Pioneer Valley Folklore Society Happenings

Newsletter Archive

2024

December - Holiday/Winter Song Singalong; Theme: Holiday/Winter Songs
November - Black Door 74; Theme: Political Engagement
October - Scott Cook and Pamela Mae; Theme: Hope
September - Pete Nelson; Theme: Baseball
June - Acoustic Beatles Night Fundraiser;
May - Doc Hollister; Theme: Forgiveness
April - Jennie McAvoy; Theme: Relationships
March - Jackson Gillman; Theme: Green
February - Bill Shontz and Mitch Chakour; A Bill Shontz Story; Theme: Memories
January - Annie Patterson; Pete Nelson teaches songwriting; The Secret Chord shows; Theme: Rising

2023

December - John Sheldon; Montague Open Mic; Theme: Inner Journeys
November - Orlen, Gabriel & Avery; Theme: Thanks
October - Peter Siegel; Theme: Connections
September - Paul Kaplan; Theme: Climate
June - Acoustic Beatles Night;
May - Michael & Carrie Kline; ; Remembering Lou Wigdor; Theme: Musical Instruments
April - Lydia Adams Davis; ; Theme: Foolishness
March - Ken Perlman; ; Theme: War
February - Mark Franklin; ; Theme: Love and/or Heartbreak
January - Dennis Picard; ; Theme: Winter

2022

December - The Trouble Sisters; ; Theme: Trouble
November - Dorothy Cresswell & Katie Tolles; ; Remembering Wayne Crouch; Theme: Courage
October - Jerry Korobow via Zoom; ; Tom Neilson series; Theme: Americana
September - Two of a Kind via Zoom; ; Theme: Positive Impact
June - Reggie Harris via Zoom; ; New venue sought; Theme: Perseverance
May - Lyn Hardy & Ruth Ungar via Zoom; ; Theme: Heartbreak
April - Carla Sciaky via Zoom; ; Theme: Roads
March - Rob Adams via Zoom; ; Peter Lehndorff CD campaign; Hat found; Theme: Outdoors
February - Don White via Zoom; ; Theme: Letters
January - Christine Lavin via Zoom; ; Theme: Your Favorite Song or Story

2021

December - Tom Smith via Zoom; ; Theme: Family
November - Kate O'Connor and Rico Spence via Zoom; ; Joe Jencks coming to Mt Toby series; Theme: Healing
October - Tom Neilson & Lynn Waldron via Zoom; ; Theme: Water
September - Cloudbelly via Zoom; ; Mount Toby Concerts resume; Theme: New Beginnings
July - Zoe Mulford live from England via Zoom; Theme: Wings
June - Simons and Goodwin via Zoom ; PVFS presents England's Zoe Mulford on July 10; Theme: Growing Up
May - Colleen Kattau via Zoom ; Song & Story Swap guest videos; Theme: Work and Solidarity
April - Jay Mankita via Zoom ; Luthier's Co-op Open Mic; Theme: Humor
March - Charlie King via Zoom ; Paul Kaplan CD release concert; Music of the People on WMCB; Theme: Home
February - Bob McCarthy via Zoom ; Locals win Just Plain Folks Music Awards; Theme: Food
January - John Roberts via Zoom ; 70s pop rock history course; Paul Kaplan album in the works; Theme: Farewell, adieu

2020

December - Lara Herscovitch via Zoom ; Lui Collins virtual concert; Theme: Magic and Mystery
November - Geoff Kaufman via Zoom ; Community Church of Boston; Theme: Change
October - Dean Stevens via Zoom ; Sing Out the Vote!; Theme: Sky
September - Nancy Tucker via Zoom ; Mister Blue Songbook virtual festival; Theme: Faces
June - Gordon Thomas Ward via Zoom; We Began to Sing; Shelter in Place Showcase; Theme: Survival
May - Onawumi Jean Moss via Zoom; Live Couch Music lists live streams; Theme: In Times Like This…
April - Pat Lamanna via Zoom; Theme: Female Power
March - Matt Stamell; Upcoming shows; Theme: Crime and Punishment
February - Lui Collins; Upcoming shows; Theme: Language
January - Dan Lynch; Upcoming shows; Theme: The Early Years

