Here at Sounds Local, we’ve been so busy talking about all the live music this summer that the new releases have been piling up. So, let’s get to a few of these.

The Stone Coyotes of Greenfield recently announced the release of their final song, “Play That Song Again.” This poignant release, which arrived just over a year after drummer Doug Tibbles passed away in April 2023, is a testament to the band’s enduring popularity. The band’s lead singer/songwriter and guitarist, Barbra Keith, discovered some unfinished tracks featuring Doug’s drumming and decided to add lyrics to them.

She then enlisted the rest of the band; John Tibbles added bass and Doug Tibbles Jr. added lead guitar.

The song is a tribute to Doug and a showcase for his straightforward, hard-driving playing that was such a defining part of The Stone Coyotes’ sound. The music is slower, at least compared to much of the band’s catalog, but it captures the overall mood and sentiment of Keith’s words. She sings lines like “With thunder in your hands / Lightening in your eyes / Play that song again” as Doug’s powerful drumming provides added weight to her words. It is great to have one more song from this much-loved band and hear Doug pounding on his drums again.

In addition to “Play That Song Again,” Keith wrote a song, “Waiting for You,” that she performs solo and acoustically. The quiet song contains heartfelt lines like “If you’re ever passing through / Take the coast highway, say hello to / The girl who’s waiting for you,” delivered in a voice brimming with emotion. The song is stripped down, but a touching and beautiful tribute to Doug.

You can listen to both new songs on stonecoyotes.com and other streaming services.

On the subject of new singles, TapRoots, the Latin funk band fronted by Matthew King, released a new single yesterday (June 26) called “Get Free.” The song is the band’s first release since their acclaimed 2023 release, “The Resonance Within.”

“Get Free” is the kind of shake-your-booty funky that would make Prince proud. It begins simply enough with some beating drums, and then the funk kicks in with a sassy horn section. Add some sweet backing vocals and percussion, and they have a great groove going. There’s a piano break toward the end that leads into some hip swaying Latin rhythms.

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But King wants to move our minds as well as our bodies and describes “Get Free” as a call-to-action in a world gone mad. “I was inspired by my students while I was a teacher at PVPA, and the ways that they were embracing new ways of being, thinking, and relating to each other, the planet, and the politics of self that were refreshingly forward-thinking. The song is very much dedicated to them and the new world that they will undoubtedly build as they grow to adulthood.” Great energy and a great message make this a song you don’t want to miss. Check this one out now.

“Get Free” is available on all streaming platforms. There is also an extended dance remix of the song.

Grayson Ty released a new five-song EP called “Bloodline” last week and will celebrate with a show at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Friday, June 28, at 7 p.m.

The album finds the singer-songwriter from Northampton taking a new direction in his music, going for a more roots country sound and focusing on lyrics that he describes as “stories of personal growth and the lives of those closest to me.” The first single of the EP is “Distant Star,” a twang-filled catchy rocker on which he delves deep into his family lineage, highlighting some of his Jewish heritage and uncovering stories of ancestors along the way. Equally catchy are two songs, “Rock Bottom” and “What Happened to Me,” which tell stories of battles with the bottle. Gray tones it down on the quieter love song, “At The End of the Day,” which features some nice pedal steel.

These five excellent songs have a made-for-radio sound that will make them the perfect soundtrack for the upcoming summer days.

Ty’s Iron Horse show is co-billed with Eavesdrop. Tickets available at ironhorse.org.

Green River Festival 2024 was one for the history books. Mother Nature was a force to reckon with all weekend as the festival experienced delays on Friday and Saturday due to storms, while tornado warnings hovered over Sunday’s events.

But as they say, the show must go on and it did. DSP Shows certainly had a lot to contend with on their first year as festival organizers, and they managed to pull it all together with some minimal juggling of schedules. The audience and performers went with the flow with bands like Fantastic Cat (who really are quite fantastic) playing acoustic and doing their best to entertain the crowds during the Friday afternoon storm. And miraculously, all three headliners were able to perform, including Gregory Alan Isakov who was spared the terrible weather that was predicted to occur during his Sunday set time.

The music as always was excellent and sounded better than ever. The addition of screens on the main stage worked well. The renovated Back Porch Stage also looked great and the Round House proved a unique spot to enjoy everything from kids’ music to a square dance that featured music by Twisted Pine with Willi Carlisle serving as the caller.

The act I was most looking forward to was Joy Oladokun and she didn’t disappoint. Not only was her music great (she played many songs off her latest album, “Proof of Life”), but she made an honest connection with the audience, offering words of hope to those going through difficult times. Why she isn’t as big as her sometimes duet partner Noah Kahn is lost on me.

Late addition, local musician Hannah Mohan delivered a strong set and Bonny Light Horseman were also a treat. The weather and other factors caused me to miss some acts I had hoped to see, including S.G. Goodman, whose performance was much buzzed about.

A special shout out to all the volunteers who endured some trying times. Here’s looking forward to a sunnier 2025 Green River Festival.

We have yet another new summer music series to announce! Pioneer Valley Brewery in Turners Falls is launching a free series called Summer of Songs. The first of three shows will kick off Saturday, June 29 and will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m and feature music by popular cover band Jimmy Just Quit. The band will play behind the Brewery (151 3rd St.) which abuts beautiful Unity Park.

Rock/R&B group Grove Prophet is scheduled to perform on Saturday, July 27 with 9 p.m. fireworks on the riverfront. Classic rock band Tracy & Co. wrap the series up on Saturday, Aug. 24.

In the event of rain, the music moves inside. Food trucks will be on the site.

And remember, tomorrow (June 28) the Off the Common series kicks off at Hawks & Reed and on the nearby common. The musical lineup at this first event of the series will be: Sen Morimoto, Eric Hnatow, and Frost Heaves and HaLeS. It’s free to attend and the music is happening inside so you don’t have to worry about rain.

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.