Weekend - June 13, 2024

For

LIVE WIRE: Michael Franti, Kiefer Sutherland and more coming to area, D3

JAZZ WEEKEND: Django in June brings jazz concerts to Academy of Music, D4

EDGAR ALLEN POE: 52 Sumner to host speakeasy event with cocktail pairings, D4

Vacation vibes

Jimmy Buffett tribute band brings vacation vibes to MGM Springfield

Changes in Latitudes bringing their tropical rock to casino’s concert series

By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com

Get ready to enjoy a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” — or get wasted away in “Margaritaville” — at MGM Springfield Friday when Changes in Latitudes takes the stage. Changes in Latitudes — which describes itself as “America’s Premier Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show” — is playing the casino as part of MGM Springfield’s Free Music Fridays, Summer Edition.

Steve Kareta is lead vocalist and guitarist of Changes in Latitudes and its founder. Together with a band that ranges from eight to 10 people, depending on the year, Kareta strives to keep Buffett’s style of tropical rock alive. Joining him are Hilory Wagner, vocals; Phil Andres, steel pan drums and percussion; Gary Osborn, bass guitar; Geoff Wadhams, keyboards, pedal steel guitar and vocals; Jay DeNigris, guitar and vocals; Scott Ciprari, drum kit; Rob Dauphinais,

drum kit; Mike Paglione, saxophone; and Jon Berman, saxophone.

Buffett died in September 2023, but he leaves behind a legacy of “not just music, but a lifestyle,” says Kareta.

In a phone interview, Kareta talked about keeping the music of Buffett alive and what concertgoers can expect at Friday’s show. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q. Can you tell me a little bit about how the band got together?

A. The band’s been together for 23 years. Back in the day, we kind of just were Parrot

Changes in Latitudes, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, will play MGM Springfield’s Free Music Fridays concert series. (PHOTO COURTESY STEVE KARETA)

George Lenker

Michael Franti, Kiefer Sutherland and more coming to area

AS WE ARE JUST about to hit the official start of summer, plenty of great musical events have come flying across the Live Wire desk, so today we look at some of the most interesting ones that are right around the corner.

In chronological order: First up is the kickoff of the “33 Outside” dance party series produced by the Northampton Center for the Arts. Held outdoors at 33 Hawley St., the first event is Friday at 7:30 and will feature DJs from the Peace & Rhythm collective spinning “head-nodding, feel-good, body-moving music” as envisioned by board member Carlos Rec McBride, a multimedia artist, educator, and DJ. The night will also feature food from Vegan Pizza Land and a selection of beer, wine, hard seltzer and non-alcoholic drinks for sale.

The other “33 Outside” events will be held on July 14 and Aug. 9.

Next is a Saturday concert by renowned local guitarist Peter Blanchette and notable violinist Charlotte Malin who will present new arrangements of everything from music from as far back as the 15th century to piano pieces by contemporary

Heads ourselves. We would go see Jimmy Buffett when he came to town. One thing led to another — I started a band to just have some fun in the summer, and it took off. The band got lucky in the beginning, we hit it at the right time before tribute bands were crazy popular. There were only a few in the region. We did a lot of the East Longmeadow summer concert series, Agawam summer concert series, and the Jimmy Buffett thing really appealed to a lot of the adults that were looking to have a good time. We hit it right at the right time. I know there’s a bunch of bands out there that play Jimmy Buffett, but most of them are five-piece bands or so, and these days we’re anywhere from eight to 11 pieces depending on who’s around this weekend (laughs). It’s pretty crazy.

Q. What is that like, working with such a large band?

A. It’s a blast. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by really, really talented musicians. It’s a big machine. Once it gets up and rolling, it’s pretty intense to listen to with all the stuff that’s going on. And to be fair, Jimmy Buffett had a lot of people on stage, anywhere from 12 to 17 depending on which iteration of the band you’re talking about. So to be accurate, we kind of have to be that large to begin with, but it’s really nice because there’s a lot of colors that go on with the band. There’s a lot of stuff that you don’t see in a normal band around the area — like steel pan drums, island drums, things like that.

Q. Twenty-three years is an impressive amount of time for any band to be together, especially a tribute band. What would you say is your key to success?

A. Picking people that have good energy, as opposed to picking people that are virtuosos. Not that my band players aren’t amazing players, but

“You

can’t fake it. You can’t pretend, you can’t get up there and smile and goof on each other if you don’t really enjoy each other’s company. “

Steve Kareta, Changes in Latitudes

you don’t get asked to be in the band unless you have a great personality and can roll with the challenges of being on the road. Anybody that joins the band when we’re looking to replace somebody, the first thing is that we don’t put ads out anywhere, we actually word-of-mouth it. If we need a new bass player, we just start asking around, and people go “oh, I’ve got the guy that’s good for this band.” Because it’s been around for so long, the band has a solid reputation throughout the region and across the country, so if we’re looking for somebody, somebody will know the right guy or right girl for the job. And if somebody says “hey, go see so-and-so,” I’ll go see them play somewhere else or look them up on YouTube, and I will meet up with them away from the band world. I’ll go get a coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts with them and just sit for an hour and talk, and see if they’re easy to get along with or if they’re challenging to get along with. Once you get past that process, then you get a shot at being in the band. ’Cause you’ve gotta get along. The road is hard, period.

