Barbès In the Woods is a new music festival in Montague, with a catch phrase that cleverly echoes the one used by the town’s beloved Bookmill: “Music you haven’t heard in a place you can’t find.”
The international music festival (presented by the Easthampton-based Laudable Productions) is a tribute to the Brooklyn bar/performance space Barbès, owned by two French musicians and named after the northern Paris neighborhood full of record stores, discount shops and a large North African population.
For more than 20 years the New York nightspot has been packing its schedule and square footage with music and community, and Barbès In the Woods plans to take that energy and diversity and annually transplant it to mellow Montague for one dazzling day, with two stages placed among rolling fields and shady slopes, plus gardens, woodland trails and the Saw Mill River nearby.
The non-stop music will include performances by such NYC acts as Antibalas (modern afrobeat stars), Combo Chimbita (“tropical futurists with Colombian roots”), Underground System (“neo-afrobeat deconstructionists”), Slavic Soul Party (Balkan-soul-gypsy-funk all-stars), Anbessa Orchestra (“titans of Ethiopian groove”), Alsarah and the Nubatones (East African retro-pop from Sudan), gypsy jazz guitar master Stephane Wrembel, and Big Lazy (Americana noir), as well as Klezperanto (cumbia, Romanian surf guitar and more) and The Berkshire Bateria (Brazilian samba ensemble)
It all takes place at the 12-acre Bartlett Farm in Montague on Saturday, August 17, from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Besides the music, the event also promises food trucks, craft brews, pop-up theater performances, scavenger hunts, art installations and more — and there’s even a round trip bus service from Park Slope.
For more information visit barbesinthewoods.com or laudable.productions.
Hip hop influenced producer and lyricist Tonio Sagan celebrates the release of his new album “In the Garden” with a big live show that includes performances by The Problemaddicts, Honeycomb, Michael Wilbur, Deejay Theory and Delish Music. At Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield on Friday, August 16, at 9:30 p.m.
The Charlemont Reggae Festival is New England’s longest-running reggae fest, and its 24th year will showcase live sets by Mykal Rose, Mighty Mystic, The Alchemystics, Rebelle, Rhythm Incorporated, The Big Takeover, SoulTree, No Lens, The Equalites, Wheel Out, Dave Noonan’s Green Island, Brian Bender & The Riddim Makers, and others, at the Charlemont Fairgrounds on Saturday, August 17, at noon. It’s a family-friendly event with a children’s tent, face painting, food and craft vendors, and it’s all in memory of festival founder and Loose Caboose/Alchemystics member Ras Jahn Bullock, who passed away in 2017.
Austin-based singer/songwriter Matt Hebert, onetime Valley resident and a big part of the local music scene, pays the old haunt a visit for the release of his new album “Where the Heart Beats Slow.” He’ll play a set at The 413 in Easthampton on Sunday, August 18, at 6 p.m. “Many special guests!” Is what the poster promises, and the place is sure to be packed with old friends and fellow musicians.
WHY? (the art-making moniker of Cincinnati hip hop/indie rock artist Yoni Wolf) takes the stage at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke on Tuesday, August 20, at 8 p.m. Barrie opens.
Ex Hex, led by the great guitarist/vocalist Mary Timony (Helium, Autoclave, Wild Flag, The Spells and more) rocks out at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke on Wednesday, August 21, at 8 p.m. Frankie and the Witch Fingers play first.
Noisy Ohio pop band Didi teams up with Spud Cannon (indie pop from Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) and locals Dump Him (queer punk-pop from Northampton) and Alyssa Kai (folk from Greenfield) for a show at Flywheel in Easthampton on Wednesday, August 21, at 8 p.m. All ages, sober space.
Ken Maiuri can be reached at tunedincolumn@gmail.com.