NEW SALEM — The 1794 Meetinghouse at 26 South Main Street on the Common, has released its summer concert schedule, There will be 18 concerts presented, from Saturday, June 9, to Saturday, July 28.
Executive Director Brad Foster, said, “Our popular acoustic hall is great for listeners and a favorite of performers. During the past twenty-four years, we have offered over 600 music and theatre performances and dramas. This summer we have 19 concerts in a wide range of genres from classic to folk, pop, rock, jazz, and world music. Come and join us — you will enjoy the show! And bring a picnic! The New Salem Common is a wonderful place for community tail-gate parties before a show.”
In 1987, a small group of dedicated individuals with a passion for the performing arts had a dream to preserve a historic building on the common in New Salem and to create a cultural center in the North Quabbin area of western Massachusetts. That vision was the inception of the 1794 Meetinghouse Performing Arts Center; the first production in the renovated hall was held in 1994.
Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez will kick off the Meetinghouse 2018 season, performing their Soulful Roots Rock and Blues, Saturday, June 9. There will be an opening night reception at 6:45 p.m., followed by the concert at 7:30. Tickets: Adults $20; ages 13-17 $10; ages 0-12 free.
On Sunday, June 10 at 4 p.m., the Quabbin Valley Pro Musica (choral music) will present folk music from England, Hungary, South Africa, the Austrian alps, and New England’s own Shaker communities. Adults: $15; 13-17 $10; 0-12 free.
On Thursday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m., The Reprobate Blues Band, bring high energy, danceable, rocking blues. Adults: $10; 13-17 $5; 0-12 free.
On Saturday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m., Orange native Samantha Farrell brings her ever evolving jazz, folk, pop and poetry to the stage. Adults: $15; 13-17 $10; 0-12 free.
Blending well-crafted instrumentals and vivid songwriting, singer songwriter Joe Jencks serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel. He performs Thursday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. Adults: $15; 13-17 $10; 0-12 free.
Wooden Dinosaur will perform alt-country, folk and rock, Saturday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. Wooden Dinosaur is the songwriting project of Vermont guitarist, singer, and bandleader Michael Roberts. Since 2004, Roberts has released ten albums of original alt-country and folk music with a rotating cast of musicians. Adults: $15; 13-17 $10; 0-12 free.
Peter Blanchette will perform on the string archguitar on Sunday, June 24 at 4 p.m. Guitarist, composer, arranger and conductor Peter is known around the world as the inventor of the 11-string archguitar. Adults: $10; 13-17 $5; 0-12 free.
On Friday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m., NATRAJ will perform world music/jazz fusion. Natraj seamlessly melds the classical music of India, traditional music from West Africa, and contemporary jazz to create its own unique and infectious style. Adults: $15; 13-17 $10; 0-12 free.
On Saturday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m., DO IT NOW will present World Fusion & Spoken Word. Do It Now showcases the improvisational collaborations from John Sheldon (guitar), Tony Vacca (percussion) and Paul Richmond (spoken word) inspired by the desire for social change. Adults: $15; 13-17 $10; 0-12 free.
The Jolly Beggars bring the rich tradition of Celtic folk music and storytelling to modern-day audiences. They will perform traditional Celtic folk on Saturday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m. Adults: $15; 13-17 $10; 0-12 free.
Haley Hewitt will perform on the Celtic Harp on Sunday, July 8 at 4 p.m. Hewitt shares a love of music through performance and education, with over 15 years of experience performing from large concert halls to cozy firesides, and more than a decade of experience teaching all ages and levels. Adults: $10; 13-17 $5; 0-12 free.
On Thursday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m., singer songwriter, Eric Lee will perform folk, rock, and bluegrass music, accompanied by violin, mandolin, electric violin and guitar. Adults: $10; 13-17 $5; 0-12 free.
Breathing new life into Swing standards, Bossa Nova and Latin jazz, Sarah Clay and her band celebrate the Great American Songbook on Saturday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. Adults: $15; 13-17 $10; 0-12 free.
The Definite Maybes perform Thursday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m. They fashion a dynamic blend of rock, blues, and R&B and are driven by the sweet soulful voice of Melanie Mangum and spirited guitar from Charlie Mallet. Adults: $10; 13-17 $5; 0-12 free.
The Green Sisters perform on Saturday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. Hubbardston natives Beck, Bets, Brie and Mel offer up a foot-stomping eclectic mix of folk, Celtic, bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, a cappella and barbershop music. Adults: $15; 13-17 $10; 0-12 free.
Steven Schoenberg will perform Sunday, July 22 at 4 p.m. He is a dynamic, award-winning composer/pianist whose talents cross into musical theater, classical compositions, film scoring, children’s music, and solo improvisational piano performances. Adults: $15; 13-17 $10; 0-12 free.
On Thursday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m., two performers, Ray Mason and Henning Ohlenbusch will perform rock and indie folk. Adults: $10; 13-17 $5; 0-12 free.
Cold Chocolate, a groovy Americana band that fuses bluegrass, folk, and rock to create a sound all their own, will perform Saturday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m. Adults: $15; 13-17 $10; 0-12 free.
Tickets for all performances are available online from: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3413653 Website: http://1794meetinghouse.org.
For more information email to info@1794meetinghouse.org or call 413-335-3489.