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• Storyteller Onawumi Jean Moss will highlight May 2 Song & Story Swap via Zoom
• Live Couch Music lists WMass music streams
• Song & Story Swap reaches milestone

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Onawumi Jean Moss will join May 2 Song & Story Swap via Zoom

Please come share in an evening of music and stories at the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society Song & Story Swap.

The featured performer at the May 2 Song & Story Swap will be storyteller Onawumi Jean Moss.

Onawumi Jean Moss, "the Soulful Storyteller," is a narrator, keynote speaker and author. A Tennessee native, her first stories were learned from her parents and in church. Over the years she continued to hone her craft, while at the same time completing a career as Associate Dean of Students at Amherst College. She has performed for inter-generational audiences across the U.S. and in the Netherlands, and has twice presented senior keynote addresses at Amherst College.

Onawumi characterizes her stories as encouraging pride of heritage, appreciation of cultural differences and recognition of kinship. She was founder and producer of the multicultural storytelling festival Keepers of the Word (1993-2006) which hosted celebrated tellers of African, Asian, European, Hispanic, Latin and Native American descent.

Onawumi Jean Moss's creative achievements include co-writing and narrating the PBS special, "Kwanzaa" and collaborating with author Particia C, McKissack on the award-winning children's book, Precious and the Boo Hag . She is a recipient of the Zora Neale Hurston Storytelling Award (November 2005), the highest award given by the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS).

Register for the May 2 Zoom Song & Story Swap and enjoy the marvelous stories of one of the region's most accomplished storytellers.

Learn more about Onawumi Jean Moss at onawumi.com.

This month’s opening round theme is In times like this…

Looking ahead to next month, the June 6 Song & Story Swap will feature singer-songwriter Gordon Thomas Ward of Winter Harbor, Maine. Stay tuned for details.

The Song & Story Swap is held on the first Saturday of each month, excepting July and August, and is jointly sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society and the Nacul Center. Visit the Folklore Society website at pvfs.us.

The Song & Story Swap is open to the public, free of charge with donations accepted ($5 - $10 is suggested). Donations to the featured performer may be made securely via credit card or Paypal at https://pvfs.us/donate.

People of all ages gather to share stories and songs that are traditional, newly written, or of personal experiences. You can tell, sing, or lead everyone in singing, or request a song or story. Listeners are welcome.

For information contact Paul Kaplan, (413)-687-5002 or visit https://pvfs.us.

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Live Couch Music lists WMass music streams

With live entertainment venues currently mothballed, music fans may find the listing of online concerts at livecouchmusic.org a handy resource.

Baer Tierkel maintains this calendar of live music streams in Western Mass. Musicians and organizers may send details of upcoming performances to jam@livecouchmusic.org.

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Song & Story Swap reaches milestone

In May 1996 the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society Song & Story Swap, then held at the Black Sheep in Amherst, was seeking ways to increase attendance and participation. The idea of featuring a guest artist was proposed. Bob Blue graciously agreed to perform a set of his original songs, and was warmly received.

Entering its twenty-fifth year, the Song & Story Swap has changed only slightly. Shortly after Bob Blue's appearance the Swap began designating a theme to guide the songs and stories presented during the sharing round. In 1999 Wayne Crouch stepped down as moderator and was replaced by Paul Kaplan who continues hosting to this day. The venue changed – first to the Harp and ultimately, thanks to the largesse of owner Tullio Inglese, to the Nacul Center. As of May 2nd's performance by Onawumi Jean Moss, the Song & Story Swap will have featured well over guest 200 artists and 250 events.

Mother Nature may have sent us all to our rooms, but the congeniality and creativity of the Song & Story Swap carry on. We hope to see you at the May Zoom Swap.

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