’t fully remove. The tumor is growing, and the family hopes to travel to Texas for treatment that isn’t available in Massachusetts. To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/julietsmedicalfund