They’ve played it by the numbers. Even given odes to everything from animals and insects to human anatomy.
But for this, the 21st installment of the Northampton Arts Council’s annual end-of-summer fundraiser Transperformance, things seem to have taken a rather regal turn.
“It’s shaping up to be a real spectacle,” Council Executive Director Bob Cilman says of this year’s “royalty” theme, in which a who’s-who of local notables tackle the works of Kings of Leon, Prince and other rock royalty at Look Park in Florence Aug. 30. “I’m particularly looking forward to the return of Lord Russ and The Aloha Steamtrain, as he has stolen in the show in many Transperformances past and we’ve been missing him the last few years.”
The Aloha-ians have signed on to send up Queen; the eclectic, horn-based collective known as Astrobeast takes on King Crimson, and so on and so forth for nearly two dozen acts for a solid five-plus hours.
“I think the only ‘king’ I’m not doing is Budweiser,” jokes Jim Armenti, best known for his work with the Lonesome Brothers. “First, I’ll be performing the works of three Kings—B.B., Albert and Freddie—with Bob Cilman on harp and my wife Robby on vocals. At some point, I also get to do the James Burton backing parts when the Eric Olsson Band performs the works of ‘The King’ for a segment they call Vegas Elvis.”
Tickets for Transperformance 21 are $8 in advance, $10 at the door ($5 for seniors, $3 for kids 12 and under) and available both online at northamptonartscouncil.org or in person at the State Street Fruit Store in Northampton and Cooper’s Corner in Florence.
Proceeds from this event will benefit arts enrichment programs in the schools and the ArtsEZ spring grant program of the Northampton Arts Council.
Three days prior to that, the man often referred to as “America’s Best Unknown Songwriter,” Roger Salloom, carries on a 28-year tradition, a free annual concert as a giveback to the community that has afforded him the opportunity to make music for a living.
The show will occur at the Northampton Academy of Music (academyofmusictheatre) on Aug. 27, and, according to Salloom himself, the “no compensation” affair has been spanning generations of late.
“Think about it,” he says. “If a kid was five when his parents first brought him, 23 years has passed and he brings his own child now. I know this for a fact because it has happened!”
This year’s theme for Salloom’s cents-less act of audio is “It’s All Right To Have A Good Time,” and he will perform the Curtis Mayfield song of same name in hopes of uplifting locals who are on their backs financially.
“You know, I never asked [special guest for the evening] Charles Neville if he ever played with Curtis, now that I think of it,” Salloom says. “But considering the fact that I know he did play with James Brown, B.B. King and Big Joe Turner, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
In other news, the gridiron gang may already be reporting for training camp, but at least one musical ensemble of note is still championing the boys of summer. The band is called The Baseball Project, and its members include alumni of Miracle 3, Dream Syndicate and R.E.M., to name a choice few. This Friday, Aug. 26, they’ll swing into the Iron Horse in support of their latest studio effort, Vol 2: High and Inside.
Last but not least, talent buyer extraordinaire Donal Rooke checked in to report that he has assumed the role of booking early (7 or 8 p.m. starts) shows at The Elevens starting September. To have your band considered for an upcoming slot, email him directly at burrosart@gmail.com.”
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, PO Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email Garycarra@aol.com.