2019

December - Katherine First and Cynthia Thomas; Upcoming shows; Theme: Snow
November - Annie Patterson; Upcoming shows; Theme: Scoundrels
October - Bev Grant; Upcoming shows; Theme: Sports
September - Davis Bates; Remembering Roger Conant; Upcoming shows; Theme: The Sea
June - Acoustic Beatles Night; Upcoming shows
May - Gordon Kramer; Upcoming shows; Theme: Spirit
April - Joshua Garcia and Ben Grosscup; Upcoming shows; Theme: Public Officials
March - Debra Cowan; New Greenfield song swap; Upcoming shows; Theme: Love Gone Wrong
February - Kala Farnham; Upcoming shows; Theme: Lessons
January - Larry LeBlanc; Theme: Immigrants

2018

December - Terry Kitchen; Upcoming shows; Theme: Dark
November - Jerry Bryant; Upcoming shows; Theme: History
October - Pete Nelson; Upcoming shows; Theme: Writing
September - Louise Mosrie; Theme: Animals
June - Acoustic Beatles Night!; Upcoming shows
May - Roger Tincknell; New RUSH leaders; Upcoming shows; Theme: Birth
April - Sue Kranz; Theme: Fire
March - Letitia VanSant; Upcoming shows; Theme: Felines
February - John Porcino; Upcoming shows; Theme: Repetition
January - Anne Louise White; Theme: Hope

2017

December - Roundsing tribute to Elizabeth Farnsworth; Nacul 45th annversary on 12/16; Two harmonic duos at Mt Toby; Leverett Chorus Concert; Theme: Nature
November - Abe Loomis; Folk Sounds of the Valley; Show of Cards at Coho; Theme: Hometowns
October - Peter Lehndorff; Noho Song & Story Swap; Coho concert series; Concert for Puerto Rico; Theme: Weather
September - Jeff Lee; Cosy Sheridan at Coho; John O'Connor house concert; Theme: Vacation
June - Tim Van Egmond; Beatles night pays; Theme: Fish Stories
May - Acoustic Beatles Night!; Charlie King CD release; Theme: The Beatles
April - Peter Newland; Theme: Beauty
March - Robin Greenstein; Deafinitions Conference; Theme: Happy
February - Sally Rogers; Theme: Taking a Stand
January - Dennis Caraher; PMN Gathering seeks housing; Pioneer Valley Folk expands; Theme: Renewal

2016

December - Sheryl Stanton; Theme: Joy and Despair
November - Peg Loughran; Reggie Harris & Pat Wictor at Coho; Theme: Travel
October - Orlen & Gabriel; Theme: Haunting
September - Eric Lee; James McCarthy house concert; Theme: Mythology
June - Rob Peck; PMN Summer Gathering; Theme: Hands
May - David and Sophie Buskin; Theme: Questions
April - In Concert! - Annie Patterson & Friends; Bob Blue Tribute videos
March - The Songs of Bob Blue; Theme: Courage
February - Paul Kaplan; FCC seeks performers; Theme: Hearts
January - Chris Elliott; Theme: Ring

2015

December - Jim Armenti; Theme: The Ocean
November - Ray Mason; Remembering Bill Keith; Theme: Home Furnishings
October - Pat & Tex LaMountain; Rise Again show; Other concerts of note; Theme: Beverages
September - Jim Scott; Rise Again is available; Theme: The Forest
June - Molly Scott; Local summer concert series; Theme: Fruits and Vegetables
May - Pete Nelson; Theme: Lost
April - Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen; Theme: Yellow
March - Greg Alexander; Dana & Susan Robinson house concert; Theme: Snow
February - Donna Hébert & Max Cohen; Pioneer Valley Folk playlist; Theme: Bugs
January - Snowed out

