They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb but when it comes to the local music scene, March is coming in like a lion and staying that way. You are going to have a lot of live music to choose from this month. Carla Racine, a promoter and publicist with Honey Pot Productions and editor of the Buzz magazine, is presenting a couple of shows this month that she’s tagged with the theme “In like a lion” in honor of this being the last month of winter.
The biggest event that she is involved in will be the “Winter Music Festival: Musicians Helping Veterans” that will be held on the weekend of March 9 to 11 at the Deuce (World War II Club) in Northampton. The festival now in its fifth year is presented by LD Green Artist Co-op who have enlisted the aid of Buzz, A HoneyPot Production to help present this three-day festival this year.
The Winter Music Festival will feature more than 30 local and regional acts playing pop, folk, metal, country, rock, and much more. This festival is offering a whole lotta music and it’s all for a good cause, with proceeds going to benefit Homeward Vets, an organization that helps homeless veterans secure housing.
The music kicks off Friday night at 5 p.m with sets by Hanna Holman, Seth Newton and the Donut Kings. Then at 9 p.m. get your dancing shoes on as the night will morph into a Karaoke dance party courtesy of Cloud 9.
Saturday is full day of music that will begin at noon and wrap up around 1 a.m. You can enjoy sets by The Fawns, Outer Stylie, Uncomfortables, The Leafies You Gave Me, The Bamboo Steamers, The Freqs, Celseigh, Donut Kings, Graneros band, Bomber, Black Absence, Rest in Grief, Hanna Holman, Crowrider, The Prozacs, Tommy Twilite and more.
Then on Sunday, the music starts up again at noon and goes until 10 p.m. Performing will be: Colorway, Jim Eagan, Violet Maeve, Nate Martel Music, The Buddy McEarns Band, Chicken Yard, Seth Newton, Mic Finnegan & the Tinkers, Larry Dulong and Random Sighting, Orlen & Gabriel, Chris Goudreau, Beige, Shokazoba, Color Killer, Ginja Low Main and more.
Matthew James will serve as the festival’s master of ceremonies.
Tickets are $20 per day or only $25 for a three-day pass. Food and drink will be available all day. To purchase advance tickets and to view the scheduled playing times, visit: the413.buzz.com
The Deuce is located at 50 Conz St. in Northampton.
The “In Like a Lion” music series kicks off Friday night at 9 with a show at the Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield with The Medicinal Purpose, who for this show will be joined by the father of the local funk scene, Beau Sasser on organ and Ilana J. Morris (the Alchemystics) and Courtney Parker (Rice) on backing vocals. The Medicinal Purpose, led by multi-instrumentalists brothers Sal and Chris Ball are a rock band who incorporate heavy doses of blues and soul into their sound. Look for them to reveal some new songs to go with this new lineup. Another local rock band, the high-energy Tidwell’s Treasure will open the night.
Advance tickets are $10 and available at www.hawksandreed.com, $13 day of show. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Hawks and Reed is located at 289 Main St.
The Stone Church in BrattleboroIf you drive up Interstate 91 North and head into downtown Brattleboro you’ll discover an excellent venue for live music that is well worth the short trip. The Stone Church, located on 210 Main St. is a newly renovated performance space that presents a diverse lineup of nationally known touring artists and local acts.
The Stone Church, which is the former All Souls Unitarian Church, has served as a music venue in the past, but it recently underwent a major renovation with many upgrades including the sound system. Since reopening in the fall, the Stone Church has presented shows by NRBQ, Noam Pickelny, Willie Nile and others.
This weekend they have a strong lineup starting with Richard Shindell tomorrow night at 8 p.m.
Shindell, who launched his career in the New York folk scene of the 1980s, is now considered one of the finest singer- songwriters of his generation. His songs, which he delivers in a rich baritone, are often character driven and can range from the humorous to the profoundly spiritual.
Despite being a longtime resident of Buenos Aires, Shindell still tours the U.S frequently. He has recorded for Northampton’s Signature Sounds label both as a solo artist and with the the Pine Hill Project, a side project he has with Lucy Kaplansky. Shindell had another side project with Kaplansky and onetime Northampton resident Dar Williams called Cry Cry Cry.
The trio released a harmony laden album in 2009 and then were dormant until recently when they reunited for a tour will stop at the Calvin Theater in Northampton on March 31. Until then, catch him at the Stone Church where he will perform songs of his latest work, 2016’s “Careless,” which he experiments with an electric blues sound.
The Northampton-based band, And the Kids will take the stage at the Stone Church on Saturday at 8 p.m. The trio led by Hannah Mohan was the house band at the Monte Belmonte’s 40th Birthday Bacchanalia at the Shea Theater last weekend, but before that they have not played many local shows lately. They have been busy recording and touring and this show is only local date before going out on an extensive U.S. tour with the much buzzed about Lucy Dacus.
Their sparkly pop rock sound is always delight and as an added treat expect to hear some new material from the band.
Coming up later in the month, Deadgrass, Kat Wright, That1guy and Sam Amidon, Visit stonechurchvt.com to learn more and to purchase tickets.
Busy month for coffeehousesMarch is going to be a busy month for coffeehouse scene. The Wendell Full Moon Coffeehouse will have two shows this month. The first one is on Saturday night at 7 when they welcome back coffeehouse favorite the world music band Viva Quetzal and then at the end of the month, on March 31, they will host the Gaslight Tinkers. The coffee house at the First Universalist Church in Orange will launch their 2018 series this month with a show by the always excellent pianist Dan Kennedy on Saturday, March 10, at 7 p.m. We can forget the Great Falls Coffeehouse at the Discovery Center in Turners Falls they will present a show with folk singer Lui Collins on Friday, March 9, at 7 p.m.
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