Safe and Convenient – Local Online Music Opportunities Continue

While area music venues have begun tentative steps towards reinstating live performances, the immuno-compromised, less than fully vaccinated or just plain careful among us may choose to enjoy local music from the comfort and safety of our own homes. If you are in this group, consider these three virtual singer-songwriter events coming up in February.

On Saturday evening, February 5 at 7pm, veteran singer-songwriter and humorist, Don White, will join the monthly Pioneer Valley Folklore Society Song & Story Swap.  This event, hosted for the past twenty years by Amherst musician Paul Kaplan, consists of two parts.  During the first hour or so, attendees are invited to share a song or story on a specific theme – the February 5 theme is Letters.  Following the round of sharing, this month’s featured performer White, will do a 45-minute set.  The Song & Story Swap has been held online via Zoom and YouTube Livestream since the beginning of the pandemic.  To register or learn more visit https://pvfs.us.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, local luminary Annie Patterson has scheduled a February 12, 7pm concert of love songs.  She and her husband Peter Blood are creators of the bestselling folksong sourcebooks Rise Up Singing and Rise Again, and Patterson is an accomplished folk performer and jazz vocalist of the first order.  Sliding scale tickets for the event, titled Love is Here, are available at https://www.riseupandsing.org/events/love-here.

Hybrid music events have been rare in these parts, but the Mount Toby Concerts for Peace and Social Change, have succeeded in offering both Zoom and in-person options for their monthly concert series.  Held at the Mount Toby Friends Meetinghouse in Leverett and produced by longtime music organizer Diane Crowe, the series features Minnesota singer-songwriter and activist Sara Thomsen on February 19 at 7:30pm.  Find ticket information at https://mttobyconcerts.wordpress.com/.