2014

December - Jim Rooney & Chris Brashear; In It For the Long Run book signing: Remembering Karen Brandow and Rick Lee; Theme: Different Times
November - Craig Morrison; Coho concerts: All Folked Up; Sheesham & Lotus & Son, Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen; Pat & Tex LaMountain CD Release; Theme: Canada
October - Art Steele; Gordon Bok house concert; Cliff Eberhardt article; Theme: Metal
September - An evening with Cliff Eberhardt; First Friday Coho show on 9/5; Paul Kaplan and Jim Malcolm on 9/12
Summer - Three upcoming concerts: Honoring Peter & Kathy Lendhorff ; Carrying on the Legacy of Pete Seeger; An evening with Cliff Eberhardt
June - Lorre Wyatt and Michael Nix; Theme: Old Favorites
May - Irthlingz Acoustic Duo - Sharon Abreu and Michael Hurwicz; Theme: Carrying On
April - Bob Reiser; Lou and Peter Berryman house concert; Theme: Freedom
March - Doug Schmolze; Sharing the Fire Conference; Theme: Boom and Bust
February - Jackson Gillman; R.I.P. Pete Seeger; Theme: Stars
January - Bruce & Rick King; Theme: Sun

2013

December - Sol Weber; Richard Berman concert; Theme: Shapes
November - Ben Demerath; Theme: Guilt
October - Sue Burkhart; Theme: Tears
September - Jay Mankita; Sponsors wanted; Theme: Funny
June - Verne McArthur; Theme: Journeys
May - An evening with Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen
April - Banish Misfortune; Coming May 4 - Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen; Theme: Misfortune
March - John Coster; Theme: Hearts
February - Raianne Richards & Mark Mandeville; May concert suggestions sought; Jay Mankita/Dean Stevens at Cohousing 2/1; Theme: "Rise Again" Songs
January - Ben Grosscup; PMN Winter Gathering; Theme: Ecology

2012

December - Rochelle Wildfong; Theme: Storms
November - Yankee Notions; Theme: Buying and Selling
October - Jose and Ahmed Gonzalez; Theme: Immigration
September - Sean Vernon; Down Home at Watermelon Wednesdays; Lou Reviews Tracy Grammer & Jim Henry; Theme: Great Britain
June - An evening with Tracy Grammer & Jim Henry
May - Tim Jennings & Leanne Ponder; Coming June 2 - Tracy Grammer & Jim Henry; Theme: Rogues
April - Don Dixon; Theme: Wisdom
March - Davis Bates; Theme: Broken Love
February - Carrie Fergusson; Theme: Animals
January - Jackson Gillman; Theme: Teachers

2011

December - Rona Leventhal; Theme: Foreign Lands
November - Annie Patterson; Theme: Rebellion
October - Sarah Pirtle; Dave Mallett workshop; Theme: Friendship
September - Paul Kaplan with Michael Orlen in Concert
June - Kate O'Connor & Rico Spence; Theme: Peace
May - Tim Eriksen; Lou Wigdor reviews Mahmoud Ahmed and the Either/Orchestra; Theme: Flowers
April - Eva Cappelli & the Watershops Band; uNi Coffeehouse spring schedule; Theme: Fool
March - Erica Wheeler; Theme: Spring Fever
February - Michael Silverstone; Theme: Elementary School
January - Ameri-MF-cana; Theme: Dreams

2010

December - David Jones; Theme: A funny thing happened...
November - John Porcino; Theme: Choices

October

Baseball, Hotdogs, Apple pie

September - An evening with Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem
June - Shingle the Roof; An Evening with Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem on Sept 4; Theme: Cats and Dogs;
May - Tim Van Egmond; Lui Collins/Annie Patterson May 29 concert; Wig & Pen; Theme: Towns and Cities
April - Sue Kranz & Paul Kaplan; Theme: Luck
March - Charlie King & Karen Brandow; Theme: Strong Women
February - Lui Collins; Panharmonium seeks musicians; Theme: Winter;
January - Green River String Band; Lou's Reviews - Richard Shindell; Theme: Good Deeds;

