Considering the thousands of people it has drawn into Springfield’s downtown each week since its inception a decade ago, one would think it foolish to fiddle with any component of the annual Stearns Square Cityblock summer concerts. But as Maureen Pinette, spokeswoman for the Springfield Business Improvement District (springfielddowntown.com), which runs the popular Thursday night series, is quick to note, Cityblock has been successful no matter the banner it has run under since the turn of the millennium.
But the people “spoke,” and the call for a motorcycle-friendly moniker has been heard loud and clear. “We seemed like the only ones concerned with calling it Cityblock,” Pinette explains. “Everyone else was already calling it ‘Bike Night,’ and rightfully so, for if you ever came down to a show, you couldn’t miss all the beautiful bikes lining the streets.”
Yet another adjustment to this year’s series—which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on July 1 with celebrated singer/songwriter Willie Nile—is the event layout. Instead of closing in the park as in years past, Pinette says that, after conferring with local police, fire officials and the department of public works, they’ve decided that closing the street (thus closing the event in from Worthington to Bridge) would alleviate both safety and traffic concerns.
What will remain the same? The songs, of course… or at least the caliber of those who will be onstage performing them.
Molly Hatchet (July 15), Bad Company lead singer Brian Howe (July 22) and John Eddie (Aug. 12) are among the latest additions to the 2010 roster, joining return performers like Roomful of Blues (July 8) and the annual FAT reunion (Aug. 19).
“While I have made a lot of contacts over the years, booking is always the hardest part, as we are not for profit and have a very small budget to put on 10 free summer shows,” Pinette says. “Skid Row [Aug. 26] was definitely a first for me, and it took a little talking to get them within our budget. I’m so happy we did, and think this year’s lineup really rocks.”
All Bike Night show concerts at Stearns Square are free, begin at 7:30 p.m. and occur rain or shine.
In other news, local musician Daniel Hales checked in to report that he didn’t have to look much farther than the convenience store candy aisle to find the inspiration for his upcoming Greenfield Arts Elective.
“I love both great music and great writing,” the man oft mentioned in this very column for his work with the band The Frost Heaves explains. “So the festival [July 3 at Greenfield’s Energy Park] is my desire to create the cultural equivalent of that rarefied confection, the Reese’s Cup, and blend them into one tasty treat.”
Serving as the proverbial peanut butter on the musical side of the metaphor will be Original Cowards, Shag, and Daniel Hales and The Frost Heaves, to name a choice few. Writers Christopher Janke, Kristin Bock, Daniel Mahoney, Karen Skolfield and Andrew Varnon round out the literary proceedings.
“I moved to the area in 1993 for the UMass MFA program in poetry,” Hales says. “After years of sitting through readings on folding chairs in academic buildings, then going off to rock shows in sweaty bars, I can’t wait to mash it all up at a beautiful outdoor venue with no hipster scene, no pecking order and most importantly, no cover charge!”
The Greenfield Arts Elective runs from noon till 9 p.m. For more information, kindly point your browser to Energy Park’s Facebook page.
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Last up, Valley veteran Wildcat O’Halloran lends road-tested blues to a barbecue/benefit slated for The Harp in Amherst this Saturday, July 3 from 1-5 p.m. Admission is $15 and proceeds from that as well as raffles are earmarked for the A.B. Anderson Fund, a noted sponsor of fishing derbies throughout Hampshire and Franklin counties.
Catch the Nightcrawler every Wednesday at 8:50 a.m. on the Steve Cantara Radio Show, WRNX 100.9 FM. Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, PO Box 427, Somers, CT 0071; fax to (860) 698-9373 or email garycarra@aol.com.
