Valley’s popular jazz piano series returns
The Valley’s popular jazz piano series has returned. In 1995, the Northampton Center for the Arts asked long-time Connecticut River Valley jazz producer Glenn Siegel to produce a solo piano series, and “A World of Piano” was born. Throughout its history, “A World of Piano” has sought to present a wide variety of approaches to the instrument. The series resumed in 2003 and continued until 2013, when NCFA lost its former space on South Street.
Now firmly re-established at 33 Hawley, the Northampton Center for the Arts and Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares have resurrected “A World of Piano.” On Feb. 26-28, the series continues with performances by pianists Arturo O’Farrill, Marta Sanchez and Wayne Horvitz.
Jazz Shares members may attend these concerts as part of their membership. Tickets are available on a sliding scale, $15-$35.
For more information, visit nohoarts.org/jazz-piano-2026
gutter sinatra takes the stage at The Iron Horse
Singer and producer gutter sinatra, the musical moniker of Don Miggs, will perform at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m., opening for Stephen Kellogg.
sinatra’s music, according to a press release, is “the music you expect to start blaring out of an abandoned 1977 Ford Bronco. Bit dusty, nostalgic and a little melancholy. Like Jackson Browne meeting up with Beck for coffee.”
Miggs started working on his most recent album during the COVID-19 lockdown era. His mixing engineer’s availability meant that Miggs had to write, perform and produce six songs in 10 days (besides the four he’d already finished). “In the blink of an eye, the project was done,” the release said. “… Then he put it all away for five years.”
Tickets are $42 via ironhorse.org.
Easthampton Film Festival to host monthly meetup
Easthampton Film Festival will host its monthly filmmaker meetup at Abandoned Building Brewery in Easthampton on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 7 to 9 p.m.
The festival is also looking for reviewers to help screen the 174 entries it has received for this year’s festival. If you’re interested, contact Lena Vani, chair of the Selections Committee, at Lena@EasthamptonFilmFestival.com. Selections will be announced by Tuesday, March 31.
The festival will be held on Thursday, April 23, through Sunday, April 26.
Smith College to present ‘Merry Me’
The Smith College Department of Theatre will present “Merry Me,” written by Hansol Jung and directed by Lynne Marie Rosenberg, at the Hallie Flanagan Studio Theater from Thursday, Feb. 26 through Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. The show, according to a press release, is “a madcap and mischievous mashup of ancient mythology and restoration comedy — and an ode to female pleasure.”
“When a mysterious blackout leaves a navy stranded near enemy territory, the libidinous Lieutenant Shane Horne puts her very specific talents to use, including with the general’s wife. Meanwhile, a famed Angel sends the Navy’s psychiatrist on an epic quest to save humanity,” the release states.
Tickets are $5 to $15 on smitharts.ludus.com. Admission is free for Smith students. This play is recommended for people age 16 and up due to its content, which includes swearing, a reference to suicide and puppets having sex.
Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein to perform at The Drake
The Peter Bernstein Quartet will perform at The Drake in Amherst on Saturday, March 7 at 8 p.m. Bernstein has appeared on more than 300 recordings, 14 of which are under his own name.
Bernstein’s quartet at the show will include pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Vicente Archer, and drummer Joe Farnsworth, who is a native of South Hadley and headlined the 2023 Northampton Jazz Festival.
The collaboration is part of the Northampton Jazz Festival’s initiative to expand its programming beyond the festival itself, which is held in September.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. For tickets or more information, visit thedrakeamherst.org. Guests at the Amherst Oyster Bar — which will be sponsoring the concert on Saturday, March 7 — will receive six complimentary oysters with proof of their ticket to the show.
Valley Light Opera hosts its annual meeting
Valley Light Opera will have its annual meeting on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Hadley.
After a short business meeting, during which the company’s board will review the past year and approve board members for 2026-2027, attendees will hear a lecture on shtetl life in the early 1900s from Josh Horowitz from the Yiddish Book Center, then Asya Schulman (also from the Yiddish Book Center) will teach a Yiddish folk dance. After refreshments, attendees will take part in a sing-through of choruses from “Fiddler on the Roof,” the company’s fall 2026 production.
The company is also looking for someone to replace its treasurer, who will be retiring after five years in the role. Interested applicants should have experience with light bookkeeping.
For information about the meeting or the treasurer position, email Kathy Blaisdell at kathy.blaisdell222@gmail.com. To volunteer to help set up or break down the event or to bring refreshments, email Jone Messmer at jonemessmer@hotmail.com.
The Comedy Project is back at The Lava Center
The Comedy Project, a rotating selection of comedy shows, workshops and open mics, will return to The Lava Center in Greenfield, starting with a workshop on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m.
That workshop is open to anyone who wants to create new comedy material or work on existing material.
Host Andrea CK, according to the event listing, is an award-winning storyteller, retired rabbi, and chicken farmer who, so far, “has earned no awards for being a rabbi or chicken farmer.” CK has been hosting and attending open mics in the area for eight years.
To RSVP, email andrea@thelavacenter.org. The next Comedy Project event will be on Thursday, March 26.