Pioneer Valley Folklore Society Happenings

December 2003

Contents

  • Erik Balkey will be December 12 Song & Story Swap guest
  • Valley artists figure in WUMB poll
  • A Net Station streams folk radio from Antarctica
  • Lou's Reviews — Norman Schell in Amherst
  • Calendar

Erik Balkey will join December 12 Song & Story Swap

Please come share in an evening of music and stories at the December Pioneer Valley Folklore Society SONG & STORY SWAP.

Erik Balkey -- Dec. 12 at the Black Sheep in AmherstFriday, December 12, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Black Sheep Café, 79 Main St., Amherst, Mass.

Guest artist at the December 12 Song & Story Swap will be Philadelphia-based singer and songwriter Erik Balkey.  Erik began performing in 1994 as a member of the Red Bank, NJ music scene, and later polished his skills at New York's famed Fast Folk Café.

His work, which includes a 1999 self-titled debut CD and the followup Negotiations & Compromise released in 2001, has received positive reviews from several discerning trade magazines, among them Sing Out!, Songwriters Monthly, and Dirty Linen. Last year saw the release of an EP called "God's Poet Now" which features a title track honoring the late Signature Sounds recording artist Dave Carter.

Erik Balkey has gained finalist honors at the Wildflower Songwriter Contest (TX), the Mountain Stage NewSong Festival Songwriting Contest (WV), and the Unisong Song Contest. He is author of the "Songwriter's Tour Guide," an online journal of his road and music business experiences begun in January 2000.

More information about Erik Balkey may be found at http://www.erikbalkey.com.

The warm-up theme this month is Death. Death

The PVFS Song & Story Swap happens the 2ND FRIDAY of every month.  For information contact Paul Kaplan, (413)-253-9484 or Jeff Lee, (413)-256-0433 or visit http://www.filbert.com/pvfs.

Valley artists prominent in WUMB poll

WUMB Top 100 Performers of 2003WUMB, the all-folk music radio station of UMass Boston, recently invited its listeners to submit the name of the artist they most like to listen to “when they have the blues (and when they don't!).”  The've published the top 100 vote-getters and the Pioneer Valley is well represented.

Former Northampton resident, Dar Williams, came in at #2 and Whately-based Signature Sounds Recordings' artists Richard Shindell and Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer were #3 and #5 respectively.  Other (one-time) Valley musicians on the list include Brooks Williams, the Nields, Mark Erelli, Cliff Eberhardt, Deb Talan, Erin McKeown, Taj Mahal, Rani Arbo and Martin Sexton.

Find out who is #1 (she comes to the Iron Horse in February) at http://www.wumb.org/worldOfFolk/top100_2003.html.

Cool folk radio station — A Net Station

Click to start streaming "A" Net Station

Thanks go to Jack Kid who in his latest newsletter tuned us into a “cool” streaming web folk radio station called simply A Net Station.  It originates from Antarctica and is the creation of George Maat, who programs folk and acoustic music by independent artists. 

To receive the stream you need MP3-playing software such as WinAmp.  Then go to http://www.anetstation.com and click on "play."

Check out the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society radio page for information on several more radio stations with good folk programs.

Lou's Reviews — Norm Schell in Amherst

Norman SchellIt was heartening to rediscover old friend Norman Schell [the former front man for the defunct band, Clean Living] at the November PVFS Song and Story Swap at the Black Sheep in Amherst. Norman, who performed with his daughter, Gail Hunt, on contrabass, and her husband, Dan Hunt, on acoustic guitar, served up an engaging tapestry of Americana informed by his own vibrant roots. Norm’s family—many of them farmers—emigrated from Germany to northeastern Pennsylvania in the 1680s. The singer-songwriter connects to that well-spring through family memories and his avid reading of pre-20th century American history, much of which has become grist for his strikingly melodic song narratives. Like most of Schell’s output, his compositions “Old Put’s Mare” and “The Ballad of Mary Reede” [a pre-woman’s lib female pirate] tell absorbing tales while transporting the listener in time and space. His settings of “Psalm 137 (Oh Jerusalem)” and of William Billing’s Revolutionary War era ballad, “Chester,” also take you for a bonnie ride on the time machine.

During the forty-minute set, Gail Hunt consistently laid down a rich bed of melodic bowing for her father’s melodies. Her husband Dan’s chords and intervals were unfailing in strategically highlighting the music. Conspicuous in his absence was the band’s fourth member, Rick Tiven, whose arrangements and solo fiddle improvisations kick the band’s energy level up a notch on their current CD, Norman Schell and Youth Well Spent. You can buy the CD at Dynamite Records in Northampton, Blue Mountain Music and About Music in Greenfield, and from Norman’s web site: http://www.NormanSchell.com.

