Bromberg, Havens headline Falcon Ridge fest

By Dale OttPrint Story | Email Story
Grand Finale from the Main Stage last year, featuring The Nields, Tracy Grammer, Girlyman, Vance Gilbert and John Gorka. All are scheduled to appear at this year's Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. (Photo by Craig Harris)
What a spectacle it must be for the big draft horses that live on Long Hill Farm in nearby Hillsdale, N.Y. Their mouths still watering from watching the Brennan family get the last of the hay off the surrounding meadows, they get to watch the transformation of “their” farm into a nationally recognized folk music festival. The 16th annual Falcon Ridge Folk Festival will be held at the farm on Route 23, just west of South Egremont, Thursday, July 22, through Sunday, July 25. Boasting more than 40 performers on five stages, Falcon Ridge has a little something for anyone who likes contemporary folk/pop and then some. For instance, in the First Time at Falcon Ridge category, Richie Havens (remember Woodstock 35 years ago?) will perform on the Main Stage Saturday evening. Lowen and Navarro, an LA duo known as much for their songwriting as their performing (Pat Benatar’s “We Belong” as well as hits for The Bangles and Dave Edmunds, among others) will also make their first appearance at Falcon Ridge this year, as will the David Bromberg Quintet and Steve Forbert. Bromberg, who played on albums by Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr and some 100 other artists, became known in the ’70s as an outstanding acoustic blues and traditional music guitar picker as well as an interesting songwriter. According to Anne Saunders, Falcon Ridge artistic director, Bromberg is returning to serious touring this summer after many years in the violin-building trade. Falcon Ridge is also expanding its horizons by offering artists in genres only rarely presented there in the past, including reggae (Inner Visions), jamgrass (Snake Oil Medicine Show) and the hard-to-categorize sound of Aoife O’Donovan and Crooked Still from the Boston area. “They do extremely traditional songs with somewhat contemporary arrangements,” Saunders said. “She [O’Donovan] has a very haunting, ethereal voice and they’re world-class musicians.” According to Saunders, their instrumentation – standup bass, cello, banjo and vocals – makes them as interesting as their choice of material. Returning Falcon Ridge favorites include Tracy Grammer, The Nields, John Gorka, Eddie From Ohio and Greg Brown. Friday afternoon on the Main Stage remains dedicated to the New Artist Showcase – short sets by 24 artists, both solo and small groups, chosen from some 600 applicants each year. The audience gets to vote on its favorites, and the top choices get a Main Stage set next year. Many of the artists appearing on the Main Stage will also perform on the Workshop Stage. These appearances frequently involve six or eight artists discussing techniques and performing music, usually related to a topic such as the blues, humorous songs or songwriting. New this year will be a tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter on the Workshop Stage Friday afternoon. One of the most uniquely successful areas of the festival is the Dance Tent, 9,000 square feet of wooden floor under a giant tent. That’s almost a quarter of an acre, and it’s in operation up to 16 hours a day during the festival. There will be everything from basic workshops in contra, square, swing, Lindy Hop, Cajun, Zydeco and family dancing to lots of dances for more experienced dancers, including Kathryn Wedderburn’s infamous extreme contras. Bands performing will include such regional favorites as Airdance, The Zucchini Brothers and Big Bandmonium, and there will be contemporary western swing from The Spurs with Mark Erelli, Cajun music from Charivari and quirky polkas from Brave Combo. In addition to Wedderburn, callers and instructors will include Beth Molaro, Paul Rosenberg, Ralph Sweet, Kathy Anderson and Patty O’Brien Melita. Another tradition that will continue this year is the Summer’s Eve Song Swap, closing out the Main Stage on Friday night, Saunders said. Four of folk’s best-known singer/songwriters will be on stage together, trading songs and sometimes joining in on harmonies or backup guitar. This year the artists will be Greg Brown, Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell and Eliza Gilkyson. Falcon Ridge has a staffed first aid tent and 24-hour security. Craft vendors and artisans will be set up on the midway, along with food vendors to suit many tastes. Saunders said many vendors from previous festivals are returning, including the ever-popular Sicilian whole-wheat pizza and the colorful and tasty Caribbean specialties booth. Tickets are available for individual days and for the weekend camping and non-camping by calling 866-325-2744 or on the Web site www.falconridgefolk.com. If you like your music in daylong chunks offering lots of variety, check out Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Just remember to bring along sunscreen, a comfortable chair and your appetite.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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