08/06/2007
Category: General

Turners Falls Block Party '07!

Food, fun and music on Avenue A on August 11th!  See Block Party 2008 details here.
Take to the street Saturday, August 11th in downtown Turners Falls from 3 - 10 pm! The Avenue will be closed for food, music, dancing and other wonders of the post industrial world.

Parade + Music!

The procession starts at 3 pm at the Food City parking lot and meanders down the Avenue ending through the Shea Theater Arch in the parking lot next the Northeast Foundation for Children's conference center. Come dressed in your craziest get up or pull a non motorized float. Bring an instrument or noise maker and strut your stuff. For details, email Sharon Cottrell at hkptown@verizon.net

The corner of Fourth Street + Avenue A will be transformed with a huge stage courtesy of Northfire Recording Studio on which some of the Valley's best bands will perform with sound engineering by Art Steele.

Unit7 with Kim Zombik and Trailer Park Horns

Boasting members of veteran Pioneer Valley bands Stash, Trailer Park, The Equalites, Who's Kidding Who, and Bombastics, they'll jazz you up and funk you over. They're all dressed up and ready to roll. They sing in the rain, cry at the sun, and howl at the moon. Unit7 is silk and never flannel. Shaken but never stirred. Unit7 is a lost weekend in Vegas, a night in Tunisia, and a day at the races. Alert the press. Call the Grammys. Prepare to feel the love.


Eric Olsson - Vocals and Guitar
Kim Zombik - Vocals
Joe 'Jopey' Fitzpatrick - Drums
Peter Jones - Keys and Percussion
Donny Hayward - Bass
Gregory Lauzon, Richard Page, and Tom Mahnken - Saxophones
Dave Meausky - Percussion

The Alchemystics

Intricate wordplay, soul searching roots, undeniably memorable hooks, a diverse group of individuals , old school vocal harmonies, intense passion, and diverse creative talent are but a few of the elements which combine to form the unmistakable sound of the Alchemystics. A unique blend of roots music, effortlessly combining reggae, hip-hop, soul, dub, and dancehall styles. Their performances are well polished, intoxicating, celebrations of rhythm & song crossing boundaries and welcoming all into the experience.

Jay Metcalf - Keyboards
Garrett Sawyer - Bass, engineer, producer
Demse Zullo - Drums, percussion, engineer, producer,
Ras Jahn - vocals
Ian - I - vocals , guitar
Souljah T - vocals
Force - Vocals

Jen Tobey Band

Montague's own and one of the Pioneer Valley's most recognized up-and-coming singer/songwriters. Winner of this year's WRSI 2007 singer/songwriter contest, Valley Idol finalist and Valley Advocate's "Best Songwriter" in 2004, her energetic live shows have been rocking stages all over the Northeast.

Rounding out the music:
MC Kip Dresser : Montague's leader of Curly Fingers Dupree band, guitar slinger and Guru of Good times. Our gracious host will be going acoustic between bands and playing with Jen Tobey.

Lower Case g's: This crew fuses hip-hop and pop-rock with a twisted blend of vocal harmonies, horns and atmospheric layers.

Conduit: An amazing combination of raw rock, blazing guitar and insightful lyrics, this band is the Valley's up-and-coming jam/rock/fusion outfit.

Russ Knuckle Raptor: Avenue A Street Band

Food!

Food on the street:

BBQ burgers, hotdogs and hand cut fries from the Turners Falls Fire Department

Panini's and fancy drinks from the up and coming Rendezvous

Pizza slices from Turners Falls Pizza House

Carnival food from Hillcrest and Montague Center PTOs

Drinks and desserts from Christina Sheppard and Anne Harding

Delectable baked confections from Patty Cake Patty Cake

Ice Cream on Ristorante Di Paolo's new patio

Take a break from the heat and duck into:

Avenue A Café (formerly Cup O Joe) - coffee, and delicious sandwiches
Jake's Tavern - drinks and great lunch and dinner specials
Shady Glen - classic diner fare
Jay K's - free V-1 Vodka tasting from 4-6 pm and a beer tasting from 6-8 pm
Ristorante DiPaolo - exquisite Caribbean infused Italian cuisine starting at 5 pm
2nd Street Sports Bar -killer drink specials and late night dancing
Subway sandwich shop
Chinatown Restaurant
All located on Avenue A!

...and more

Also check out puppeteer Madison Cripps performing with totally wonderful and whacky marionettes of his own design and making, a performance by the Ja Duke Dancers, cool off in the open fire hydrant on the Ave + 4th, meet Kira the K9, stress relief with Karen Adams, record some sound clips about Turners with Monte at the WRSI live broadcast booth, appear on MCTV’s party footage, cover the Avenue with chalk graffiti, get your face painted by Corrie Garnet and more.

