Like most promoters/organizers, Dan Overton says that he and partner Pat Brennan are always looking to fine tune their Maple Street Music Festival. The second annual installment of their event rolls into Holyoke’s Veteran’s Park this Friday, Aug. 17 and continues through Sunday, Aug. 19. Overton recently revealed that he and Brennan have tinkered with almost everything but the tunes. “We’ve added Six Flags characters for the kids, a car show, and new restaurants to the food lineup,” he says. “But when it comes to the music lineup, it’s almost identical to last year.” The reason for the sonic repeat, he adds, is that after reviewing the 2006 crop of performers—and recalling the mad rush for tarps and umbrellas that ensued—it occurred to him that all of the acts were standouts whose sets were nearly washed out by the extensive rain.
Classic rockers Union Jack and Holyoke’s own Wally Greaney/Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze and Ray Mason Band are among the nearly one dozen musical returnees hoping that this year’s Maple Street Fest proves a far less poncho-laden affair at Veteran’s Park. For the complete festival lineup and other info, kindly point your browser to: www.maplestreetmusicfest.com.
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In other news, Whately’s Watermelon Wednesdays series will resume again August 22 with The Sacred Shakers, a gospel/folk/country outfit featuring Eilen Jewell. According to that event’s organizer, Paul Newlin, the three-week hiatus had nothing to do with shortages of music or melons. Rather, it appears to have been caused by a lack of manpower. “Hey, I do a lot this myself and it takes a fair amount of work and time, so I needed a break,” he explains. “There’s actually enough talent around to do it every day, but this isn’t the Iron Horse.”
One component of the program that does manage to get a few hearts thumpin’, according to Signature Sounds’ Jim Olsen, is the live bat show that occurs during intermission. “The kids love it, and we do get the occasional bat in the church episode,” he says. “That’s always funny, as some people are terrified of the tiny creatures. But the bats usually just settle down on the ceiling for awhile and the show goes on.” All Watermelon Wednesday shows are $12 and begin at 7:30 p.m. at the West Whately Chapel, near the intersection of Conway and Williamsburg roads.
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And wrapping up our audio/edible news, Greenfield’s Town Common/Court Square will be bustling with locally produced savories and sounds from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19. More than two dozen area farms and businesses will provide the former, and the tunes will come courtesy of Michael Nix and Katie Clarke & The Green River Band. For more info, visit www.freeharvestsupper.org.
Meanwhile, who better than the Valley’s own “Lord” Russell Brooks to preside over a local homage to the King, Elvis Presley? Thirty years… and 24 hours (“The official anniversary is Thursday, but we’re waiting until Friday to ensure people’s ability to come out in boozy droves,” Brooks explains) after the day of the infamous blue suede shoe-wearer’s demise—Aug. 17—Brooks and special guest The Fawns, Sitting Next To Brian, The Thungs, Haunt, Whiskey Ina and members of the Winterpills will resurrect choice selections from his classic catalogue at Noho’s Elevens. “Personally, [Elvis] inspired me in so many ways,” says Brooks, who regularly performs as Presley in a show he calls Elvis Encore (www.elvisencore.com). “[As] a maniacally egotistical, pill-popping, womanizing drug addict… Er, I mean, to live for the stage and be a performer.”
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 698-9373 or email Garycarra@aol.com.