Q. We lost Buffett in 2023. What would you say the legacy is that he’s left behind?

A. Well, he started a whole new musical genre, so to speak. There’s a genre called trop rock, as in tropical rock. It’s obviously the island vibe — beaches and palm trees. The laid-back thing was really his whole thing, and it wasn’t just his music, it was a lifestyle. That’s why it appeals to a lot of adults that come to see the band, because everybody’s looking for that laidback, vacation kind of feel. That’s definitely his legacy, and we have been fortunate. Changes in Latitudes has four CDs of orig-

inal music, our own songs — my songs — and we have had most of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band play with us at one point or another, either on recording or live or both. We’ve been connected to the whole Jimmy Buffett camp for a very long time. When Buffett passed, I called most of them and offered my condolences, and we’re all still in contact, waiting to see what’s going to happen. You never know who could show back up on my stage again.

Q. How do you and your band work to uphold that legacy?

A. The easy way is to just have fun on stage and to share that enjoyment and that joy. People look at the band and they go “wow, you guys look like you’re having such a good time on stage.” It’s because we are. You can’t fake it. You can’t pretend, you can’t get up there and smile and goof on each other if you don’t really enjoy each other’s company.

That goes all the way back to when you build the band, you pick people that are enjoyable to be with. That’s really what it comes down to is sharing that fun, sharing that joy of making this music that people like.

Q. Do you yourself have any favorite songs to perform?

A. The ones we have to do are a group of songs that the Parrot Heads — the Jimmy Buffett fans — call the “Great 8.” It’s the eight songs — and it’s probably nine or 10 now — that everybody knows, like “Margaritaville” and “Volcano” and “Changes in Latitudes.” But what a lot of people don’t realize is that Jimmy Buffett had well over 40 albums of music that he put out over his lifetime, not including live ones, so there’s a lot to choose from. Our favorite songs through the course of a show or season are the ones that are deeper cuts. The ones that we’ll play and only a handful of people in the audience will recognize. Those are the songs that are more fun to play — not that playing “Margaritaville” isn’t fun, because as soon as you start playing that, everybody gets up and screams and yells (laughs). It’s

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

HANDS-ON

HANDS-ON FAMILY

All that jazz

Concerts will be held Friday, Saturday at Academy of Music as part of Django in June

By K eith O ’C onnor

Special to The Republican

At the age of 16 while still in high school, Max O’Rourke attended Django Camp in Northampton to learn more about jazz manouche, also referred to as hot club-style jazz.

Now years later, O’Rourke is teaching at this week’s Django Camp and this weekend will participate in one of two concerts at Northampton’s Academy of Music to highlight for the public the subgenre of jazz.

Friday’s concert features Brad Brose and his Bad Bros along with Jean-Claude Laudat and Jean-Yves Dubanton, while O’Rourke and his band will perform on Saturday along with Les Violons de Bruxelles.

Both shows begin at 7:30 p.m.

Jean Reinhardt, better known by his Romani nickname Django, was an innovative Romani-Belgian jazz guitarist and composer considered to be one of the most innovational European musicians of the 20th century. He is credited as the “father” of jazz manouche dating back to the 1930s in Paris playing alongside violinist Stephane Grappelli in the Quintette du Hot Club de France. Jazz manouche is characterized by its rapid, unique form of strumming on the rhythm guitar.

The weeklong Django Camp at Smith College, which began on Monday and ends Sunday morning, gives musicians the opportunity to immerse themselves in jazz manouche under the tutelage of world-class artists from both sides of the Atlantic. It

Bringing works of Edgar Allen Poe to life at 52 Sumner

By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com

“Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing.” — Edgar Allen Poe

52 Sumner, Springfield’s newest performing arts venue located in the home of an old church, will be going dark this weekend for a unique Edgar Allen Poe speakeasy event today to Saturday. Poe, born in 1809, is a poet and author whose tales of mystery and the macabre have captivated readers for centuries, long after his death on Oct. 7, 1849. Some of his most popular works include “The Raven,” “A Dream within a Dream,” and “Annabel Lee.”

this person as their “macabre mixologist” — will be serving up four cocktails.

The Pale Blue Eye will be a refreshing light blue cocktail made with blueberry vodka, fresh lemon juice, rose syrup and topped with La Croix. The Cocktail of Red Death will be a bright vibrant cocktail made with 100-proof vodka, cherry herring, benedictine liquor, lime juice, pineapple juice and bitters. Edgar’s Twisted Brandy Milk Punch is equal parts Kentucky Bourbon and French Brandy, mixed with vanilla cream, milk syrup and half and half. The Nevermore will be a black and golf cocktail fueled by orange peach blossom vodka, lime juice and “secret spices.”

was started in 2007 by guitarist Andrew Lawrence.

“I went to France in 2003 on the 50th anniversary of Django’s death to attend one of the big jazz festivals dedicated to this style of jazz. When I walked into the campground, people were jamming and just hanging out together, and I realized right away that this was a very different style of jazz guitar playing ... the improvisation, the right hand technique and strumming style... and I had never heard American jazz guitarists back home play in that way,” Lawrence said.

That give him an idea.

“When I returned home it occurred to me, although North Americans have been playing Django’s music for a long time, they were playing it with a strong American accent because many had never seen it performed in European style. I thought others would be interested in learning how the Europeans do it. So, I brought several guitarists over to demonstrate their

More than a century-anda-half after his death, this 21-and-older event “brings the most beloved works of Poe to life off the page and onto the stage,” according to the event website.

The speakeasy is described as an interactive theater experience, pairing dramatic readings of Poe’s most famous short stories with cocktails. The bartender — the speakeasy team describes

The show is expected to be an hour and 30 minutes long, with different seatings available on each day. Reservations are required, and attendance is limited to those 21 and older with a valid ID. Tickets range from $48 to $55, depending on the showtime. All tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit edgarallanpoebar.com.

SPRINGFIELD

Brad Brose and his Bad Bros will play the Academy of Music on Friday for the Django in June weekend.

