In 1988, at the age of 23, Eveline MacDougall founded the Fiery Hope Chorus (formerly Amandla Chorus), and she continues to serve as a director of the 35-member group.

Fiery Hope, which consists of members from throughout the Pioneer Valley, promotes peace, justice, and freedom through song. Their message and their ongoing commitment to the community are vital in today’s world of escalating injustice and environmental crisis.

Oen Kennedy is an award-winning songwriter who also uses his music to inform and inspire listeners, as his goal is to share his love of the natural world. “It’s a mission I hatched in the late 1990s, and I will pursue it until my last breath,” he said.

Kennedy will join forces with Fiery Hope when the group hosts the concert “Singing Our Way Through” at the All Souls Church in Greenfield on Saturday, April 26, at 7 p.m. He will perform solo and with the backing of the chorus.

Kennedy and MacDougall, both residents of Greenfield, met at a community event last year. In addition to both using music as a way to better the world, they discovered they had a lot in common, including both having grown up exposed to various musical and cultural influences that they bring to their current work.

Kennedy was born in Boston but grew up steeped in West African and South Indian music, having spent his early years in Conakry, Guinea, on the West coast of Africa, and Madras in South India.

“Throughout my childhood I heard music every day – drums, singing, balafons,” Kennedy said. “My primary influences are J.S. Bach, Stevie Wonder, Ravi Shankar, George Benson, Keith Jarrett, Bob Dylan, and Miriam Makeba.”

Kennedy has said that all the music he heard growing up has become part of his musical landscape.

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His time spent in India in an environment filled with prayers and music was especially impactful. ”I knew back then that the spiritual side of things is my deep pool of inspiration,” he said. “It motivated me to explore music of all different kinds. I’m always searching for musical depth.”

The winner of the 2008 Boston Folk Festival songwriting contest, Kennedy is a multi-instrumentalist whose songs reflect his love of the outdoors, singing about everything from trees to wolves. He’s working on his 10th CD, and an interesting facet of his work is that he is a master at duplicating bird sounds A devoted bird lover, this is a skill he taught himself after hearing a chickadee sing. He can duplicate dozens of bird sounds and can identify almost all birds in New England by their sound. His love of birds and their songs often finds its way into his music. “They’re all my friends and cousins,” he said. “I feel extremely close to them. Especially birds but every living thing.”

In turn, MacDougall spent time growing up living in both Canada and the United States. The daughter of professional musicians, she was immersed in classical and Québecois music at an early age. Political activism and resistance work in her teen years led to her discovery of South African freedom songs and other international music. This set her on a journey learning about music from all over the world and she features these varied sounds into her work with the chorus.

In addition to being a string player who works with various other bands, MacDougall is an author, journalist (including as a columnist for the Recorder), visual artist and music teacher. Her book, ”Fiery Hope: Building Community with the Amandla Chorus” was released in 2019. But it is her work with Fiery Hope, who took that name in their 30th year, that brings her joy.

Kennedy will surely experience this same joy at the April 26 performance.

“I’m thrilled to be doing a show with Fiery Hope,” Kennedy said. “We are all aboard a train of hope.”

”Oen’s work is a perfect complement to our mission, which is to bring songs of determination and celebration to our communities,” added MacDougall.

At Saturday’s show, Fiery Hope will sing folk and traditional songs in Swedish, Spanish, Swahili, Japanese, English, and Zulu, as well as perform originals by MacDougall and other contemporary composers like Lea Morris and Linda Hirschhorn. “We choose repertoire based on our awareness of the challenges and needs of our time,” MacDougall said.

“Singing Our Way Through” is being billed as a night of joy, inspiration and love of the earth, so come and enjoy this special celebration with Oen Kennedy and Fiery Hope.

“We’re interested in singing anything that helps us remember that we all belong here together,” said MacDougall. “Oen’s music reminds us that true wholeness includes not only our human species, but all the species in our world.”

Sliding scale admission is from $5 to $35, but nobody will be turned away for lack of funds.

Incandescent Brewing in Bernardston, housed in the former location of Hitchcock Brewing, officially opened its doors on April 4. In addition to excellent beer, they will also be serving up some superb music.

On Saturday, April 26, they welcome Ask Wanda, the popular dance band that will play from 6 to 9 p.m. The band members Greg Snedeker (vocals, keyboard, cello), Matt Reynolds (guitar and vocals), Guy Devito (bass and vocals), and Rick Mauran (drums and vocals) are an accomplished group who have played in various local bands over the years. They play a mix of your favorites, including Prince, Bruno Mars, Bowie, and more. So come hit the dance floor.

There is no cover.

An Evening of Classic Country and Western Swing with Betsy-Dawn Williams has been rescheduled at the Rendezvous in Turners Falls for Friday, April 25, at 9 p.m. The Jan. 31 date was canceled due to an ice storm that evening. Backing Betsy Dawn will be a six-piece band, including pedal steel and twin fiddles. There is no cover.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve lost count of the number of shows that will be held at the summer stage at Tree House Brewing Co. in South Deerfield this year. Now, add another to the impressive list. Lukas Nelson, son of Willie, will be at Tree House on July 28. Tickets go on sale on Friday, April 25, at 10 a.m. at tixr.com.

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.

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.