Rub Wrongways Records is a local independent label — its logo is a perturbed cat — started by singer/songwriter Henning Ohlenbusch as a way to put out his and his friends’ music. It’s grown into a collective of close-knit bands and artists, musicmakers who also direct videos, design posters, book shows and more.
Ohlenbusch and his frequent collaborator Jason Mazzotta (from the Rub Wrongways bands Beach Honey and Sitting Next To Brian) are this year’s Musicians in Residence at the Forbes Library in Northampton, curating a creative concert series that will include, in addition to live music performances, workshops on topics that relate to the life of an active musician, such as how to write to song, how to do a podcast, how to create a video.
“We were approached by Faith Kaufmann of Forbes Library to set up a concert series and our first thought was to combine live music and some kind of educational element,” Mazzotta said.
“By providing a glimpse behind the scenes we hope to inspire folks to start their own creative projects,” Ohlenbusch said. “It can be daunting to try something new and it can be difficult to keep up the momentum when you do start a project. All the members of Rub Wrongways Records and the special guests we have for these events are generally immersed in some creative project or another at all times. We’ve got a lot of experience in that lifestyle.”
The first of the six events planned for 2018 is an introduction of sorts, a music-only night featuring short (and mostly acoustic) performances from the Rub Wrongways roster, including The Fawns, Beach Honey, Gentle Hen, Andy Goulet, Goldwater II and Sitting Next To Brian. It takes place in the Forbes Library’s Calvin Coolidge Presidential Museum (on the second floor) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages.
The Salvation Alley String Band plays the Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton on Friday at 9:30 p.m., preceded by Cambridge-based band Whistle Jacket at 8 p.m., and Toney Sea (the project of singer/songwriter Miranda Brown) at 7 p.m.
The Jeremy Turgeon Quintet celebrates the release of its new all-originals album, “What Matters Most,” with a show at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke on Saturday at 8 p.m. Northampton-based jazz fusion quartet Ginja Low Main opens.
Ugly Sun (from Buffalo, New York), Bunny Boy (from Methuen, Massachusetts) and local synth-driven duo Fire Letters (at right) appear at the latest Lowdown show at The Basement in Northampton on Saturday at 8 p.m.
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox — recasting modern pop hits in non-modern styles — returns to the Valley for a show at the Calvin in Northampton on Saturday at 8 p.m.
Singer/songwriters Rachael Yamagata and Tracy Bonham play the Iron Horse on Sunday at 7 p.m.
The Electric Eyes (featuring Smith music professor Steve Waksman on guitar) are the featured artist at the Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
In a unique variation on the Northampton Jazz Workshop’s usual format, the house band, the Green Street Trio, rather than back up a guest performer, will become the star for a night, with an expanded lineup that includes three horn players. They’ll perform new compositions and arrangements at the City Sports Grille, inside Spare Time Northampton on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The regular open jazz jam follows at 8:30 p.m.
Singer/songwriter Lera Lynn (known for her contributions to season two of “True Detective”) appears at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Thursday at 7 p.m. Jarrod Dickenson starts off the night.
Cat Cafe (“noise band crossed with performance art”), Sam Gas Can and 7th Haus (indie-dub-electronic-hip-hop) are the triple bill for the next Reanimate the Bay State show at The Sierra Grille in Northampton on Thursday at 10 p.m.