NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Drury Performing Arts Center will bring the band Whiskey Treaty Roadshow to the high school this Thursday night.

 

Drury performing arts management teacher Jamie Choquette said this semester the DPAM class decided to contact the Western Mass band after seeing a video of them playing James Taylor's "Fire & Rain" on Taylor's official website.

 

"They loved it and immediately contacted them to book the band at Drury," he said.

 

The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow is a collaborative band that brings together five Massachusetts singer-songwriters. They play a mixture of Americana, rock and roots-folk music.

 

The group has played with other popular acts such the Indigo Girls, Deer Tick and the Felice Brothers, headlined the 2015 Shire City Sessions in Pittsfield and will play at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art this March.

 

Thursday's concert, part of the Drury After Dark concert series, will be, as usual, completely student driven.

 

"The DPAM students get to experience this project in ways that goes well beyond the normal boundaries of a high school assignment," Choquette said. "They are given a real budget and work with real award-winning touring artists. It's all real and as the year progresses the shows become more intense."

 

He said students handle every element of the show including contract negotiations, marketing, box office, stage construction, sound, lighting, projections, artist relations and hospitality, and even baking for a bake sale that will be held during the show.

 

Choquette said the Drury After Dark series started off as a student talent show the class produced but has morphed into a venue for the class to feature local bands, national acts and even recently a comedy show. 

 

The show will take place in the pit area of the auditorium on a student-built stage 

 

"This show introduces a new stage layout that the students have been planning all year," Choquette said. "This time around, the students built a stage ... that actually faces the permanent stage. The audience area has been expanded and it looks great."

 

Drury musician Connor Kelly will open for the band.

 

The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 to $10 and can be bought online or at the door.

 

Choquette urged residents to see what the students are capable of and noted that DPAM brings high caliber acts that you would often have to travel to go see "right to your doorstep." 

 

"It’s just such a unique learning experience for Drury students and I encourage community members to come witness and support their amazing work," he said. "These students are passionate about these shows and I always think it’s great to see a big crowd supporting their work."