Traditional Irish Musical Group, Danú
The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA
Friday, March 16th @ 8pm
Internationally acclaimed traditional Irish musical group, Danú, comes to at the Colonial Theatre on Friday, March 16th at 8pm to ring in St. Patrick’s Day. At the forefront of the Irish music scene, Danú takes its audiences on a musical journey to their native Ireland, offering a moving and memorable concert experience not to be missed. Enter to win tickets for a parents' night out in the Berkshires. Deadline to enter to win: 3/14th @ 7pm (EST).
Continuing our Parents’ Night Out promotions, Hilltown Families has a pair of tickets to giveaway to one very lucky couple to ring in St. Patrick’s Day with internationally acclaimed traditional Irish musical group, Danú, on Friday, March 16th at 8pm at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA on Friday, March 16th at 8pm - a night out in the heart of the Berkshires!
Win a pair of tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win: Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 at 7pm (EST). More details below.
ABOUT DANU
Named after an ancient Irish goddess, Danú is at the forefront of the traditional Irish music scene. Having toured extensively throughout the world, Danú takes its audiences on a musical journey to their native Ireland, offering a moving and memorable concert experience.
Danú’s standing room only concerts throughout Ireland are truly amazing events, featuring high-energy performances and a glorious mix of ancient Irish music and new repertoire. According to The Washington Post, Danú is a “vibrant mix of virtuosity, energy, and empathy.”
For over a decade, Danú’s virtuosi players on flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion, bouzouki, and vocals (Irish and English), have performed around the globe and recorded seven critically acclaimed albums. Their live DVD, One Night Stand, was filmed at Vicar St. Dublin. Winners of numerous awards from the BBC and Irish Music Magazine, Danú has toured throughout Europe, the Middle East and North America with stops at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Symphony Space in New York City and major concert engagements in the United Kingdom, India, Israel and across Europe. Danú’s popular recordings are available on the Shanachie label and live performances are often broadcast on NPR, the CBC and the BBC. – www.danu.net
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Danú in concert, at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA on Friday, March 16th at 8pm is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To enter win simply:
KINDLY CONSIDER SHARING THIS PAGE ON FACEBOOK BY SELECTING “LIKE” BELOW
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES CONNECTS YOU WITH EVENTS IN THE BERKSHIRES and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
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We’ll randomly draw two winners and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline to enter to win: Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 at 7pm (EST).Read the rest of this entry »
Breakfast Giveaway in Western MA:
Sugar Shack Breakfast for Your Family Plus
Locally Produced Coffee & Tea Gift Boxes
Our region is rich in locally grown, produced and served food. Enter to win a breakfast out for a family of four at South Face Farm Sugarhouse (Ashfield), along with locally produced coffee from Gay Coffee (Williamsburg) and tea from Tea Guys (Hatfield). Deadline to enter to win: March 19th by 7pm (EST).
Maple Sugar Season is upon us and many families make it an annual tradition to enjoy breakfast together at one of the rustic sugar shacks in the region. It’s a great way to spend a morning together with the kids while enjoying the first harvest of the year and watching the sugaring process. We asked our readers to share their favorite sugar shack in Western MA and recommendations ranged from Gould’s in Shelburne, Red Bucket in Worthington, Steve’s Sugar Shack in Westhampton, to South Face Farm in Ashfield… but one thing was quiet clear… families LOVE their local sugar shacks!
To celebrate this short and sweet breakfast tradition of coming together with your community to dine at these seasonal houses of sweetness, Hilltown Families has partnered with three local businesses to offer one lucky family the chance to win a breakfast for four at South Face Farm Sugarhouse in Ashfield, plus a coffee gift box from Gay Coffee in Williamsburg, and a tea gift box from Tea Guys in Hatfield (all three!).
According to the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association, “Sugaring is one of the few tourist destination events to occur during mud season in March and April. 60,000 visitors spend in excess of one million dollars during sugaring season. Farms, restaurants, Bed and Breakfasts, country inns, and other tourist businesses share this income, which flows mostly into small towns and farm communities.”
To enter to win our Breakfast Giveaway, we’re looking for community feedback on how the harvest of maple syrup gets your family outdoors, participating in the harvest with your community to share in a collection stories and recipes we are putting together for a new project we’re working on called Seasons at Our Table. In addition to dining out at a sugar shack, maybe your family gathers maple sap and boils it down, or you like to attend the maple festivals and educational opportunities in the area… