Lilith of the Valley: Music and Mystique is a local women-led music and art event, featuring six live acts at the Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield on Saturday at 6 p.m.:
Singer/songwriter Lily Sexton (fiddler for progressive bluegrass outfit Mamma’s Marmalade and pictured at left) uses her grandfather’s Gibson Jumbo acoustic guitar to create tunes that draw inspiration from Appalachian old-time swing and high lonesome melodies.
Flathead Rodeo (featuring vocalist Miriam Sirota) is the Valley’s kick-butt rockabilly/roots band, performing songs by Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and others, plus original tunes inspired by that old-school flair. Last July the band won top honors at the Valley Music Showcase.
Reggae/folk group ReBelle (featuring vocalist Kalpana Devi) has been called “a formidable musical force conceived in love and rebellion.”
Ex-Temper plays loud and angular rock with three-part harmonies — the all-female quartet was recently described as “Fugazi meets the Andrews Sisters,” and they approve.
Also on the bill are freestyle hip hop artist Britt Koff and DJ Cherry Moto, the latter specializing in house music, with playlists inspired by the jungle, her travels in Latin America, and her former life in New York City. Comic Chrystel Dawn performs in between sets.
The night begins with a screening of the documentary “The Breast Archives,” followed by a Q&A session with director Meagan Murphy.
The event will also feature local “lady artists and vendors” and is the third in the Lilith of the Valley music series, celebrating the contributions of women musicians, artists and businesses in the Pioneer Valley area.
Samirah Evans and Her Handsome Devils (pianist Miro Sprague, saxophonist Michael Zsoldos, bassist Marty Jaffe and drummer Conor Meehan) play their annual reunion show at the Iron Horse on Friday at 7 p.m.
Sly Fox and the Hustlers (rock trio from Albany), Colorway (local rock trio led by guitarist/vocalist F. Alex Johnson) and The Prestons (singing-songwriting friends Bill Catalde and Rick Murnane, aka Liam and Chard Preston, who “write cheerful songs about death and dead people…and on rare occasions come out and sing them to the living”) play a free, all-ages show at the Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton on Friday at 7 p.m.
Local vocal trio Eavesdrop bring their full band along for the last show of their summer tour at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke on Friday at 8 p.m. Ali McGuirk opens the show.
Rubblebucket’s Dream Picnic is an all-day indoor/outdoor music and arts festival featuring the titular band (who just released their new album “Sun Machine”) and some of their favorite acts, at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke on Saturday at 1 p.m. Rubblebucket play outside on a closed-off Race Street, headlining a lineup of Mal Devisa, Billy Wylder, Kalbells, Diet Cig and Caroline Rose. Playing inside are local acts Kimaya Diggs, Mad Habits, The Greys, Fire Letters, Old Flame, and The Mtali Shaka Banda Oneness Project. An indoor after-party stars Brothers Griiin, a DJ project with members of Flaming Lips. All this plus food trucks, artist vendors, “holistic services” and yoga.
The yearly Mystra festival, “OozeNebulas,” takes over Flywheel in Easthampton on Saturday at 3 p.m. At press time the lineup of experimental performers included Dredd Foole, Bridge of Flowers, Kryssi B/Colorguard, Allysen Callery, J Burkett, Huevos 2, J Gallagher, Emily Robb/Linda Fox, Arkm Foam, Viewer Project!, mmtt, and Anthony Pasquarosa, Karen Zanes, and Wednesday Knudsen.
Chicago singer/songwriter Zeshan B performs his own personal kind of soul music — with lyrics in English, Urdu and Punjabi — on a bill with Sidewalk Chalk and Jon Carroll at the latest Millpond.Live show at Millside Park in Easthampton on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Local arts magazine Meat for Tea celebrates its new “Camellia Sinensis” issue with La Cirque de la Charcuterie, a multi-media event with live music from Electric Eyes and Les Derailleurs, art on exhibit by Sean Greene, music videos by Matthew Newman, magic from Scotty Swan, and more. At Sonelab in Easthampton on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Young local indie-pop band Court Etiquette (pictured at left) teams up with Today Junior for a show at the Iron Horse on Saturday at 10 p.m.
Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Zak Trojano (co-founder of Rusty Belle) recently released his third album “Wolf Trees” and will play the Parlor Room in Northampton on Thursday at 7 p.m. Julia Mark is the opening act.