2009

December - Song leaders Roger Conant, Elizabeth Farnsworth & Paul Kaplan; Theme: Songs and Stories of the Season
November - John Currie; Sing Out for Single Payer; Theme: Stuff
October - Peter Lehndorff; Connecticut River Song Concert; Theme: Black
September - Motoko; September shows: Bread & Puppet, Tom Juravich; Agawam Celtic series; Theme: Houses
June - An evening with John Roberts and Tony Barrand
May - Robin O'Herin; Roberts and Barrand to give June 6 concert; Theme: Blue
April - Tom Neilson; Theme: The Body
March - Michael Orlen; Music at Munson; Theme: Wind
February - Yosl (Joe) Kurland; Lou's Reviews - Rani Arbo & Andrew Kinsey; Theme: Underdogs
January - Rani Arbo & Andrew Kinsey; Theme: Change

2008

December - Easy Wind; Theme: The Connecticut River
November - Kathy Chapman; Theme: Falling
October - Bob Reiser; Theme: Forgetfulness
September - Andrew Lawrence; Theme: Love
June - Three of Cups; Theme: Disguise, Deception and Trickery
May - An evening with Bill Staines; Take Heart in Hard Times in Greenfield
April - Sue Kranz; Bill Staines to give concert; Paul Kaplan CD release; Theme: Ships
March - Katie Clarke and the Green River Band; Theme: The Sun
February - Nancy Rockland-Miller; Theme: Evil
January - Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen; Theme: Two

2007

December - Katherine Rhoda; Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen coming to town; Theme: Jealousy
November - Chris Yerlig; Theme: Age
October - Pat & Tex LaMountain; Theme: Texas
September - Ben Grosscup & Dan Inglis; Theme: Farming
June - Kevin O'Hara; Laws threaten folk; Theme: Travel
May - Jennie McAvoy; Echo Lake Coffeehouse; PublicRadioFan.com; Theme: Mothers
April - Debra Cowan; Putting the "Public" back in Public Radio; Theme: Holidays
March - Terry Kitchen; Lighthearted Songs and Music Games; Saving Valley Folk; Theme: Madness
February - Tim Van Egmond; Save Valley Folk! organizational meeting; Theme: Pets
January - John Roberts; WFCR drops folk; Theme: The Tropics

2006

December - Annie Patterson & Peter Blood; Theme: Home
November - Agnes Zsigmondi; Theme: Water
October - Henry Lappen; Theme: Drinking
September - Peter Siegel; New home at The Nacul Center; Theme: Art
June - Paul Kaplan; Summer music fests; Theme: Cars
May - Levin Schwartz; 1794 Meetinghouse series; Theme: Flowers
April - Remembering Bob Blue; Ysaye Barnwell workshop May 6-7)
March - Katie Green; Lou & Peter Berryman coming to Northampton; Theme: Ireland
February - The Shapeshifters; Theme: Travel
January - Donna Hébert & Max Cohen; Adieu to the Black Sheep; PMN Winter Gathering; Theme: Fire

2005

December - David Sharpe; Theme: Peace
November - Kate Mesmer; No more postcards; Theme: Middles
October - Adam Sweeney; Theme: Rivers
September - Margaret MacArthur; Theme: Tradition
July - Dáithí Sproule; July shape note sings; Theme: Blame
June - Members of Panharmonium; Summer folk festivals and series; Theme: Creation
May - Bob Norman; Theme: Incredible
April - Ken Perlman; Amherst concertina workshop; Recent recordings by Zoe Darrow, José Gonzalez, Polly Fiveash & Anand Nayak, Jeff Snow, Brooks Williams, Signature Sounds artists; Theme: Discovery
March - Jay Mankita; Ysaye Barnwell workshop; New PVFS Google Group; Lou's Reviews - Habib Koite & Bamada; Theme: Happy Endings
February - Spencer Lewis; Theme: Shyness
January - Geoff Kaufman; Theme: Lies; Calendar

