In 2012, the Beehive Queen herself, Christine Ohlman, first performed at the 1794 Meetinghouse on South Main Street in New Salem. She kicked off that season, and since then, she has celebrated more summers at this historic venue than she can remember.

Ohlman will return with her band, Rebel Montez, on Saturday, June 7, at 7:30 p.m. to launch the 32nd season of the Meetinghouse. She promises that she and the band will bring plenty of rock and soul sounds and that her signature “B-Queen” hip shake will be showcased in celebration of opening night.

This performance is also special because it marks the first season under new director Matthew Duncan from Montague, who has taken over for Brad Foster who retired in 2024 after a decade in that role.

Ohlman earned the title “Beehive Queen” due to her iconic platinum-blond beehive hairstyle, which was inspired by the Ronettes, the popular all-female singing group from the 1960s. She is also known for her wraparound sunglasses, leopard-print outfits, and her ability to belt out a tune.

The Beehive Queen is best known as the vocalist for the Saturday Night Live Band, a role she began in 1991 and held for over 30 years. She made a special return this year to participate in the show’s 50th anniversary celebration in February and also sang on the SNL season finale in May.

This past year, she also hosted her friend Paul Shaffer, who led David Letterman’s band on television, for “Television Rocks,” a podcast in conjunction with VersoFest, an annual festival celebrating music, media, and creativity held in Westport, Connecticut.

Ohlman, who made her first record at 16, has had an extensive recording career and this year recorded a song with Dion and appeared on a tribute album for Wilson Pickett. She also has a new album of her own, titled “The Grown-Up Thing,” which is scheduled for release later this year.

Ohlman stressed that she looks forward to returning to one of her favorite venues, the 1794 Meetinghouse, where she will reconnect with the many friends she has made over the years and meet new director Duncan.

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Duncan is a musician himself, playing classical and jazz piano, as well as the accordion and various percussion instruments. He’s been a street performer and has worked in theme parks, aboard cruise ships, and at festivals around the world. A native of Missouri, he moved to Franklin County in 2015 and, with his wife Nicole Nemec, co-founded the popular Montague Porchfest, known as “Good Music Makes Good Neighbors.”

I wanted to know if, in his new role, he would be making any significant changes at the Meetinghouse.

“I wouldn’t say that I have made ‘changes’ per se, but about half of the artists this season were ones I had worked with previously, mostly through ‘Good Music,’” he said in an email exchange. “So, in that sense the palette of offerings at the Meetinghouse has expanded a bit. ‘Good Music’ has moved to an every-other-year model.”

And what an incredible palette it is, encompassing everything from jazz to traditional Balkan folk music, classical, bluegrass, and beyond. As is the tradition, the community-based chorus, Quabbin Valley Pro Musica, who are the resident chorus of the meetinghouse, will also appear on opening weekend, Sunday, June 8, at 4 p.m.

Some of the performers who are also alums of the Good Music Makes Good Neighbors festival include Appalachian folk artists The Klines (June 14), the Latin jazz band Nectar (June 28), cellist Stephen Katz (June 29), and the Myrtle Street Klezmer Band (Sept. 9).

It’s more than the stellar lineup that makes the 1794 Meetinghouse a special place – it is the historic building itself, the fantastic acoustics and being in the classic old New England town of New Salem and, most importantly, the people. Christine Ohlman agrees!

“I love the warmth of the vibration and the ambiance of the room,” she said. “The audience includes so many friends made over the years. Diane Lincoln and Lynn Boudreau are both gems, and I can’t wait to meet Matt, the new director. The Meetinghouse rocks!”

To purchase tickets, get directions, and for more information, visit 1794meetinghouse.org.

Many of you are aware that June is Pride Month and that Franklin County Pride will host a day of celebration on Saturday, June 7. As is customary for such celebrations, there will be plenty of music and it’s all free! The festivities will include a whole afternoon of music at Greenfield Energy Park starting when the parade concludes and the marchers arrive at the park.

The B-52.0’s are scheduled to begin their performance at 1:10 p.m. This Greenfield-based band, which includes members from Home Body, Old Pam, and other local groups, brings a fun twist to the iconic queer new wave band, the B-52s. They will undoubtedly kick off the day with a strong performance.

The remaining lineup will feature a range of artists, including western Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter Pamela Means, indie rocker Miss Christie of Boston, and folk musician Tim Caira from Vermont.

Joining the lineup are Wylder Ayres, the Queer Joy Chorus, Nanoli Brennen, and the local band Two Wrong Turns. This diverse group of performers promises to bring a range of styles and voices to the stage that is sure to have something of interest for everyone.

There will also be drag performers, dancers, speakers and more at the Energy Park. To view the lineup, visit Franklincountypride.org

Please note that Miles Street will be closed during the event, so you will need to park in one of the nearby parking lots.

The festivities will continue with an after party called “Love and Rage” at the Rendezvous in Turners Falls at 9 p.m. Singer/songwriter and guitarist Olivia Nied will be performing and there will be some DJs on hand. The after party will be a great opportunity to unwind and socialize after a day of celebration. Tickets are sliding scale, $5 to $25, with funds going to Franklin County Pride and the artists.

If you were disappointed that you couldn’t get tickets to the Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem show with Darlin’ Corey at the West Whately Chapel on Wednesday, June 11, we have good news for you. The show quickly sold out and there was such a demand for tickets that Watermelon Wednesday, who are putting on this event, have moved it to the Whately Town Hall to accommodate more attendees. The date remains the same and the show is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at watermelonwednesdays.com and I’d move fast on this one.

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.