Nightclubs

THURSDAY

Delaney House: Luther Johnson. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke

Northampton Brewery: Bands On Brewster 2024: Avery Joi. 11 Brewster Court, Northampton

The Drake: Narasca.Amber Wolfe Rounds/Ben Richter. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst

Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield

FRIDAY

Delaney House: New Leaf. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke

MGM Springfield: Free Music

Fridays: Changes in Latitudes. 1 MGM Way, Springfield

The Drake: Evan Arntzen Group. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: The Many I Am-Offical Franklin County Pride Kick Off Event. 289 Main St., Greenfield

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: NaHali Rise. 289 Main St., Greenfield

The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmead-

Live Wire

CONTINUES FROM PAGE D3

classical/jazz/pop world composer Chilly Gonzales. For the earlier music, Malin plays the viola, which Blanchette said “gives a sound very much like the ubiquitous ‘lute and viol’ repertoire of the 16th to 18th centuries.”

The 7:30 p.m. concert will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 361 Sumner Ave. in Springfield. Tickets are $10, available through Eventbrite or at the door (cash only).

On June 19, Michael Franti & Spearhead bring their Togetherness Tour with special guests Stephen Marley and Bombargo to the Summer Stage at Tree House Brewing Co. in South Deerfield at 5:30 p.m.

Franti, a globally recognized musician, activist and award-winning filmmaker has earned three Billboard No. 1s with hits such as “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say

ow

Theodores’: Orb Mellon Trio. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield

West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: County Line. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield

SATURDAY

Delaney House: Off Minor Trio. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke

MGM Springfield: MGM Roar Comedy Club: Josh Adam Meyers. 1 MGM Way, Springfield

The Drake: Chains to Change: A Juneteenth Story Slam Event. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: 413SKA: Presents

A SKA & Punk Pride Party. 289 Main St., Greenfield

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Valley Tea Dance: Pride Edition. 289 Main St., Greenfield

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Queer Comedy Show: Max Higgins, Ray Gun, Batboy, Alex Paquin. 289 Main St., Greenfield

SEE NIGHTCLUBS, PAGE D12

Hey (I Love You)” and “I Got You,” as well as six Top 30 Hot Adult Contemporary singles, 10 Top 25 AAA singles and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums.

Spearhead’s “Follow Your Heart” in 2022 debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes Pop Chart. Praised by American Songwriter as “an energizing batch of songs that spotlight the common threads that connect us.”

Last but not least, Kiefer Sutherland will play Northampton’s Iron Horse on June 21 at p.m. Sutherland, best known as an actor for most of his four-decade career, featured in films such as “Stand By Me,” “The Lost Boys,” “Young Guns,” and “A Few Good Men,” as well as the TV series “24.”

But in 2016, he released the first of three studio albums over a period of five years, “Down In A Hole,” “Reckless & Me” and “Bloor Street,” which were followed by an extensive touring schedule of more than 600 live shows.

Dive

SUMMER fun

the water is warming up, offering sunbathers and swimmers the perfect opportunity to dip their toes in the lake. Meanwhile, those who want to get lost in the woods will find countless hiking trails that lead to panoramic views from Adirondack summits. Need more thrills? Spend the day at a theme park or family fun center where there is no shortage of entertainment.

Restaurants are trying to up their flavor profiles

MORE THAN EVER, restaurant customers are craving flavor.

It’s a trend that reflects the growing sophistication of consumer palates and the increasingly diverse nature of the food experiences available in the marketplace. This evolution of the public’s collective taste buds means that restaurant chefs are finding themselves racing to deliver taste experiences that have the requisite “wow factor.”

Sauces have always been the vehicle by which cooks and consumers alike have boosted flavors, and today sauces and condiments are, more than ever, the flavor “goto” at home or when dining out. This quest for taste bud experiences is so dominant that a recent Flavor Consumer Trend report produced by Chicago-based research consultancy Technomic reported that 34% of consumers claim they assess what sauces or condiments are likely to be available when they pick a restaurant.

It’s no surprise, then, that the last few months have seen a proliferation of sauce and condiment offerings at popular fast service chains.

Wendy’s locations this month have introduced four new flavors — Honey BBQ, Garlic Parm, Buffalo, and Spicy Ghost Pepper sauces —

as options with its Chicken Nuggs, making that menu item now available with seven different flavor profiles.

Buffalo Wild Wings is serving a pineapple-infused Luau BBQ sauce, and Sonic DriveIn locations are introducing a new “Groovy Sauce,” which blends ranch flavors with

Celtics’ NBA Finals run sparks wine memories

THE LAST TIME

the Boston Celtics won an NBA Championship was in 2008.

This month, the Celtics hope to secure a record 18th NBA title. (They’re currently tied with the Los Angeles Lakers at 17 NBA titles apiece.)

If the Celtics prevail this month, you can be sure that many players will be celebrating with wine.

And we’re not just talking about the Champagne players often sadly spray all over the winning team’s locker room. (What a waste, but that’s another story I’ve written about before.)

We’re talking about all sorts of wines from all over the world.

That’s because many NBA players are obsessed with wine.

Many avidly collect wine.

A few have special suitcases for carrying wine bottles and glasses on the road during the season. (LeBron James has one.)

Sriracha. The sauce is being promoted as a dip for the brand’s reformulated Groovy Fries.

This sauce mania is not just about condiment packets handed out with menu items, either. Increasingly, high profile spicy or spicy-sweet sauces are an integral part of a dish, often drenching the product as a way of delivering the flavor intensity consumers say they crave.

Restaurant chains are also engaging in crossover marketing of their sauces, partnering with consumer product manufacturers to get a dining brand’s flavor formulas onto grocery store shelves. Subway, with its sandwich sauces,

The list of players who have their own wine labels is long and includes some of the best-known current and former players, including Stephen Curry, Dwyane Wade and James Harden.

