By Sheryl Hunter

The town of Turners Falls will become a Mecca for music lovers this weekend when the second annual Water Under the Bridge Music Festival takes over the downtown area. The festival is presented by Turners Falls RiverCulture, The Brick House's Powertown Music and Turn it Up and will feature more than 30 bands playing at more than 10 venues on Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11. The Great Falls Discovery Center is also leading a bike tour of the bridges along the canal and river Saturday afternoon. The festival is a collaboration of organizations and businesses to celebrate the Gill Montague Bridge reconstruction project and to have fun regardless of the detour and oneway signs during construction. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience all that Turners Falls has to offer and to enjoy some fantastic music at the same time. The festival organizers have put together a topnotch lineup that reads like a who's who in the Pioneer Valley music scene.

Many of these bands are up-and-coming performers. If you haven't seen them before, this is the perfect chance to do so. And the best part is that the majority of the music is free.

From the bluegrass sounds of the Green River String Band, to the rock of Lux Deluxe, to the pop sounds of Una Jensen, the Under the Bridge Music Festival has something for everyone. As an added plus, performers like Lux Deluxe and Daniel Hales will perform on both days of the festival, giving you ample opportunity to catch their shows.

And for all you aspiring rockers, The Brick House will hold a Battle of the Bands Competition Saturday at 4 p.m. for musicians ages 25 and under. Contestants can perform one to three songs and the prizes include a $75 gift certificate from Replay Music Store in Greenfield. Advance registration is required by emailing Katie@Brickhousecommunity.org or calling 413.863-9559.

To help you plan your weekend, here is the performer schedule:

Friday

7 to 9 p.m. - Daniel Hales & the Frost Heaves, indie Americana and psychedelic rock, at the Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A. Suggested donation of $6 to $12.

Free for children.

7 to 8 p.m. - Una Jensen, pop rock singer-songwriter, at Burrito Rojo, 50 Third St.

8 p.m. to closing - Lux Deluxe with The Junkyard Dog Show and special guests, rock, at Burrito Rojo, 50 Third St.

8:30 to 11:30 p.m. - Curly Fingers Dupree, rock, blues, funk and R&B., at Between the Uprights, 23 Avenue A.

9:30 p.m. to closing - Nobody's Fat with Mountain Interval, progressive jazz/indie rock, at The Rendezvous, 78 Third St.

Saturday

12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Heather Maloney, pop folk singer-songwriter, at the 2nd Street Baking Co., 69 2nd Street.

1 to 1:30 p.m. - Dakota Roberts, punk/folk/gypsy, at the Turn It Up! Stage in Peskeomskut Park, Avenue A, between 6th and 7th streets.

1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Lovely Red Vega, indie folk, at the 2nd Street Baking Co., 69 2nd Street.

1:45 to 2:15 p.m. - Josh Wachtel of Radio Free Earth, Americana, roots, world and original, at the Turn it Up! Stage in Peskeomskut Park, Avenue A, between 6th and 7th streets.

2:30 to 3 p.m. - Heather Maloney, pop folk singer-songwriter, at the Turn it Up!

Stage in Peskeomskut Park, Avenue A, between 6th and 7th streets.

3 to 3:45 p.m. - Daniel Hales, indie Americana, at the deck at the Rendezvous, 78 Third St.

3:15 to 3:45 p.m. - Green River String Band, bluegrass, at the Turn it Up! Stage in Peskeomskut Park, Avenue A, between 6th and 7th streets.

4 to 4:45 p.m. - And the Kids in the Pirates, rock, folk, punk, at the Turn it Up!

Stage in Peskeomskut Park, Avenue A, between 6th and 7th streets.

4 to 6 p.m. - Teen Battle of the Bands Contest at the The Brick House, 24 Third St.

5 to 5:45 p.m. - The Sun Parade, indie folk/rock, at the Turn it Up! Stage in Peskeomskut Park, Avenue A, between 6th and 7th streets.

