The rootsy Back Porch Festival, a multi-day live music extravaganza across various Valley venues and cities, returns to the area for its fourth year.
It launches with a Mardi Gras Party featuring New Orleans-inspired vocalist/pianist Marcia Ball and Louisiana-based “King of Slydeco” guitarist Sonny Landreth at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke on Wednesday, February 26, at 7 p.m.
Then, a Townes Van Zandt tribute night — participants include Tracy Grammer, Jim Henry, Winterpills, Suitcase Junket, Chris Brashear, Mary-Elaine Jenkins, Lisa Bastoni, and Zak Trojano — at the Parlor Room in Northampton on Thursday, February 27, at 7 p.m.
Josh Ritter will be joined by special guest Caitlin Canty at the Academy of Music in Northampton on Friday, February 28, at 7 p.m.
Bluegrass Workshops take place at the Parlor Room in Northampton on Saturday, February 29, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., followed by a big bluegrass show featuring The Travelin’ McCourys, Della Mae and Hawktail at the Academy of Music in Northampton on Saturday, February 29, at 7 p.m.
Host Jim Olsen does his Back Porch Radio show live from the Parlor Room in Northampton on Sunday, March 1, from 9 a.m. to noon. It’s a free event.
Hawktail returns for a Parlor Session at the Parlor Room in Northampton at 3 p.m. The quartet plays a set, followed by a break for hot soup, then a jam session with everyone invited to join in (so bring along your instrument or voice).
Bringing the festival to an energetic close is Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, with special guest singer/songwriter Laura Cantrell, at the Academy of Music in Northampton on Sunday, March 1, at 7 p.m.
Singer/songwriter Dar Williams plays two nights at the Iron Horse in Northampton, on Friday, February 21 (Crys Matthews opening) and Saturday, February 22 (Amelia Chalfant playing first) at 7 p.m.
Local songwriter/noisemaker/animator/artist Wishbone Zoe celebrates the release of her new album “French of the Bird” with a show that also features singer/songwriter Hoonah, Holyoke-based rockers Hot Dirt, and high-energy experimental duo Fred Cracklin at Looky Here in Greenfield on Friday, February 21, at 8 p.m.
Critically acclaimed saxophonist/composer Kamasi Washington takes the stage at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton on Saturday, February 22, at 8 p.m.
Back To the Bay State is a multimedia tribute to the long-gone Northampton music venue, with live performances from The Unband, The Stone Coyotes, Steve Westfield, Lonesome Brothers, Mark Mulcahy, J Mascis, The Aloha Steamtrain, The Big Bad Bollocks, Drunk Stuntmen, Spouse, The Figments, Matt Hebert, Mike Flood, The Maggies, Flower Thief, Gobblehoof and others, plus stories of the era and audio/video excerpts from the in-progress Bay State documentary. It all happens at the Academy of Music in Northampton on Sunday, February 23, at 2 p.m.
For further Bay State reminiscing, there’s an after-show live music party with sets from Spouse, Grey Matter, and Mike Flood (solo acoustic), followed by an open stage, at the Sierra Grille on Sunday, February 23, at 6 p.m. Admission is free for those with a ticket stub from the Academy’s Back to The Bay State event.
Nuclear Waste Management Club is a band fronted by onetime Valley mainstay and Spouse founder Jose Ayerve. He now lives in Ecuador, but he’s back in town to lead the band (Peyton and Anne Pinkerton, J.J. O’Connell and others) at The 413 in Easthampton on Monday, February 23, at 7 p.m. The night will also include appearances by Lesa Bezo, Miranda Brown, Henning Ohlenbusch, Matt Silberstein, Simple Friend, Spanish for Hitchhiking, Thane & Melissa, and others, so arrive early if you wand to fit inside the cozy bar.
London new-wave hitmakers Squeeze bring their super-tuneful smart-aleck songbook (“Tempted,” “Black Coffee In Bed,” “Pulling Mussels (from the Shell),” “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Cool for Cats,” “Up the Junction” and many more) to the Academy of Music in Northampton on Monday, February 23, at 8 p.m. Starting off the night is Look Park, the latest project from stellar songwriter Chris Collingwood; its debut album was one of the very best of 2016.
The jazz trio of pianist David Virelles, bassist William Parker and drummer Gerald Cleaver appears at the Northampton Arts Trust Building at 33 Hawley in Northampton on Thursday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Starbird Bow is the current project from Holyoke multi-instrumentalist Eric Cunha, who recently released the band’s sophomore album “Psychic Pica” (available on Bandcamp). They appear on a bill with Botanica Wilde, Omega Vague and Jenifer Gelineau at the latest Reanimate the Bay State show at the Sierra Grille in Northampton on Thursday, February 27, at 10 p.m.
Longtime local bluesman Mark Nomad and his band play originals, classic blues, funk and rock-and-roll at Progression Brewing Company on Friday, February 28, from 8 – 11 p.m.
Venezuelan vocalist Betsayda Machado appears with her longtime friends Parranda El Clavo and creates energetic voice-and-percussion dance music at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke on Sunday, March 1, at 6 p.m.
Singer/songwriter Nellie McKay put out her “Bagatelles” EP last year, a collection of short-and-sweet covers of hits from a different age, like “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive” and “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” and she returns to the Iron Horse on Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m.