Don’t believe me?

Just ask Kendrick Perkins.

The former Boston Celtics player talked about wine and the NBA during a recent wine tasting at Prima Italian Steakhouse in Boston hosted by Jackson Family Wines, whose flagship wine brand, Kendall-Jackson, is the official wine partner of the NBA.

Perkins also talked a lot about the Celtics’ 2008 championship season, which he was a part of 16 years ago.

And in honor of that championship season, the recent Jackson Family Wines tasting in Boston featured

wines from the 2008 vintage. (You can see my wine tasting notes below for the 2008 wines.)

Many Celtics fans still probably vividly remember 2008. Before the season even started, expectations were high, thanks to newly signed superstars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The team also featured fan favorites Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo.

But like wine, simply having the best players doesn’t always guarantee that a team will be successful. There often needs to be just the right blend to make the best possible team or wine.

And Perkins believes the team got that winning recipe right during the Celtics’ preseason games in London and Rome.

“It was the reason we won the championship,” Perkins said at the recent Jackson Family Wine tasting in Boston. “You have so many different personalities and you go back and ask anyone from the (Celtics) organization… and they will tell you there were so many different personalities.”

But during those preseason games in Europe, all those different personalities got to know each other well.

“We didn’t have television, they didn’t tell us how to pack right so a lot of our phones were dead,” Perkins said. “It forced us to

Sonic Drive-In has introduced new Groovy Fries with Groovy Sauce.

Dewey’s Jazz Lounge in Springfield will be offering a Father’s Day Brunch on the Patio. Above, a drink is poured at the restaurant. (FILE PHOTO)

Hugh Robert Off The Menu

Ken Ross Wine Press

Four Star Farms’ Chris Sellers: ‘We live in an amazing state to drink beer’

I’D LOVE TO TELL YOU that Chris Sellers once made one of the best double IPAs I’ve ever had. But that wouldn’t be exactly correct.

Sellers actually made several of the best double IPAs I’ve ever had.

When he was brewer at The People’s Pint in Greenfield, Sellers would tweak the recipe on his double IPA every batch, and almost every one of them was better than the previous one.

After 13 years at The People’s Pint, Sellers decided to move on and is now co-owner and brewer at The Brewery at Four Star Farms in Northfield, which not only features great beer, but also offers some of the most beautiful vistas from its outdoor beer garden, including views of the very

ingredients used in making the beer there. I asked Sellers about his career and, of course, beer in general.

On how he got started in brewing: I caught the brewing bug after graduating from college when I started homebrewing. I started to visit more and more breweries and talked to brewers who were very

welcoming. I moved to the Pioneer Valley in 2007 to share a summer sublet with my brother, who was already living here, with the intent of trying to get my foot in the door at a local brewery. I had a connection at a couple of the breweries but ultimately was hired at The People’s Pint in Greenfield. I labeled bottles, sold and delivered beer, washed kegs, etc., etc., until I decided to attend the Master Brewers Association Brewing and Malting Science certificate program at The University of Wisconsin.

On what appeals to him about his current position: The Brewery at Four Star Farms has given me the rare opportunity to work closely with ingredients grown right

be around one another and learn about one another. That was the great thing about it. We got to learn about each other and our families. And if you have a special relationship with someone off the floor … then when you get between the lines (on the basketball court) with those guys, there’s going to be no boundaries. I’m going to go all in, whatever it is. So I think being away for three weeks was the best thing that happened for our season.”

That bond between teammates became even stronger throughout the season, especially during away game airplane rides, Perkins added.

“We actually used to enjoy plane rides traveling to different cities,” Perkins said. “It was the best thing for us. It was like a clubhouse.”

Some guys were playing cards. Others were playing music. And because of all those distractions, the coaching staff couldn’t work and

everyone was hanging out together on those away game plane rides.

Gourmet peanut butter and jelly sandwiches requested by Garnett for the entire team may have also been a secret ingredient to the Celtics’ 2008 success.

But enough about PB&Js and away game plane rides.

How did the NBA become so obsessed with wine?

Many articles have been written about this fascinating topic. Some trace the NBA’s love affair with wine back to Gregg Popovich, the San Antonio Spurs head coach and a confessed wine aficionado. (He’s a co-owner of A to Z Wineworks in Oregon and had a 3,000 bottle stone wine cellar custom built in his backyard.)

Other origin stories often involve Carmelo Anthony, the former NBA player who also owns a wine label — VII(N) The Seventh Estate — in California.

The bottom line is the love affair between the NBA and wine is alive and flourishing.

Perkins was personally

introduced to wine by LeBron James when they were playing together on the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015.

“The first time, I was in Cleveland,” Perkins said during the recent Boston wine tasting. “There was Kevin Love, LeBron. We got there and usually when we (NBA players) get together, it would be Hennessey we’re drinking,” referring to Cognac, the popular French brandy. “Instead, they were popping open bottles of red wine. That was my first time ever experiencing wine. And then I started seeing more and more guys talking about wine.”

Perkins then explained why he thinks so many NBA players love wine, including many current younger players in the league.

“It’s something, it’s a special time, it’s the right time for all this to come together because I always say this new generation of players … my grandmother would say they have old souls,” Perkins said. “They have old souls and that’s what they do and it’s a great thing.”

Old Souls — sounds like the

perfect name for another NBA wine venture.

Wine tasting notes

2008 Stonestreet Red Point Chardonnay

Misty, dense white wine with subtle hints of caramel, sea salt and floral-like aromas and flavors. There’s a hint of sweetness as well in the first few sips which quickly evolves into ethereal fog-like notes. It’s also astounding how bright and vibrant the fruit flavors are for this 16-year-old California chardonnay.

