The calendar is slip-sliding away into the school days of September, but here’s one way to keep the summer spirit alive: local ska band Beige is bringing you “Beach Bonfire Bacchanalia” at The Ashfield Lake House, sharing the bill with Valley reggae group The HeadBand, Sunday at 8 p.m.
The two dance-friendly acts are planning to play right on the beach, where the shore was recently regroomed with fresh sand.
It’s a perfect scene for Beige’s inspired frontman Steve Westfield (also the longtime leader of the Pajama Slave Dancers), known for making a memorable experience for everyone, no matter what the venue or crowd. It might be a late-night close-quarters club, the back of a flatbed truck parked on sizzling pavement in the blazing sun, or the yearly family-friendly lollapalooza known as “Transperformance” — I’ve been a happy witness at each and can attest to the joy left in his unpredictable wake.
Beige saxophonist and Ashfield resident Tom Mahnken (who played for years with Westfield in his other ensemble, The Slow Band) said the group plans to play some new material at the Lake House show, including such original songs as “Ascending Flute Mountain” and “Asparagus at Midnight” (which gives you a good idea of the playful dada dimension from which the band hails).
“It’s probably the easiest band I’ve ever played with, because there’s never any reason to be nervous about whether or not you know the songs or anything,” said Mahnken, who happily shared some excitement about his town’s unique vibe.
“There’s old Ashfield people there, then there’s people who went there in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and now Double Edge Theatre is up there — they draw a lot of people who work in theater who are hanging out — so it’s a fun mix. And I bet even though it’s early September, Ashfield Lake is a warm lake, so people might want to think about going swimming first.”
Some folks need coffee to zap them awake in the morning. Others get their a.m. jolt from good music. Either way you’ll get your all-important zing if you check out Ray Mason at The Old Creamery in Cummington Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Organic GMO-free options, bakery goodies made from scratch, cups of free-trade joe and much more, including quirky pop songs from the hardest working musician in the Valley, performing outside with his trusty 1965 Silvertone electric guitar.
Philadelphia power-trio Flux Capacitor shares a bill with F. Alex Johnson’s local rock threesome Colorway at a new venue, the Root Cellar in Greenfield (located below Mesa Verde), Saturday at 9 p.m.
Western Mass. sextet Danny Pease & the Regulators brings its blend of ska, reggae, rock and hip-hop to Gateway City Arts in Holyoke Saturday at 9 p.m.
Jamaican singer/songwriter Everton Blender has been recording and performing reggae music in the dance-hall and roots traditions since the mid-’90s, and he’ll bring some heat to the end-of-summer night at MASS MoCA’s Courtyard C in North Adams Saturday at 8 p.m.
Matt Valentine (half of MV/EE) brings his psych-folk, country, blues and mountain ragas for a double bill with P.G. Six (aka Patrick Gubler, who’s drawn comparisons to Bert Jansch) at the Root Cellar Wednesday at 8 p.m. The show is brought to you by local vinyl record label Peace & Rhythm.
Black Sheep Son (aka Scott Pomeroy), Korona and Juggler Meadow String Band play the Luthiers Co-Op in Easthampton Thursday starting at 7 p.m.