Violinist Tim Kliphuis and guitarist Jimmy Grant are coming back to Whately Town Hall at 194 Chestnut Plain Road for a special show on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. as part of the Watermelon Wednesday music series. Their performance is sure to be a night to remember.
If you have seen them before, you know why they are longtime favorites at Watermelon Wednesday. If you haven’t, this is your chance to find out what makes them so popular. When Kliphuis and Grant play together they take the audience back to 1930s Paris, paying tribute to gypsy jazz legends Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt.
Both musicians bring their own unique talents to the partnership.
Kliphuis, a jazz violinist from the Netherlands, draws inspiration from Grappelli but has created his own style by blending classical, gypsy jazz and folk. The trio he leads is considered one of the strongest string bands in the world, and his sextet is equally acclaimed. Along with touring internationally, he is also a respected educator and composer who has devoted his most recent work to the fight against climate change.
Grant grew up in Northern California surrounded by classical, Celtic and jazz music. He first heard Django Reinhardt’s music while touring with his dad’s bluegrass band and was hooked right away. He later became a leading guitarist in the gypsy jazz scene and is also skilled in other styles. He’s played with artists such as David Grisman and has worked as a studio musician on numerous jazz and rock recordings. Grant has also performed and taught at “Django in June,” a yearly celebration of Reinhardt’s music held in Northampton.
Together, Kliphuis and Grant combine their talents and are known for their impressive musical interplay and improvisation. Critics have called their partnership “superb” and “playfully inventive.” But one might wonder how this partnership came to be.
“Tim and I met probably 14 years ago performing at a festival in California,” Grant wrote in an email exchange to Sounds Local. “I often get hired to back up the Sinti gypsy masters when they bring them to the states, and they often bring Tim as well. We met during one of these concerts.”
After playing together in informal sessions and guest appearances, they found a strong musical connection, especially in acoustic swing. This chemistry led to regular collaborations, tours, and recordings with ensembles led by Kliphuis, where Grant became a frequent guitar partner.
Playing at Watermelon Wednesday has been part of their journey from the beginning. Grant guesses that they have played the series five times. Their most recent show was last March, when they helped kick off the 2025 season.
Paul Newlin, the founder and director of Watermelon Wednesdays, loves hosting the pair in Whately, and Grant and Kliphuis are as equally fond of playing there.
“Watermelon Wednesdays is a special gig, which is exactly why we keep coming back,” Grant said. “Paul really knows how to curate an event – and he truly understands music. The care and attention they give to both the artists and the audience makes it stand out. Paul and Claudia create the perfect listening space for artists to share their work. It is rare to find a venue that’s both welcoming and genuinely focused on the music.”
It’s not just the welcoming space that Newlin and his partner, Claudia Ciano-Boyce, have created that makes this series so appealing to artists, it’s also the attentive, appreciative crowds that attend the shows that makes these concerts in Whately so special. As he prepares the schedule for the 2026 season, Newlin said he is besieged by the number of musical acts that want to play there-and it is easy to see why.
Advance tickets are highly recommended since the show is expected to sell out. You can get them at watermelonwednesdays.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
CONTRIBUTED
Zydeco Connection hosts Mardi Gras party at Floodwater Brewing
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, as it’s also called, fell on Tuesday, Feb. 17. But you can celebrate the occasion on Friday night when Zydeco Connection hosts a Fat Friday party at Floodwater Brewing Company, 40 State St. in Shelburne Falls on Feb. 20, from 7-9 p.m.
The Franklin County-based zydeco band has been performing since 2004, and has been celebrating Mardi Gras for years. They know how to get the party started with a mix of Louisiana zydeco, two-steps, waltzes, boogie-woogie and a bit of swing.
The band includes Lil’Cyn on accordion, Eileen Almeida on rubboard and lead vocals, Mike Rose on drums, Dave LeBlanc on vocals and bass, and Larry LeBlanc on guitar. They’re members of the Franklin County Musician’s Cooperative, so you may have seen them at Coop concerts.
Zydeco music comes from the Creole culture of Southwest Louisiana and is influenced by Cajun and rhythm & blues. The main instruments are the button or piano accordion and the frottoir, also known as the rubboard or washboard. Zydeco bands also use drums, bass and electric guitar to create the lively rhythms that make the music so danceable. The word “zydeco” even comes from a dance step performed at these shows.
Admission is free.
Magic Mojo Band to perform in Warwick
The Trinitarian Congregational Church Mission Committee of Warwick and Wooden Fender are hosting a concert and dance with music by the Magic Mojo Band (formerly Not Just Rita Band) at Warwick Town Hall, 12 Athol Road, on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. The Magic Mojo Band, led by vocalist Rita Tolman, plays a mix of alternative, bluesy roots and rock.
Come early to enjoy a pizza dinner — with six different kinds of pizza — from 5:30 to 7 p.m. All proceeds will support the local and global mission projects of the Trinitarian Congregational Church of Warwick.
The available food will include a $12 meal deal (two slices of pizza, salad, drink, dessert), $8 meal deal (one slice of pizza, salad, drink, dessert), or $5 per slice a la carte.
If you’re just coming for the music, a $5 donation is requested.
Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.