Arts
Long road to screen: Amazon film ‘The Burial’ based on a 1999 New Yorker article by Northampton writer Jonathan Harr
By STEVE PFARRER
In late 1999, Northampton writer Jonathan Harr published a lengthy piece, “The Burial,” in The New Yorker, an account of a noteworthy 1995 trial in Mississippi in which a jury awarded a staggering $500 million to a small-scale funeral home owner for...
Book Review: ‘Fur and Feathers Together: A Tale from the Highland Woods’
By TINKY WEISBLAT
Children’s books often work best when they incorporate educational messages into fun, engaging stories. This combination of fun and learning forms the center of “Fur & Feather’s Together: A Tale of the Highland Woods” by Patricia Williams, with...
Sounds Local: ‘Flooded Fields, Full Hearts’ concert to benefit local farmers
By SHERYL HUNTER
There’s nothing better than live music — except live music raising money for a good cause.That will be the case when folk and Americana artist Reed Foehl and Friends head to the backyard at Berkshire East in Charlemont on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 3 p.m. for...
A re-awakening fit for the big screen: Pothole Pictures revives historic Memorial Hall Theater in heart of Shelburne Falls with apt screening of 1916 “Snow White”
By BELLA LEVAVI
In March 2020, Pothole Pictures was on the verge of celebrating 25 years as a volunteer-run community movie theater in Shelburne Falls when a state-wide COVID lockdown shuttered movie theaters just days before the opening night of its spring movie...
Sounds Local: ‘The Red Guitar’ and Grammy Award-winning reggae, plus benefit concerts for musicians in Ukraine and Maui fire victims
By SHERYL HUNTER
John Sheldon has been a popular presence on the local music scene for many years now. You may know him as the leader of the rock band Blue Streak or from his work with Do It Now, the politically charged group that includes percussionist Tony Vacca and...
Mints strongly encouraged: Garlic and Arts Festival celebrates 25 years with over 100 vendors, food, live music and half-price admission, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1
By DOMENIC POLI
The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and organizers knew just what to get you for the occasion: half-price admission that’s good for the whole weekend.To celebrate two-and-a-half decades of community support,...
Painting as a means of connecting: Ugandan artist Mwanga William’s work on display at Northfield Mount Hermon’s Rhodes Arts Center through Oct. 6
By JULIAN MENDOZA
Whether they make you feel transported to another world or right at home, Ugandan artist Mwanga William’s paintings reflect a culture worthy of Northfield Mount Hermon school’s embrace, according to Gallery Director Jamie Rourke.“Paintings by Mwanga...
Sounds Local: John, Paul, George and Pamela: Means performs all 17 tracks of “Abbey Road,” solo and acoustically, this Saturday at Hawks & Reed
By SHERYL HUNTER
When “Abbey Road” by the Beatles celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019, guitarist/singer/songwriter Pamela Means decided to perform the album solo and acoustically in honor of the occasion.Of course, that meant learning all 17 songs from the classic...
LAVA Center Film Festival maintains varied genres in third year
By MARY BYRNE
GREENFIELD — From hobbyists to professionals, filmmakers from across Massachusetts will have the opportunity to share their work on the big screen as part of the third annual LAVA Center Film Festival.The festival, welcoming all ages and skill levels,...
Sounds Local: Of Montreal founder calls style ‘wild and intractable’
By SHERYL HUNTER
The music scene here in Franklin County is off to a strong start this fall, with some nationally recognized artists coming to the area in the weeks ahead.It starts this weekend at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield when the band Of...
Taylor Swift is coming to Greenfield (on film): For $19.89, Swifties can see “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” film at Greenfield Garden Cinema, starting Oct. 13
By BELLA LEVAVI
Even though Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour itself didn’t come to the area, Franklin County will not dodge the Taylor Swift mania that has swept the nation.The Greenfield Garden Cinema has penned a deal with Variance Films to bring “Taylor Swift: The Eras...
Four hands, one piano: Brick Church Music Series nears season end with a performance by two gifted classical pianists, Sept. 17
By CHRIS LARABEE
With the calendar flipping to September, the Brick Church Music Series returns to close out its fall season.The long-running annual music series kicks off the final leg of its year with two acts that fans have loved in the past. Joining together for...
Sounds Local: Rock ’n’ roll meets Orson Welles: The Frost Heaves and HaLeS debut new album and film this Friday at CitySpace in Easthampton
By SHERYL HUNTER
The Frost Heaves and HaLeS, the indie rock band fronted by Greenfield resident Daniel Hales, has engaged in ambitious projects in the past, but their show in Easthampton on Friday may be their biggest yet.Friday’s performance will be a four-act...
Take a day trip to a modernist paradise: The Frelinghuysen Morris Home & Studio in Lenox provides a splendid view of two groundbreaking artistic lives
By DON STEWART
A short drive from downtown Lenox, you travel past ornamental wrought iron gates and enter into the former Gilded Age estate of “Brookhurst.” You’re first greeted by a voluptuous two-and-a-half-ton reclining female figure sculpted by Gaston...
A tragic, often-overlooked post-WWII story: Leverett author’s new book follows Jewish survivors who attempted to go back home
By TINKY WEISBLAT
Dean Cycon of Leverett has had many careers. Locally, he is perhaps best known as the founder of Dean’s Beans in Orange. This company is dedicated to roasting and selling flavorful, organic coffee that reflects care for the environment and for the...
Maya Sharpe, Renaissance woman: The musician and artist performs this Friday, her photo exhibit on view through October
By CHRIS LARABEE
As summer comes to a close, so does the Sunderland Public Library’s seasonal concert series.Maya Sharpe is taking the stage at 6:30 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 1, as she caps off a summer of music in the library’s Down by the River concert series with her...
Sounds Local: Music to bring your spirit back to alignment: Kristin Hoffmann returns to Shelburne Falls with new album to guide you on a personal journey of soul awakening
By SHERYL HUNTER
When Mocha Maya’s coffee house in Shelburne Falls used to host live music, Kristin Hoffmann was one of their most popular performers. The Juilliard-educated singer and composer was based in New York, but frequently played in Shelburne Falls and, in...
You are cordially invited to a mermaid wedding: Actors who met playing mermaids to wed this Saturday at Fairy House Day on Avenue A
By BELLA LEVAVI
The fairies who live in the planters of town are back with one magical day of celebration — this time it's a wedding. The fourth annual Fairy House Day on Avenue A will take place at Peskeompskut Park on Saturday, Sept. 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. “It is...
The Shelburne Artisans Co-Op celebrates 25 years: Artist-owned space welcomes new members to join
By BELLA LEVAVI
For the past quarter century, artists have been owning where they sell their work right in the heart of the village.The Shelburne Artisans Co-Op is celebrating its silver anniversary this year, marking the opening of its doors 25 years ago. “Looking...
Book review: ‘When Being a Nurse was Fun’: Memoir of a Deerfield-born nurse recounts trials and tribulations of one of the hardest jobs
By TINKY WEISBLAT
“When Being a Nurse Was Fun”by Ann WattStillwater River PublicationsJust about everyone comes into contact with nurses at some point, and just about everyone likes them. It’s hard not to admire people whose mission in life is to be competent and...