2008 Freemark Abbey

Howell Mountain Merlot

Freemark Abbey has long been one of the best-known and most-respected wineries in California. This outstanding wine illustrates why. Spicy, flinty and peppery straight out of the bottle, these intense lively flavors take about 20 minutes to mellow out. Once they do, the wine tastes silky smooth with soft fruit flavors (especially blackberry) and subtle tobacco notes.

2008 Veritae La Muse

Wine critic Robert Parker gave this wine a score of 100

out of 100. Made with 90% merlot, 7% cabernet franc and 3% malbec grapes, this flinty, intense, spicy wine also needs time to open up and evolve in the glass. That’s when its soft yet powerful flavors and aromas (cherry, sandalwood, plum, wet soil) emerge and linger after each amazing taste. Let me add this wine tastes great now and will age gracefully for decades as well.

2008 Cardinale

Another blended red wine (92% cabernet sauvignon and 8% merlot), this complex, charismatic wine has bright, vibrant flavors straight out of the bottle, including hints of raspberry, cherry and black currant. Give this voluptuous wine 30 minutes in the glass and those intense flavors become even more lively and yet subtle at the same time. Another outstanding wine that tastes great now and will age well for years.

Cheers!

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.

George Lenker Beer Nut

Chris Sellers is co-owner and brewer at The Brewery at Four Star Farms in Northfield. (PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS SELLERS)

and Texas Roadhouse, with that chain’s two steak sauces, are two of the most recent to venture into supermarket sales.

Side dishes

• Mother’s Day is definitely a top-tier dining out occasion, but what about Father’s Day? Well, not so much; Dad’s Day food memes are typically associated with backyard barbecues, not restaurant visits.

Those preconceptions haven’t prevented some local eateries from promoting Father’s Day, however.

Leena’s Place in Belchertown is offering a special menu on Sunday that includes a Rib and Chicken Plate; a meat lovers’ Parrillada plate that incorporates, ribs, chicken, sausage, flank steak and more; Lobster Ravioli with sauteed shrimp, and a Papa Burger garnished with candied bacon, fried jalapenos, and a sweet chili aioli.

Vanished Valley Brewing Company in Ludlow is hosting a Father’s Day brunch on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The brunch menu will incorporate both breakfast and lunch favorites, with a special thrown in to kick things up a notch.

Reservations, which are recommended, can be made by calling 413-610-1572.

Dewey’s Jazz Lounge in downtown Springfield is organizing a Father’s Day Cookout on the Patio.

The family-friendly fun will run from 1 to 5 p.m.; the menu will include ribs, chicken wings, burger sliders, potato salad, and mac & cheese.

Tickets, which are $20 plus a convenience fee, can be ordered at https://bit.ly/ fathers-day-cookout.

• The Irish House Restaurant at the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England in West Springfield is currently running a Thursday Burger Nights promotion.

Each week the kitchen will be featuring a different selection of burger inspirations, such as a Bourbon-glazed

burger or a Reuben burger garnished with sliced corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing.

Burgers served with an “Irish pint” from the bar are half-price.

The Irish House Restaurant can be reached at 413-3424358.

• On June 26 starting at 6 p.m., the Table 3 Restaurant Group in Sturbridge will be hosting an Indian Cuisine Patio Dinner at The Barn at Wight Farm, Table 3’s function venue.

Two of Table 3’s chefs, Deven Senior and Tony Pitts, will be collaborating to create an al fresco feast based on the rich culinary traditions of South Asia.

Tickets for the Patio Dinner are $55; for more details contact the Barn at Wight Farm at 774-241-8450.

• The Wilbraham Peach Blossom Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday at Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Wilbraham.

Sponsored by Country Bank, the Festival will operate noon until 6:30 p.m. each day, with food trucks, live music, and a craft fair as well as a baking fair and a pie eating contest.

• On Thursday, June 20 starting at 6 p.m., Tucker’s Restaurant in Southwick is hosting a beer dinner featuring malt beverages produced by the Connecticut Valley Brewing Company of South Windsor, Connecticut.

Chef Michael Anderson’s four-course menu begins with grilled asparagus garnished with feta cheese; the salad course is to be mixed greens with coconut shrimp.

Roast sirloin of beef, green beans almandine, and a potato medley is planned as the main course, while dessert is to be a moolicious chocolate ice cream float made with the Brewing Company’s “Campers Coffee Stout.”

Flavor-compatible Connecticut Valley brews will be poured with each course.

Tickets for the dinner, which are $55 all-inclusive, can be purchased by calling 413-569-0120 or by stopping by the restaurant.

THURSDAY

Concerts in the Park Series: Thu., 6:30 p.m. Forest Park, Alex Rohan Band. At the amphitheater. Rain location is Carriage House Tent. Those attending the concert may enter Forest Park through the Sumner Avenue or the Route 5 entrances for free after 5 p.m. on the evenings of the concerts, Free and open to the public. Sumner Avenue, Springfield.

Duryea Way Wine & Beer Garden: Thu, 4-8 p.m. Duryea Way, Worthington and Taylor Streets, Springfield.

Florence Summer Concert Series: Thu, 6:30-8 p.m. Florence Civic Center presents Higher Help. Food truck will be Cousins Maine Lobster, 90 Park St., Florence.

Jazz Film Night: Thu., 7:30 p.m. Northampton Center for the Arts, "Buster Williams Bass to Infinity," $15. 33 Hawley St., Northampton; 413-584-7327 or nohoarts. org.

Lee Mixashawn Rozie and Nina Gross: Thu, 7-9 p.m. LAVA Center, Will perform combination of tradition Native American vocal music and jazz fusion, Free, donations accepted. 324 Main St., Greenfield.