6 to 6:45 p.m. - Lux Deluxe, indie rock, at the Turn It Up! Stage in Peskeomskut Park, Avenue A, between 6th and 7th streets. 9 p.m. to closing - Heavy Metal Night featuring The Grave at Burrito Rojo, 50 Third St.

9:30 p.m. to closing - Bella's Bartok, waltz, punk and rockabilly, at The Rendezvous, 78 Third St.

Now that is a full slate of music! For more information, please see the festival's website at: www.waterunderthebridge.info

The Nields celebrate 20th

Katryna and Nerissa Nields will celebrate 20 years of music making this weekend with performances and events in Northampton that will encompass a career that includes 14 CDs, a DVD, music blogs, books, and so much more.

I first heard the band in 1996 (or maybe it was 1997), when a friend convinced me to go to the Iron Horse Music Hall to see "a great local band from Northampton." They were called The Nields and they were having a CD release show for an album that was expected to make them famous - "Gotta Get Over Greta."

I went to the show and in no time the quirky acoustic folk-rock of this quintet had me hooked. I was won over by the sisters' sweet harmonies, the driving rhythm section of bassist Dave Chalfant and drummer Dave Hower, and the striking guitar work of David Nields (Nerissa's ex-husband who took her last name when they married.) Guardian, the label that released "Gotta Get Over Greta," collapsed before giving the album the push it deserved. Its lack of success was a disappointment for the band and their fans, but The Nields continued to tour nationally and remained a favorite at the annual Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in upstate New York. The Nields' 1998 "Jam for the Van" concert held in Hatfield is considered by Nields fans as one of its finer moments.

In the summer of 1998, Nerissa and Katryna were asked to perform as a duo at the Lilith Fair and then started playing more shows without the band. The full-band Nields released its last album, "Live from Northampton," in 2001 and disbanded shortly afterward. Katryna and Nerissa continued as a duo and have released five CDs.

In recent years, The Nields sisters have branched out to record and perform music geared toward young children and families.

Nerissa has also written two books and leads writing workshops from her home. Hower is a drummer for Winterpills and Chalfant is an in-demand record producer who also performs with various bands. David Nields is the theatre director for the Imperial Centre for Arts and Sciences in Rocky Mount, N.C.

In honor of this 20th anniversary, The Nields will celebrate with "Jam for the Fans," a weekend-long event in Northampton that is packed with events.

The fun starts on Friday night with an open mic for fans to sing their favorite Nields songs (perhaps with some backup from a Nields member) and concludes with a gospel-inspired Sunday morning brunch - not unlike their annual Falcon Ridge Sunday morning performances.

Here are all the details on all the weekends' events: Friday at 7 p.m. - Open mic held at Thorne's Market in the downstairs space that was previously occupied by Dynamite Records. Come and sing a Nields song!

Performers are asked to sign up in advance, Patty@bulletproofartists.com. Free.

Saturday at 10:30 a.m. - Family show at the Center for the Arts. Advance tickets are $5 for children, $10 adults. Tickets bought at the door will cost $7 for children, $12 for adults.

Saturday at 1 p.m. - A scavenger/treasure hunt will take place in downtown Northampton. Participants will be asked to test their Nields trivia. Check in and registration takes place at 12:30 p.m. at the downstairs space at Thorne's Market. $10.

Saturday at 7 p.m. - The full band reunion concert at the Iron Horse Music Hall. All members of the original band will perform together. This event is sold out, but there will be a few standing-room-only tickets sold at the door. You are advised to get in line early.

Sunday at 10 a.m. - Nields gospel brunch at Paul & Elizabeth's restaurant in Thorne's Market. $20 (does not include meal.) Tickets for all events are available at www.bulletproofmanagement.com or at the door.

So come out and celebrate this special occasion and let's hope for 20 more years from The Nields.

Sheryl Hunter is a music writer who lives in Easthampton.

Her work has appeared in various regional and national magazines. You can contact her at soundslocal@yahoo.com