2004

December - Jackson Gillman; Where's the Calendar?; Theme: Truth
November - Laura Wood; Theme: Disappointment / Vindication
October - Late Bloomers; Lou & Peter Berryman Concert; Bob Blue wins Magic Penny Award; Theme: Rulers
September - Gordon Hellegers; Two House Concert Series Schedules; Help Wanted Concert Organizers; Theme: School
July - Tom Neilson; New recordings by April Grant, Francisco Hernandez, Gordon Hellegers, Chris Pureka, Susan Bassett, Tom Neilson and Richard Docker; Theme: Freedom
June - Daniel Keene; Summer folk festivals and series; Paul Kaplan in concert; Theme: Wishes
May - Max Cohen; Theme: Flying
April - Laura Siersema; New England Folk Festival; Montague Bookmill series; Theme: Transformation
March - Chris Pahud; Folklorist John Cohen at Hampshire; Clean Living Reunion & Benefit; Theme: Adventure
February - The Boys of the Landfill; New recordings by Mark Erelli, Brooks Williams, Randal Bays and Dáithí Sproule, Stephen Kellogg; Amherst International Folk Dancing; Lou's Reviews - Randy Newman, Trio Mediéval; Theme: Leadership
January - April Grant; Valley music alums in the movies; PMN Winter Gathering; Lou's Reviews - Works in progress; Theme: Togetherness

2003

December - Erik Balkey; WUMB artist poll; A Net Station Antarctic folk radio; Lou's Reviews - Norman Schell; Theme: Death
November - Norman Schell; Lou & Peter Berryman; Liza Constable releases In My Girlish Days; Lou's Reviews - La Bottine Souriante; Theme: Birth
October - Chris Brashear; Lou & Peter Berryman; New Valley Recordings - Cliff Eberhardt; Lou's Reviews - La Bottine Souriant; Theme: Money
September - Judy Polan; New Valley recordings by Norman Schell, Underbelly, Chris Brashear; Lou's Musical Musings; Theme: Hope
July - Polly Fiveash & Anand Nayak; New recordings by José González, Rani Arbo; More summer music series; Theme: Struggle
June - Jacqueline Steiner; Porter-Phelps-Huntington concert series; 2003 summer folk festivals; Theme: City Streets
May - Katie Green; Lyn Hardy on WAMC; 1794 Meetinghouse Series; Lou's Reviews - Greg Brown; Theme: Bloomers
April - Thea Hopkins; Keepers of the Word Festival; Springfield Storytellers Association; Lou's Reviews; Theme: Games
March - Tom McCabe; Parents' Choice awards to Roger Tincknell, Motoko and Dennis Caraher; Lou's Reviews - John Coltrane's masterwork, A Love Supreme; Theme: Betrayal
February - Jack Kid; Hootenanny at P.A.C.E.; Paul Kaplan After the Fire CD Release Show; Lou's Reviews - Top 10 2002 CDs plus Catie Curtis at Stone Soup; Theme: Cold
January - Cath Oss; Local Sacred Harp sings; Stone Soup Caf? 2003 schedule; Lou's Reviews - 2 CDs from Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project; Theme: My Favorite Things

2002

December - John Porcino; Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton; Winter Solstice Celebration in Colrain; Local music & storytelling books; Lou's Reviews; Theme: Light
November - Molly Scott; Broque, Dana Robinson and Markamusic CD releases; Welcome Yule in 18th season; Lou's Reviews - Aimee Mann's Lost in Space; Theme: Politics
October - Donna H?bert; John Roberts concert; Wholesale Klezmer Band 20th anniversary; Lou's Reviews - Josquin Des Prez / The Clerks; Theme: Mystery
September - Kate O'Connor; Lou's Reviews - Márta Sebestyén and Muzsikás; Theme: Wild Things
July - Richard Evers; G.A.I.A. summer drum circles; Amandla Chorus seeks basses; Lou's Reviews - Wayne Shorter Quartet; Theme: Roots
June - Eliot Bronson; Lou & Peter Berryman concert review; Swimming to the Other Side profile; Summer Folk Festivals; Lou's Reviews - Kate Rusby; Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer; Richard Shindell; Theme: Fears
May - Bob Norman; Lou & Peter Berryman; Fast Folk Magazine Retrospective; Theme: Colors
April - Terry Kitchen; Lou & Peter Berryman; Club 47 and the early Cambridge folk scene; Pete Seeger; Lou's Reviews - Lewis Spratlan's Life Is a Dream; Theme: Food
March - Jerry Bryant; Children's Music Network; Bob Blue concert photos; Lou's Reviews - Anonymous 4; Theme: Women
February - Rona Leventhal; Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope; Wendell Full Moon Coffeehouse; Buddy & Julie Miller's song, Rachel; Theme: Survival
January - Francis Doughty; Bob Blue Concert; Lou's Reviews - Taj Mahal, Lucy Kaplansky, Best albums of 2001; New Pioneer Valley releases; Theme: Resolutions & Revolutions