Rainbow LGBTQIA+ & Allies Coffee Social Hour: Thu, South County Senior Center, Meets on the 2nd Thurs. of the month, 22 Amherst Road, Sunderland.

Silverthorne Theater Presents: "The Broken Machine": Thu.-Fri, 7:30 p.m.; Sat, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Hampshire College Theatre, By Liz Duffy Adams, directed by Gina Kaufmann. For tickets or more information, visit silverthornetheater.org/box-office/, $5-$40. 893 West St., Amherst.

FRIDAY

Annual Summer Craft Beer Tasting and Barbecue Event: Capt. Charles Leonard House. This event will be held rain or shine under tents on the grounds. Advance tickets are $45 per person and are available at McCarthy's Liquors, 430 Main St., Joey's Deli and Market, 1226 Springfield St., Feeding Hills. Tickets will be available at the door for $50. This is a 21+ event, bring a valid ID to attend. 663 Main St., Agawam.

Django in June: Fri.-Sat, 7:30 p.m. Academy of Music Theatre, celebrating 20 years of bringing world-class "Gypsy jazz" in the tradition of Django Reinhardt to the Pioneer Valley, $30 advance; $35 day-of. 274 Main St., Northampton; 413-584-9032 or aomtheatre.com.

Majestic Theater Summer 2024: Fri, 7:30 p.m. Screaming Orphans, $28, $26. 131 Elm St., West Springfield. 413-747-7797 or majestictheater.com.

Northampton Education Foundation’s Creative Classrooms Showcase: Fri., 5 p.m. Northampton Center for the Arts, The Northampton Education Foundation celebrates Northampton’s public school teachers and showcases school projects and programs. Free. 33 Hawley St., Northampton, 413-584-7327 or nohoarts.org.

Rainbow LGBTQIA+ & Allies Coffee Social Hour: Fri, 1 p.m. Northampton Senior

CALENDAR

Center, Gay Men's Group, every Fri, 1 p.m., 67 Conz St., Northampton. 413-587-1228 or northamptonseniors.com.

Silverthorne Theater Presents "The Broken Machine": See Thursday listing

Tom Savoy: Fri., 5:30-8:30 p.m. Arrigoni Winery, 1287 Portland-Cobalt Road, Portland.

SATURDAY

Bing Productions Presents: Peter Blanchette with Charlotte Malin: Sat., 7:30 p.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church. Advance seating available at Eventbrite, $10. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield, 413-737-5311.

Chicopee Pride Fest 2024: Sat, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Szot Park, featuring vendors, performers, food, drinks and more. 687 Front St., Chicopee.

Django in June: See Friday listing

Dwight Day: Sat, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dwight Chapel, Featuring history talks, live music, food trucks, children's activities, antique autos and a cemetery tour at Dwight, Free and open to the public. 885 Federal St., Belchertown.

Greenfield Pride Parade and Festival 2024: Sat, noon, Federal Street, Kicks off at noon and ends at Energy Park, followed by the Greenfield Pride Festival at 12:30 p.m., featuring live entertainment, vendors, and more, Federal Street, Greenfield.

Ludlow 250th Semi-quincentennial Celebration Parade: Ludlow High School. The parade kicks off at Ludlow High School on Chapin St. at 10 a.m. This is a rain or shine event. The parade route starts at the high school, heading easterly to the intersection of Chapin and east, where the parade turns right onto East Street. The parade route continues down East street and ends at the War Memorial (Veteran's Memorial Park) by Putts Bridge around 1 p.m., 500 Chapin St., Ludlow.

Songs

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Norah Jones, “Running”: Scuzzy in a good way.

Tori Kelly, “High Water”: This self-affirming pop-soul anthem would’ve owned “TRL.”

Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”: The kill shot from Lamar’s beef with Drake has reached the point where you’re sure to hear it half a dozen times — including from the organist — over the course of a game at Dodger Stadium.

Dua Lipa, “These Walls”: Whether or not we can officially declare “Radical Optimism” a flop, Lipa must be discouraged by the fact that her latest LP sits 30 slots behind Fleetwood Mac’s half-century-old “Rumours” right now on the Billboard 200. And yet! Here’s a luscious soft-rock jam that Christine McVie herself might’ve admired.

Ludlow's 250th Block Party Picnic Celebration: Sat., 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Memorial Park, featuring live music all day and night, fireworks at 9:20 p.m., amusement rides, food trucks, 50+ craft vendors, kids games, 250th merchandise, adult beverages and more, Chestnut and East Streets, Ludlow.

Majestic Theater Summer 2024: Sat., 7:30 p.m. Majestic Theater, Doo-Wop meets Motown, $28, $26. 131 Elm St., West Springfield. 413-747-7797 or majestictheater.com. "On the Boards 24" New Play Readings: Sat., 7 p.m. LAVA Center, "The Female Gaze" by Mary Nelen and "Rouge Flight" by Rex McGregor. Advance tickets available at tixtree. com/o/lava. Admission is on a sliding scale $5-$15 ($1-$2 for Card to Culture participants). 324 Main St., Greenfield.

Silverthorne Theater Presents: "The Broken Machine": See Thursday listing "Someday, Somewhere." The Music of Johnny Anz CD Release Concert: Sat., 6:30 p.m. Center Church, $25 and up. 1 Church St., South Hadley.

SUNDAY

Majestic Theater Summer 2024: Sun., 2 p.m. Majestic Theater, Father's Day Live with Dave & Hailey Brinnel, $28, $26. 131 Elm St., West Springfield. 413-747-7797 or majestictheater.com.

North Hall Arts Festival 2024: Sun, 2 p.m. North Hall Theatre, Tone Forest. Free, donations accepted. 40 Searle Road, Huntington. 413-667-5543 or northhallhuntington.org.

