Old Country Road (L-R Standing): Ron Jackson guitar, vocals; Dan Pilachoski, guitar. (Seated): Peter McLean dobro, Dave Helman, bass, Mark Leveille, mandolin. (PHOTO SUBMITTED)
HUNTINGTON – After a year-long break, live music is returning. The North Hall Association’s annual Arts Festival 2021 is hosting five free one-hour live music outdoor concerts on Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. on the Huntington Town Common Green in August and September.
Concerts will be subject to current Covid-19 restrictions with social distancing and masks as required. There will be no intermission or refreshments, and no indoor facility use. Concerts are fair weather dependent and will be cancelled for inclement weather. It is advisable to check the website for weather cancellation at noon on the day of the concert.
The concerts begin on Aug. 1 with the Khalif Neville Trio. Keyboardist and composer Khalif Neville and his trio blend traditional jazz forms with styles of funk, R&B and hip-hop drawn from New Orleans groove and contemporary influences.
The Wild Thyme Band performs on Aug.15 with Celtic folk music, drawing from the rich repertoire of Irish and Scottish traditional music and some French Celtic music.
On Aug. 29, Old Country Road-brings vintage country, dedicated to keeping the sound of “true” country music.
On Sept.12, is The Bob Sparkman Trio. Bob Sparkman on clarinet, Jerry Noble on piano and Kara Noble on electric bass take the audience on a journey through traditional jazz and the American Songbook.
The festival ends on Sept. 19 with Jose Gonzalez & Criollo Clásico playing blends of classical, folk, and contemporary Latin rhythms.
North Hall is also continuing to stream Virtual Music with the LISTEN TO links at www.northhallhuntington.org. One new addition is a wonderful video by the Bob Sparkman Trio presenting “Blues In B Flat.” Others include Tenor Antonio Abate with piano accompanist Jerome Tan performing “Bringing Joy to Others” in a concert performed at Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Several local performers who have played at the Open Mic Music Jams including Larry Tully, Jeff Penn and Ed Bentley, as well as Khalif Neville with music from his album WISHIN.’ Jerry Noble of The Bob Sparkman Trio shares his “Songs of Hope”, a series of duets for and with various musicians, and Old Country Road Band shares vintage country music videos performed at different venues.
This season’s events are made possible with the support of the Mass Cultural Council and the Arts Councils of Chester, Cummington, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Russell, Westhampton and Worthington.
