Monthly Song and Story Swap Featuring Pete Nelson

Source: Pioneer Valley Folklore Society

Pioneer Valley Folklore Society’s Monthly Song and Story Swap will feature singer-songwriter and author Pete Nelson on Saturday, September 7 at First Church, 165 Main Street in Amherst from 7-9 p.m. Parking is available in the lot behind the church. Admission is free. Suggested donation to the artist is $7.50

People of all ages gather at these song and story swaps to share stories and songs that are traditional,
newly written, or of personal experiences. You can tell, sing, or lead everyone in singing, or request a song or story.  Attendees will be invited to contribute a song or story on the topic of
“Baseball” during an opening round of sharing. Listeners are welcome

Pete Nelson is a gifted storyteller, whether the medium is the printed page or a song lyric.  His songs comprise two CDs released on the Signature Sounds label, The Restless Boys Club, and Days Like Horses.

Pete received his MFA from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop.  He has published both fiction and non-fiction in a variety of national magazines, including Harpers, Playboy, Esquire, MS, Outside, The Iowa Review, National Wildlife, Glamour and Redbook.  His writing gigs have included work as a columnist for Mademoiselle, a staff writer for LIVE Magazine and a contributing editor and feature writer for Wondertime magazine.  His novel.
I Thought You Were Dead  (Algonquin, April 2010), set in Northampton, tells the story of a man and his beloved talking dog, Stella.  The novel was named an Indie Next #1 Choice and reached the NEIBA Bestsellers List.

In 2022 he collaborated with recording artist Tracy Grammar to bring an original musical play titles “Last Request: A Love Story.”  An early performance was staged at The Drake in Amherst.

Maine Public Radio has described Pete Nelson as “perhaps the best, yet unfortunately least known songwriter in the U.S.”

The monthly Song & Story Swap, now in its twenty-seventh year.

For information contact Paul Kaplan, (413)-687-5002.