Historically, the Green River Festival's largest claim to fame has been its inclusion of one of the largest assemblages of hot-air balloons known to the region. And while the high-flying fun will once again be part of this year's festivities, the event's organizers were not about to let the logistics behind another fast-rising contributor to the Festival's continued success—live music—hang in the air. In fact, they've already cemented what many believe to be its most diverse, auspicious line-up to date.
"This year, Jim Olsen and his Signature Sounds that books our talent are celebrating their 15-year anniversary," explains Festival Committee/Franklin Chamber member Becky George. "So they are pulling out all the stops, and we are just so fortunate to have them involved. I cannot imagine what the festival would be like without them seemingly outdoing themselves with the entertainment each year, but I'm certain the festival overall would not have continued to grow like it has without them."
Helping to exponentially up this year's growth quotient are Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry, Mark Erelli, The Winterpills and a host of other artists who have graced the Western Mass-based Signature Sounds label since its inception in 1995.
The 2009 Green River Festival touches down on the grounds of Greenfield Community College July 17-18 and once again features food, crafts, kids' activities and more, in addition to the two performance stages and hot-air ballooning. For more information on ticket options, including an early bird weekend admission discount that is available until month's end, kindly point your browser to greenriverfestival.com.
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In other news, journeyman Valley drummer/singer Jim Walsh checked in to report that his latest project, Merrick Section, plans to unleash equal doses of never-before-heard original material and choice covers by the wielders of proverbial "Hammer of The Gods" when they take to the Rock Caf? (280 Worthington St., Springfield) stage this Saturday, May 16.
"For the first set, we will be focusing on many of the tunes that will eventually be on our first full-length," Walsh waxes.
His new trio is rounded out by guitarist Tom Doherty and bassist Jeff Burch. "The second set, we're going for all Zeppelin—foregoing a lot of the obvious selections for cooler, deeper cuts. And, pulling in a lot of guest players as needed to fill in the holes."
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Speaking of the mighty Zeppelin, it's been a long time since Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners rock 'n' rolled around these parts, too& In fact, by most accounts, it's been at least four decades since the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famers have performed in Western Mass, a situation they plan to remedy in the form of a May 15 engagement at Longmeadow High School.
Tickets for that show are $15 and available by calling (413) 564-4160. The Skyliners are credited with performing one of rock's all-time hit songs, the million-seller "Since I Don't Have You."
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In stark contrast, Roger Salloom, who has graced the Grammy Music Awards ballot some 20 times in the past three years, is no stranger to the local terrain. In fact, his annual Concert In The Pines—which now calls the Academy of Music home—remains one of the musical community's most anticipated happenings each year.
Still, in his 29 years of living in Northampton, the man dubbed "America's Best Unknown Songwriter" has yet to headline his hometown's historic Iron Horse Music Hall, and that's a situation he plans to remedy this Saturday, May 16 as well.
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Send correspondence to: Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to: (860) 698-9373 or e-mail: Garycarra@aol.com.