Novi Cantori of Greater Springfield presents “Even Such is Time”: Sun, 4 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, Admission by freewill offering. 121 North Pleasant St., Amherst.

Tom Savoy: Sun, 4-7 p.m. Glendale Ridge Vineyard, 155 Glendale Road, Southampton.

Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help”: “Dukes of Hazzard” reboot in 3, 2, 1…

Mk.gee, “Are You Looking Up”: Imagine John Mayer’s “Sob Rock” as a DIY SoundCloud experiment.

Kacey Musgraves, “Deeper Well”: Walk on the mild side.

Charlie Puth, “Hero”: It’s true, you know — he really should be a bigger artist.

Tommy Richman, “Million Dollar Baby”: Your post-peak Justin Timberlake could never (and indeed with his latest did not).

Chappell Roan, “Good Luck, Babe!”: “When you wake up next to him in the middle of the night/ With your head in your hands, you’re nothing more than his wife.”

Sasha Alex Sloan, “Tiny’s Song (demo)”: Careful — this hushed guitar-and-voice ballad is about a missing pet, and it will destroy you.

Taylor Swift, “But Daddy I Love Him”: Grandly theatrical, righteously aggrieved and witheringly funny, the high point of “The Tortured Poets Department” is a Taylor all-timer.

Tems, “Love Me JeJe”: All the sweat and pleasure of summer in a song.

Xavi, “La Diabla”: Música Mexicana meets Midwestern emo; big feelings — and TikTok virality — ensue.

Springfield Restaurant Week is ongoing through Sunday and restaurants across the city are offering special deals. Above are Birria Tacos, on the menu at Del Rey Taqueria & Bar. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN)

Calendar

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Quadrangle

George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. Through Labor Day, the Springfield Museums are taking part in the Blue Star Museum Initiative. During this time, military personal and their families will be admitted to the museums at no charge. The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States military — Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission to the Springfield Museums is free. For more information, visit springfieldmuseums.org.

Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “Designing Downtown.” Through Sept. 8. Explore the history of downtown Springfield through centuries of plans that were never brought to fruition. Maps, drawings, blueprints, and more documents created by local citizens and nationally known city planners offer a glimpse into Springfield as it could have been and, at the same time, how the modern city came to be. “The 200th Anniversary of the Springfield Republican,” through Jan. 5. “Xavier

Beer

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outside the brewhouse. To bring locally grown ingredients to beer lovers as well as showcasing the beauty of the place they are grown is very rewarding.

On what’s involved running a unique place like Four Star: Everything involved in running a brewery and small business. My fellow co-owners, as well as our front-of-

Riddle and the Secret Museum: The Exhibit,” through Sept. 1. Permanent exhibit: More than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.

Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Frida Kahlo, Her Photos,” through Sept. 8. On the Second Floor of the Wheeler Gallery. “Look Again: Portraits of Daring Women” by Julie Lapping Rivera, through Feb. 23. Museum a la Carte. June 13, 12:15 p.m. “Amasa Holcomb, Pioneer American Telescope Maker;” $4, free for members. Presented by Ed Faits, retired computer programmer and Springfield Stars Club member.

Springfield Science Museum: “Did the Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs?.” Sat. through Aug. 31, 2 p.m. This full-dome show uncovers the science behind one of Earth’s greatest mysteries: the fate of dinosaurs. Audiences will explore impacts, cosmic collisions, and different types of evidence that can be found on the moons and plantets of our solar system. “Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies,” through Sept. 1. This hands-on exhibition offers and astounding array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all over the globe. Permanent exhibit: State-of-the-Art Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station Exhibit.

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. First floor exhibition provides opportunities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia. For tickets, visit springfieldmuseums.org.

Quadrangle admission - $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and

members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Museums

Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Permanent exhibits include spaceship, construction site, library, grocery store, and weekday activities. Hours: Tue.-Tue., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Open for groups Wed. $8 adults; $8 children (12 months and older); $4 grandparents/seniors (60+); military personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of regular admission; members/infants free. 29 South Broad St., Westfield or ameliaparkmuseum.org.

Amherst History Museum: “Cambodians in Amherst Exhibit: A History of the Khmer Community.” Through Nov. 9, Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and other days by appointment. For more information, visit amherst history.org. 67 Amity St., Amherst Anchor House of Artists: Rotating art exhibits, self-staged by fine regional talents. The best least-known gallery in the Pioneer Valley. Free public receptions on the 2nd Fri. of the month from 5-8 p.m. email artists@anchorhouseartists.org, anchorhouseartists.org; 413-5884337. Arts Night Out, 2nd Friday every month, monthly, 5-8 p.m.

Berkshire Museum: “The Animal Art of Julie Bell,” through Sept. 29. Berkshire Museum’s annual gala will celebrate the work of Bell and host her as an honored guest on Saturday, June 15, 5-9 p.m. For tickets to the gala, visit berkshiremuseum. org/events-exhibits/behind-theveil-gala/. 39 South St., Pittsfield. Children’s Museum at Holyoke: Permanent exhibit includes the Wiggle and Wash Vet Clinic, a toddler merry-go-round and a STEM-based cash register for kids. Hours: Tues.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., noon-4 p.m.

Closed Mon. Admission: Children & adults $8; Seniors (62+) $5; children under 1 and members are free. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or childrens museumholyoke.org.

East Longmeadow Historical Commission Museum: Permanent exhibit: Historical artifacts. Featured at the museum are East Longmeadow artifacts pertaining to the quarries, local Native Americans, period clothing, the railroad system, and much more. Hours: 1-3 p.m. on the 3rd Saturday of the month, Sept - June, weather permitting. 87 Maple St., East Longmeadow

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: Permanent exhibit: Gabrielle Healy Carroll Storytime Programs are held Tues. and Fri. 10:30 a.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m., free with admission. Museum hours: Weds.-Fri, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. $6, $9, $22.50 for a family of four, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or carlemuseum.org.