— Lou Wigdor           

Western Mass. Folk Calendar

  • Dec. 10 - Johnny Cunningham & Susan McKeown Christmas Show, Carol Noonan.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 11 - Underbelly.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 12 - PVFS Song & Story Swap with guest Erik Balkey.  Black Sheep Café, 79 Main St., Amherst, MA.  7:30pm.  413-253-9484.
  • Dec. 12 - Doo Wop Shop Reunion.  Bezanson Hall, University of Mass., Amherst, MA.  7pm.
  • Dec. 12 - Susan Bassett & Annie Hassette.  Turningstone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield, MA.  8pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Dec. 12 - Viva Quetzal, Joe Velez & Creación.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 12 - Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem.  Shea Theater, 71 Avenue A,  Turners Falls, MA.  413-863-2281.
  • Dec. 12-14 - Welcome Yule.  Frontier Regional HS, 113 N. Main St., South Deerfield, MA. 7:30pm. (Dec 12-13); 2:00 pm. (Dec. 14).  413-665-3206.
  • Dec. 13 - Isla, Peter Cairney & Deborah Packard.  Turningstone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield, MA.  8pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Dec. 13 - Martin Sexton, Henning Ohlenbusch.  Calvin Theatre, 19 King St.,  Northampton, MA.  8pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 13 - Jose Gonzalez & Criollo Clasico - Parranda Navideña.  Northampton Center for the Arts, 17 New South St., Northampton, MA. 7:30pm.  413-584-7327.
  • Dec. 13 - Ollabelle, Michael Barnett.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 13 - Patty Larkin, Flora Reed.  Hilltown Folk, Memorial Hall, 51 Bridge St.,  Shelburne Falls, MA.  7pm.  413-625-2580.
  • Dec. 13 - Bill Staines.  uNi Coffeehouse Concert Series, 245 Porter Lake Dr.,  Springfield, MA.  8pm.  413-562-3990.
  • Dec. 14 - Alien Folklife.  Stone Soup Cafe, Bob Blue's, 170 E. Hadley Rd.,  Amherst, MA.  2pm.  413-256-8784.
  • Dec. 14 - Pat Humphries, Sandy Opatow.  Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, 41 Union St.,  Easthampton, MA.  8pm.  413-527-3700.
  • Dec. 14 - Michelle Shocked.  Club Helsinki, 284 Main St.,  Great Barrington, MA.  8:30pm.  413-528-3394.
  • Dec. 14 - Guster, Stephen Kellogg.  Calvin Theatre, 19 King St.,  Northampton, MA.  8pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 14 - John Gorka, Christine Kane.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 16-17 - Melissa Ferrick.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 18 - Deb Talan, Steve Tannen, Meg Hutchinson.  Club Helsinki, 284 Main St.,  Great Barrington, MA.  8pm.  413-528-3394.
  • Dec. 18 - Preservation Hall Jazz Band.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7 & 9:30pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 19 - Lonesome Brothers.  Turningstone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield, MA.  8pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Dec. 19 - Youssou Sidibe and the Baye Fall Times.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 20 - Winter Solstice Celebration - David Arfa, Davis Bates, Rachel Shea, Katie Green, John Porcino, ReBekka Tippens, Tim Van Egmond, Rob Peck & others.  Round House, 68 Van Nuys Rd., Colrain, MA., MA.  7:00pm.  413-624-5140.
  • Dec. 20 - Maple Ridge.  Turningstone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield, MA.  8pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Dec. 20 - Stuart Getz & Good Puddin'.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 20 - Renata, Stray Illusions.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  10pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 21 - Gloria Deluxe.  Club Helsinki, 284 Main St.,  Great Barrington, MA.  8pm.  413-528-3394.
  • Dec. 21 - David Mallett, Chris & Meredith Thompson.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 22 - Nowell Sing We Clear.  Kimball Farms,  235 Walker St., Lenox, MA.  7:45pm.  413-637-7000.
  • Dec. 22 - Sylvia Johnson and Higher Help.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 24 - Mad Agnes.  Kripalu Center, Lenox, MA.  413-448-3400.
  • Dec. 26 - Leon Redbone.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 27 - Aztec Two-Step and Acoustic Thunder Jamboree.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 28 - Rory Block.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 29 - Duke Robillard.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 30 - Sonya Kitchell Band.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 31 - NRBQ.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7 * 10pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 2 - Livingston Taylor.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 3 - Livingston Taylor, Dulcie Taylor.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 3 - Wood's Tea Company.  Common Grounds Coffeehouse, First United Methodist Church, 55 Fenn St.,  Pittsfield, MA.  8:00pm.  413-499-0866.
