Whether you’re craving the infectious sounds of Primate Fiasco, Goosepimp Orchestra or Sauce & Big Jon Short, or a taste of some of the best craft beers in the country, Theodores’ and Smith’s Billiards have something good for what ales ya.
Specifically, the two Springfield venues have pooled their resources to concoct the first annual Worthy Street Craft Beer Showcase (worthycraftbrewfest.com)—the perfect place to soak in both sounds and suds from more than 30 premiere breweries.
“We have asked each brewery to bring in one of their great everyday beers, as well as at least one specialty,” notes Smith’s Billiards manager Jim Trainor. “We do this to attract everyone from the novice beer drinker to the beer geek—and the results are going to blow people away.”
The Worthy Street Craft Beer Showcase is slated for Saturday, June 25 starting at noon and will necessitate the closing of historic Worthington Street throughout the afternoon before crowds pour back into the clubs that evening.
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In other news, up at Stratton Mountain in Vermont, the tandem of Jeff Krasno and Sean Hoess will once again pair rock with relaxation (and a whole lot more) in the form of their third annual Wanderlust Festival.
Occurring this year from June 23-26 at the Stratton Mountain Resort, Wanderlust (wanderlustfestival.com) is a one-of-a-kind affair that features top yoga instructors and speakers (including Deepak Chopra) by day and includes the sounds of Michael Franti & Spearhead, the Wailers, Northampton’s Sonya Kitchell and New York’s Krishna Das, to name a choice few.
“After a long day of yoga, people want to go dance,” says Krasno. “So we started with those two pillars, but gradually enlarged the scope to bring in a broad range of experiences, ranging from performance art and aerial workshops to farmers’ markets and art installations.”
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Closer to home, Chicopee’s summer shindig may be titled the Fest Of All, but there is at least one act on the entertainment calendar that is taking its performance quite personally.
“It’s been 15 years for the band, and 10 for me in the front,” Orange Crush frontman Scott Lawson Pomeroy declares. “We never had the proper venue to say ‘thank you’ because we’ve been on the road most of the time, but now it’s time.”
Others joining the festivities at Szot Park June 23-26 include Darik & The Funbags (June 23), Back In Black, The American Led Zeppelin (both June 24) and Aquanett (June 26), to name a choice few. For more information on “the largest-attended Fourth event in the Valley,” kindly point your browser to www.festofall.com.
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Finally, a couple of altruistic audio-enhanced events of note are on tap as well. The first is an annual affair that not only plucks at organizer Dave LaValley‘s proverbial heart strings—it strums bar chords on them.
“I have spent my life playing the blues,” the journeyman musician explains. “And my son was diagnosed with ectodermal dysplasia, so what better way for me to raise awareness and funds for the cause than a blues benefit blowout?”
Dubbed Blues for The Cure, La Valley’s daylong event will feature his own band, The Disciples, as well as the The Damon Reeves Band, Janet Ryan and more amid raffles and barbecue at the Crossroads (crossroadsrt20.com) in Palmer this Sunday, June 26.
That same day—in what will hopefully not become a regular occurrence—a multi-band tornado relief “food and fund” drive will take place at Geraldine’s to benefit residents adversely affected by the recent weather phenomena that ravaged the region.
“My neighborhood was one of the ones hit very badly,” co-organizer Cheryl Lenville says of her June 26 benefit featuring Maxxtone, The Reprobates, Bon Jersey acoustic, Swift Kick and more.
There is no cover for the show—guests pay what they want—and food and personal care items will be received at the door. For more info on the concert or collection details, e-mail Lenville at nightsongsproductions@gmail.com.
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, PO Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email Garycarra@aol.com.