2001

December - Hugh Blumenfeld; New CDs from Signature Sounds and Josee Vachon; Taj Mahal visits home; Theme: Gifts
November - Judy Polan; 2nd Sunday Cofeehouse 2002 Schedule; Ghazal Concert Review; Theme: Birds
October - Debra Cowan; Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen concert; Northampton Music Festival; Music Review by Lou Wigdor; Theme: Transitions
September - Marge Bruchac; Stone Soup Coffeehouse Schedule; Connecticut Open Mic List; Theme: Beginnings
July - Jim Henry; Country dance links; Pioneer Valley Songbag update; Theme: Growing
June - Elizabeth Farnsworth; Bill Domler Memorial Benefit Concert; Summer Folk Festivals; Dirty Linen Gig Guide; Pioneer Valley Songbag update; Theme: The Moon
May - Sue Kranz & Ben Tousley; Theme: Land; Peter Berryman's Whither Zither columns; Clowning workshop; Pioneer Valley Songbag update; Theme: The Moon
April - Tom Juravich; W.A.M! Festival; Banjo Camp North; Pioneer Valley Songbag; Theme: Smells
March - The Blarney Pilgrims – Van Kaynor and Paul Kaplan; Debra Cowan releases The Long Grey Line; PVFS Happenings back issues; Theme: Reptiles and Amphibians
February - Susan Conger; Along the River release; 2nd Sunday Coffeehouse; Pioneer Valley entertainment guides; Theme: Sweethearts
January - Davis Bates; Montague Bookmill series; People's Music Network Winter Gathering; Best of Broadside Grammy nomination; Theme: Childhood Memories

2000

December - Kelly Erwin and Warren Graham; Welcome Yule; Winter celebrations; Theme: Weather/Solstice
November - Tim Van Egmond; Dana Robinson concert; Stone Soup Coffeehouse; Orrin Starr Bluegrass guitar workshop; Rise Up Singing with Harmony; Theme - Gratitude
October - Richard Berman; Dana Robinson; Leon Rosselson; Theme: The Supernatural
September - Dana Robinson; Theme: Labor
July - George Reynolds, Rani Arbo and Lui Collins; Theme: Water
June - Bob Norman; Theme: Coincidence
May - Nick Plakias; Theme: May Day
April - George Reynolds & Friends (postponed); Theme: April Fools
March - Anne Louise White; Theme: Green
February - Daniel Lombardo; Theme: Love
January - Paul Kaplan; Theme: Dreams

1999

December - Francisco J. Hernandez; Theme: Winter Celebrations
November - Ed Smith; Theme: Irish or Celtic
October - Chet and John Porcino
September - Roger Tincknell
July - Gan Ainm
June - Karen Saunders
May - Chris Timson & Anne Gregson
April - Susan Fleischman
March - Wayne Crouch
February - David Arfa
January - Rakes and Ranters

1998

December - Larry Cole
November - Joel Zoss & Guy Devito
October - Debra Cowan
September - Dennis Caraher
July - Rona Levanthal
June - Robert Harris
May - Lyn Hardy
April - Tom Neilson
March - Dave Letellier
February - Don Grant
January - Richard Berman

1997

December - John Porcino
November - Paul Kaplan & Larry Cole
October - Julia Burrough & Sue Bassett
September - Roger Tincknell
August - Russ Thomas
July - Verne McArthur
June - Motoko
May - Pat & Tex LaMountain
April - Dagen Julty
February - Tim Van Egmond
January - Ted Melnechuk

1996

December - Jerry Bryant
November - Davis Bates
October - Brad Eichwald
September - Jay & Karen Ducharme
August - Peg Davol
July - Larry Dulong
June - Lu Parchick
May - Bob Blue