  • Jan. 4 - Bob Franke.  Stone Soup Cafe, Bob Blue's, 170 E. Hadley Rd.,  Amherst, MA.  2pm.  413-256-8784.
  • Jan. 9 - PVFS Song & Story Swap with guest April Grant.  Black Sheep Café, 79 Main St., Amherst, MA.  7:30pm.  413-253-9484.
  • Jan. 9 - Erin McKeown with Brie Sullivan, Larry Berger & Flora Reed.  Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, 41 Union St.,  Easthampton, MA.  8pm.  413-527-3700.
  • Jan. 9 - Paul Geremia.  Turningstone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield, MA.  8pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Jan. 9 - Savoy Brown's Kim Simmonds Unplugged.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 9 - Davis Bates.  Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA.  9am.  413-625-0202.
  • Jan. 10 - Rona Leventhal.  Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst, MA.  413-658-1000.
  • Jan. 10 - Erica Wheeler, Stephen Biegner.  Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, 41 Union St.,  Easthampton, MA.  8pm.  413-527-3700.
  • Jan. 10 - Don Williams.  St. James Coffeehouse, 8 Church Street,  Greenfield, MA.  7:30pm.  413-772-2213.
  • Jan. 10 - Alien Folklife.  Turningstone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield, MA.  8pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Jan. 10 - Natalie MacMaster.  Calvin Theatre, 19 King St.,  Northampton, MA.  8pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 10 - Apparatticus, The Grift.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 10 - Geoff Bartley.  uNi Coffeehouse Concert Series, 245 Porter Lake Dr.,  Springfield, MA.  8pm.  413-562-3990.
  • Jan. 10 - Matt Haimovitz.  Full Moon Coffeehouse, Town Hall,  Wendell, MA.  7:30pm.  978-544-8339.
  • Jan. 11 - Jackson Gillman.  Stone Soup Cafe, Bob Blue's, 170 E. Hadley Rd.,  Amherst, MA.  2pm.  413-256-8784.
  • Jan. 13 - Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 15 - Courtney Robbins, Cynthia Shelton & Shane Shayers-Couzyn.  Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, 41 Union St.,  Easthampton, MA.  8pm.  413-527-3700.
  • Jan. 16 - Marjorie Thompson.  Stone Soup Coffeehouse, Bob Blue's, 170 E. Hadley Rd.,  Amherst, MA.  7:30pm.  413-256-8784.
  • Jan. 16 - Paul Kaplan, Norman Schell.  Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, 41 Union St.,  Easthampton, MA.  8pm.  413-527-3700.
  • Jan. 16 - The Roadbirds.  Turningstone Coffee House, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield, MA.  8pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Jan. 16 - Zoe Darrow and the Fiddleheads.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 16 - Almost Speechless.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  10pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 17 - Lucy Kaplansky, Jeffrey Foucault.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 17 - Peter Mulvey.  Hilltown Folk & Jazz, Memorial Hall, 51 Bridge St.,  Shelburne Falls, MA.  7:30pm.  413-625-2580.
  • Jan. 18 - Meredith & Chris Thompson.  Coffee & Soul Coffeehouse, All Soul's Church, 399 Main St.,  Greenfield, MA.  6:30pm.  413-773-5018.
  • Jan. 18 - Christian McBride Band.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 21 - Tommy Castro.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 22 - The Waybacks.  Club Helsinki, 284 Main St.,  Great Barrington, MA.  8pm.  413-528-3394.
  • Jan. 23 - Eliot Bronson, Polly Fiveash & Anand Nayak.  Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, 41 Union St.,  Easthampton, MA.  8pm.  413-527-3700.
  • Jan. 26 - My Morning Jacket.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  8:30pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 29 - Beth Amsel, Christopher Williams.  Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, 41 Union St.,  Easthampton, MA.  8pm.  413-527-3700.
  • Jan. 30 - Rachel Bissex, Zoe Lewis.  Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, 41 Union St.,  Easthampton, MA.  8pm.  413-527-3700.
  • Jan. 30 - John Coster, Marsia Shuron Harris.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 30 - Garnet Rogers, Rachel Davis.  Clark Art Institute, 225 South St., Williamstown, MA.  8:00pm.  413-458-2303.
  • Jan. 31 - Mark Erelli, Royer's One Man Band.  Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7pm.  413-586-8686.

If there is a folk event you'd like included in the calendar, please forward information to pvfolk@yahoo.com.

If you'd like to be removed from this mailing list, please send an email to pvfolk@yahoo.com with the word REMOVE in the subject.

Pioneer Valley Folklore Society, Amherst, Mass.
Web site - http://www.filbert.com/pvfs/
Newsletter archives - http://www.filbert.com/pvfs/news/
Email - pvfolk@yahoo.com
Director/Host: Paul Kaplan
Webmaster: Jeff Lee
December 7, 2003