There’s nothing quite like the power of song. In these turbulent times, more people are coming together to sing, whether for comfort, community or to call for change. A song can also unite people in protest.
If you’re looking for a chance to sing with others, mark your calendar for Saturday, April 18.
Court Dorsey, who is a singer, actor, playwright, poet and community leader, will perform at the Mount Toby Friends Meetinghouse in Leverett at 7 p.m. Dorsey lives in Wendell and has performed and been active in various community organizations over the years.
To list his accomplishments would fill the page, but when it comes to his music, he is a singer and songwriter who was a founding member of Bright Morning Star, a folk cabaret ensemble that toured for 16 years, including tours with Pete Seeger and Odetta.
The evening will feature group singing, moving stories, powerful rhythms and what’s described as “a big rehearsal for the upending of fascism.”
Dorsey will be joined by special guest “resistance singers” who will help lead the singing. One of them is Carrie Kline of Sunderland, a historian, traditional folk singer, folklorist and oral historian. She works with her husband, Michael Kline, hosting the podcast “Talking Across the Lines,” which is one of their many projects.
“The event took this exciting turn after Court saw so much singing in the streets on No Kings Day,” wrote Kline in an email exchange. “Court’s concerts are popular on their own, and this is shaping up to be quite an evening.”
Other guest singers include E. C. Piper and members of the Song Squad, Lara Shepherd-Blue and members of Show Up Sing Out, Susanae Glavaki and members of Singing for Love and Justice, and Kate Stevens with members of the West County Resistance Choir.
“Each of us will lead a song of our choosing,” said Kline. “Some of the songs we plan to lead include ‘Have You Been to Jail for Justice’ and ‘Mind Stayed on Freedom,’ both from the civil rights movement. We will also feature songs from the new Singing Resistance Movement, as well as possible selections from South African traditions and Sweet Honey in the Rock-inspired freedom songs.”
According to Dorsey, the guest song leaders will each lead their own songs, later to be joined by Dorsey who will join in to sing with everyone. After that Dorsey will finish the rest of the performance himself.
“I will sing songs that are easy to join in on for the most part,” Dorsey said. “Maybe I’ll share a poem or two, and probably at least one song that’s a little edgy. But it will be mostly singing.”
Admission is $15-$25 at the door, but pay what you can. For reservations, email reservations@mounttobyfriends.org.
There’s another event on April 18 that is bound to have people singing along.
“The Songs of Americana: Patriotism, Protest, and Peace” will take place at the First Universalist Church, located at 31 North Main St. in Orange at 7 p.m.
This show is presented by the 1974 Meetinghouse in New Salem and is a fundraiser to repair the building’s steeple. As the United States nears its 250th birthday, the show will celebrate with songs that highlight its complicated history.
This concert will feature members of the Quabbin Valley Pro Musica and special guest soloists, including Joanna Katzen, Paul Bombardier, Will Johnson, Jennifer Gray, and Kiersten Samalis. Tom Randall and Judy Johnson will be the pianists.
You can expect to hear everything from “Yankee Doodle” to “The Times, They Are A-Changing,” and more. These songs are known to all, so be prepared to join in the singing.
Advance tickets are $20 for adults, $10 ages 13-17, and free for ages 12 and under. Tickets are available at 1794meetinghouse.org.
Impulse3 with Grammy Award-winning Randy Roos to perform at Four Phantoms Brewery in Greenfield
Four Phantoms Brewing Company, 301 Wells St., will celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month on April 18 with a special performance by Impulse3 at 7 p.m.
Impulse3 is a genre-blurring jazz band led by Jon Lorentz. While he is best known as a sax player, Lorentz also plays organ, which he will be playing in this project. He also leads his own jazz group and composes and records in a variety of styles.
Lorentz will be joined by Latin Grammy winner Randy Roos on guitar. Roos is a highly accomplished, respected player who currently teaches at Berklee College of Music. In 2022, he won the Latin Grammy for his contributions to the classical album “Legado.” He’s also contributed to various television soundtracks.
Tim Gilmore rounds out the trio on drums. He has played in many ensembles and symphonies and has performed with Lester Bowie, Marion McPartland, Tower of Power, Tiger Okoshi and Warren Vache, among others.
You can expect an evening of atmospheric grooves and funky jazz.
The show is free, but tips are always appreciated.
Remembering Wild Bill
As many of you may already know, on April 3 we lost a much-loved local musician, Bill Knittle of Buckland. Knittle played in various country bands over the years, most recently in Wild Bill and Big Trouble. Before that, he performed with Wild Bill and The Flying Sparks for many years. Both were country bands, though Big Trouble explored a wider range of music. While Knittle’s full-time job was principal at Rowe Elementary, he always made time for music. His bands, often mentioned in this column, played everywhere from fairs to clubs to breweries.
Anyone who had the pleasure of talking to Knittle knew he loved country music. He even had his own radio show on Valley Free Radio called “Wild Bill’s Honky-Tonk.” The last time I spoke with him was during the early days of Big Trouble, and he was excited about the new band and show in Warwick they had coming up. He was always friendly and clearly enjoyed making music and playing for all his local friends and fans. Wild Bill, you will be missed.
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.