Historic Deerfield: “Unnamed Figures: Black Presence and Absence in the Early American North.” Through Aug. 4. “Vermont Furniture from the Alley Collection.” Through Nov. 30. Family Program: “Swirls and Swags: Fun with Ceramic Designs,” June 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30, 12 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Play at the History Workshop and explore the work of Thomas Commeraw, a free Black potter of early New York whose ceramics are featured in the Unnamed Figures Exhibition at the Flynt Center. Come learn about his work and decorate a small clay pot inspired by his designs. Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration: “In Season Now.” June 15, 22, 29, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at Hall Tavern. The dishes this month are “Cook’s Choice.” “Gunsmithing with Richard Colton,” June 15, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 80 Old Main St., Deerfield or historic-deerfield.org.

Historic Northampton Museum

and Education: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Wed.-Sun. noon-5 p.m. $5 suggested donation, 46 Bridge St., Northampton or historic-northampton.org.

Holyoke Heritage State Park: Permanent exhibit. Visitor Center open Tues.-Sun, noon-4 p.m. 221 Appleton St., Holyoke, 413-534-1723.

Norman Rockwell Museum: “Mystery and Wonder: Highlights from the Illustration Collection.” Through June 16. Explore the captivating worlds of mystery and wonder in this exhibition featuring highlights from the Norman Rockwell Museums Permanent Collection. Online Exhibit: “Imagining Freedom,” $5 fee. “What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine,” through Oct. 27. This exhibition explores the unforgettable art and satire of MAD, from its beginnings in 1952 as a popular humor comic book to its emergence as a beloved magazine that spoke truth to power and attracted generations of devoted readers through the decades. Advance tickets purchase required; Closed Tues. and Wed.; In July and Aug, museum open Tuesdays noon7 p.m. $20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retire military; $10 college students, free children ages 18 and under, members and active military, 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or nrm.org. Smith College Museum of Art: Second Friday: “Art and Light.” June 14, from 4–8pm, drop in for hands-on art making activities in the museum atrium inspired by Alma Thomas’s painting “Morning in the Bowl of Night,” along with refreshments. From 4–8pm, drop by the museum’s Cunningham Center for Prints, Drawings and Photographs on SCMA’s second floor for a pop-up exhibition of art by and of LGBTQIA+ artists from the museum’s collection. SCMA is free and open to all. Elm Street at Bedford Terrace, Northampton or scma.smith.edu.

house manager and staff in the taproom, work tirelessly to bring the best experience we can to our guests (and) bring our guests closer to their beer ingredients. Brewing great beer is the highlight, but I also have to scrub the floors and deliver the occasional keg.

On the importance of local ingredients:

Locally grown ingredients are the future of craft beer. Sure, any brewery can get ingredients from anywhere in the world, but supporting the

local agricultural economy is critical to a resilient supply chain. Whether it is the grain farmers, maltsters, hop growers, or brewers, every dollar spent locally is worth more than a dollar sent further away.

On his outlook for craft beer in Massachusetts especially Western Massachusetts:

In the nearly 18 years I’ve worked in the Western Mass. beer community, I would say that visiting the small, locally owned taprooms keeps your

business local and supports hard-working brewers. There is great beer around every corner in Western Mass.; if we all want this vibrant beer community to continue we need to support it. Go to your local brewery and buy a beer.

On his favorite style to make and/or drink: Lager. It’s complicated, subtle and infinitely complex. I hope one day to make a truly great lager. I’ve made some good ones, but I’m still learning new techniques and tricks every year.

On his passion for craft beer:

The craft beer community is one of the most creative, unique, and exciting. Even as the economics ebb and flow, it is still an industry and a community I am proud to call home.

We live in an amazing state to drink beer filled with dedicated, hardworking brewers and brewery staff that make it amazing.

I hope that I continue to have the privilege in this business and among these fellow brewers I respect.

a lot of fun, but the ones that we like — our favorites — are the deeper cuts.

Q. All of Jimmy Buffett’s songs have such good energy. Do you see a lot of that energy at your show?

A. There are Parrot Head groups throughout the country, and in New England, there’s probably about half a dozen. At any given show, there are definitely groups of Parrot Heads that show up, but there are also families that come out to see the band, especially when we play places like the East Longmeadow Concert Series. Parents bring their kids and it’s OK to have a beach ball, throwing around beach balls. We have kids dance up in front because the music is just so fun.

Nightclubs

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Theodores’: Worthy Craft Beer Showcase. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield

West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Jimmy McArdle and Jerry Murphy. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield

SUNDAY

BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity: LARAAJI - SUNDAY CELES-

TIAL SOUND BATH. 130 Pine St., Florence

BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equi-

Q. Seems like the show is a lot of fun for everyone, even if you’re not necessarily a diehard Buffett fan.

A. Exactly, exactly. We do “Brown-Eyed Girl” — because Jimmy did a great cover of “Brown-Eyed Girl” — we do “Margaritaville,” we do “Volcano” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” I tell people all of the time that you know more Jimmy Buffett songs than you think you do.

Q. What can audiences expect at the MGM Springfield show?

A. Oh, God only knows. It’s going to be fun. I’m hoping we’ll have some beach balls there — they’re always on order. We’ll have T-shirts and conga lines. We try to take you to the beach for the duration of the show.

ty: Fiddle Orchestra of Western Mass. Spring Concert. 130 Pine St., Florence

Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield

MONDAY

Uno Chicago Grill: 50% off individual deep dish pizza (dine in only). 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield

The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com or submitted to www.masslive. com/myevent