Take a breather with a stroll along the riverside bike path, check out Ron Rosenstock’s breathtaking landscapes at Hallmark Museum of Contemporary Photography, buy some local art from Seth and Eva, grab a historic walking tour booklet from the RiverCulture table and uncover the town’s gems, take in the 4 new public art pieces…

RiverCulture Sponsors

Massachusetts Cultural Council
Town of Montague
Western Massachusetts Electric Company
Hillside Plastics
Greenfield Savings Bank

What have we been up to?

Visit our News Page!

Get Involved!

We are always looking to connect with community members who would like to be involved in making RiverCulture projects happen.  We have specific opportunities as well as big picture planning.  From October's Haunted House, to Feast for the Arts, to helping us with a marketing plan, to many things in between, we have something just right for you.  Click here for specific opportunities.

New events and programs

Do you have an idea for an event or art project?  Would you like to hold it in Turners Falls?  Email us and we will see if we can make the process easy for you as well as see how we can help involve the community in your project.

Valley Idol Karaoke Contest!

May 4-19, Shea Theater

WORD=OBJECT

Thru June 1
LOOT found+made 62 Avenue A in Turners Falls


Discover five artists whose work crosses the boundary between word and object. Paintings defaced by their artist with spray-painted slogans, interactive loose-leaf books made of plastic and vellum, posters where word enhances image and image enhances word, and hand-made books where the paper gives body to the poetry and the poetry breath to the paper. ASIZ Industries, Meghan Dewar, Christopher Janke, Jess Mynes, and Betsy Wheeler: these artists explore what exists between ink and page, between eye and ear, between word and object.

Details here.

 

 

Eilen Jewell + Lost Straitjackets

June 2, 8 pm, Shea Theater

It is the battered cassette jammed in the tape deck of the getaway car, the music Ida Lupino cues up on the roadhouse jukebox as she counts the till after close. This is Queen of the Minor Key by Eilen Jewell, a smart cookie with a heart of burnished gold and enough stories to keep even the rowdiest crowd hanging on her every word. Though its long shadows and dark corners make her kingdom feel intimate, her sovereign domain stretches as far as the imagination. Its denizens seek refuge in padded rooms, abandoned automobiles... and strong spirits. They defend their territory by any means necessary: weird voodoo, sawed-off shotguns, broken bottles.  More here.

Nina's Nook: Obsessively Spiritual Work

by Edite Cunha, Gina Vernava and others

Thru May 12th, 2012

 

"Images from the 50's" by Martin Karplus

Through June 10, 2012, Gallery at Hallmark

 

Images by Martin Karplus

"Images from the 50's" is a Kodachromatic journey back through time. This quietly nostalgic exhibition has a focus on post-war Europe, and the images reflect the journey of a sharp mind and watchful eye. Photographer (and world-renowned theoretical chemist) Martin Karplus beautifully preserves this era in sharp and vivid detail. His careful composition and ability to capture the decisive moment breathes life into these tableaus. 

The exhibition opening reception, available to the public at no charge, will take place at The Gallery at Hallmark on Friday, April 13th from 4:00 - 7:00pm. The show will be on display Fridays through Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00pm through Sunday, June 10th, 2012.

The Gallery at Hallmark is located at 85 Avenue A, Turners Falls, Massachusetts. Admission is free and free parking is available in the Shea Theater's designated areas.

Mutton & Mead Festival

Come partake in merriment and play as you are transported to another time: Merchants hawking their wares, Games to test the skills of both children and adults, Stages showcasing the realm's finest entertainers! Wander the streets listening to minstrels infusing the air with music. Meet Robin Hood and his Merry Men as well as Maid Marian! But watch out for the Sheriff! And the Twisted Pixies! Details here.

Songshop

 

Franklin County Falls Pumpkin Fest

October 20, 2012

 

The third annual Pumpkinfest will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012 on Avenue A in Turners Falls. The event is FREE to the public. Just bring cash for food, beer, and fun! The event runs from 3-9pm, with FREE shuttling from Turners Falls High School and Sheffield School!  More info on how you can get involved here.

Strathmore Mill Opportunity

The Strathmore Mill Redevelopment Project will result in the restoration of a picturesque brick mill complex and adjacent grounds to its place as a cornerstone of the community and downtown economy in the historic village of Turners Falls, Massachusetts. The Town of Montague seeks an innovative partner to serve as master developer for this unique redevelopment opportunity in a location that boasts both natural beauty and the conveniences of an urban area. Details here.

RiverCulture Wins the Commonwealth Award!

RiverCulture is the proud recipient of the 2011/2012 Commonwealth Award, honoring exceptional achievement in the arts, humanities, and sciences. The Massachusetts Cultural Council presents the award every two years to individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to education, economic vitality, and quality of life in communities across the state.

 

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