The extreme hot weather might indicate otherwise, but according to the calendar it is September, which leads one to ask, “Where did the summer go?” It was an exciting music-filled summer here in Franklin County, and the good news is that it’s not about to slow down.
The clubs are bustling, venues that were closed during the summer months will soon open and there are still a few festivals on the horizon. Oh, and we can’t forget the fairs. While the Big E in West Springfield will bring in big acts like Hanson and The Beach Boys, closer to home the Franklin County Fair, which begins Thursday and runs through the weekend, will welcome an assortment of fine local musicians.
“Here we are again right before another great Franklin County Fair, with what I believe is again the best Community Stage lineup we have,” said Steve DeJoy, who books the acts.
And after taking a look at this diverse lineup, he might be right. DeJoy has put together a lineup that features seasoned veterans alongside some newcomers who fit right in with the festive feel of the fair as they all play the kind of infectious music that will have you tapping your toes. DeJoy added that all of the bands, except for the Greenfield Military Band and Matt Kim’s students from the Academy of Rock, are playing the fair for the first time.
The music starts at 4 p.m. today with fiddler Zoe Darrow. Local music fans have watched Darrow grow up on stage as she has been performing Celtic and Cape Breton tunes in the area since the age of 12. She’s played in various bands over the years, but more recently has stepped out on her own. Her high-energy fiddle tunes make her the perfect choice to kick off the festivities.
Darrow will be followed by And the Neighbors at 6 p.m., the duo of Debra DeMuth and Dave Houghton (Fancy Trash). DeMuth has a sweet country folk vibe that nicely contrasts with Houghton’s edgier punk background. Together, they combine their voices and varying musical influences to create a one-of-a-kind Americana sound.
On Friday, the music begins at 6 p.m. with the Wildcat O’Halloran Band, and if you love blues music, it is likely you are already a fan of Wildcat as he’s been treating area audiences to his sizzling blues music for more than 20 years. If you’ve never seen him before, this will be your perfect chance. (You can also catch the Wildcat O’Halloran Band at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield on Thursday, Sept. 20.)
The evening’s music will wrap up with a set by Dexter Marsh and the Jurassics at 9 p.m. The band consists of a group of friends who are veteran players on the local music scene and have come together to play a mix of oldies, classic rock, new top 40 and even some originals.
On Saturday, there is a lot happening on the Community Stage, but not a lot of music. The Duh Band, a classic rock cover band, will take the stage at 9 p.m.
Sunday makes up for the lack of music on Saturday. The Greenfield Military Band starts the music portion of the day at 12:30 p.m., followed by Ask Wanda at 2 p.m. Ask Wanda is another cover band that specializes in tunes from all eras and genres. The band is followed by Friday Night Radio at 5 p.m., a relatively new band that plays classic country and western tunes from the 1940s to the ’90s.
The music will conclude at 7 p.m. with what has become a fair tradition — a performance by the students from Matt Kim’s Academy of Rock and The Rock Shop, the summer program where students learn the ins and outs of being in a rock band.
“Every year, Matt and his team bring us young and old raw talent that they have molded into great-sounding prospects anxious to show what they have learned to the great Franklin County Fair Crowd,” DeJoy said.
All music is included with fair admission. For more information including ticket prices, visit www.fcas.com.
The Parlor Room in Northampton is one of my favorite rooms to experience live music. It is intimate, has great sound, and the fact that you can bring in your own food and drink is a nice added perk. The room was closed for the summer but will open for the fall season on Thursday, Sept. 13 with a show by Greenfield resident, singer-songwriter Zak Trojano. This show is a CD release for Trojano’s new album “Wolf Trees,” a collection of nine songs that deal with themes of modern life like technology, loneliness and freedom. I especially like the song “Nowhere Shuffle.”
“If they ever look up to the world outside/They’ll see it’s all gone away/So damn tired of the walking dead,” he sings on this tune which is an observation of our obsession with our electronic devices.
“Wolf Trees” was produced by onetime Pioneer Valley resident David Goodrich, and is a true solo album in that it’s only Trojano on acoustic guitar and a Weissenborn lap steel. In the past, Trojano was a member of the band Rusty Belle and has backed musicians like Chris Smither and Jeffrey Foucault. “Wolf Trees” is Trojano’s third solo album, and on this album, he fully emerges as a singer-songwriter of great merit. His warm baritone and outstanding finger-picking style of guitar playing have always been evident, but on “Wolf Trees,” it’s his poetic, vivid lyrics that make us sit up and take notice.
“Wolf Trees” is available on all streaming outlets, but do take advantage of the opportunity to hear these songs played live. Tickets can be purchased at www.signaturesoundspresents.com.
In other music news, the Wendell Full Moon Coffeehouse will open its doors on Saturday, Sept. 22 with a show by Mamma’s Marmalade. This young bluegrass band is on the rise as is evident by upcoming appearances at the Big E on Sept. 16 and the FreshGrass Festival at Mass MoCA in North Adams on Sept. 15.
FreshGrass will take place the weekend of Sept. 14 to 16, and will feature an extensive lineup that includes artists like Trampled by Turtles and Flogging Molly.
But FreshGrass isn’t the only festival happening this fall. Closer to home, we have the Wormtown Music Festival that will take place on the weekend of Sept. 14 to 16 at Camp Kee-Wanee in Greenfield. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the festival is bringing in a stellar lineup that includes Keller Williams, Leftover Salmon, the Original Wailers and many more. For more information, visit www.wormtownmusicfestival.com.
On Saturday, Rubblebucket will be the headliner for an end-of-summer party at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke that is being called Rubblebucket’s Dream Picnic. This all-day festival finds the band celebrating its new release “Sun Machine,” as well as welcoming 13 other bands including a host of local acts like Mal Devisa, Kimaya Diggs, Old Flame, The Greys and more. There will be two stages — one indoors and one outside. If you have seen Rubblebucket’s memorable performances at the Green River Festival, you know the band is worth driving to Holyoke to catch.
The music begins at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.signaturesoundspresents.com.
The Shea Theater was relatively quiet during the summer months, but look for things to pick up in the upcoming months. Singer-songwriter Jeffrey Foucault is on tour in support of his new album, “Blood Brothers,” and that tour makes a stop at the Shea on Saturday, Oct. 5. The jazz trio Hearts and Minds will be in the house on Friday, Oct. 13, while the always popular Eilen Jewell returns on Sunday, Oct. 14.
Also announced, the zany band of music makers Llama Lasagne will take over the Shea on Friday, Nov. 16. For more information, visit www.sheatheater.org.
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.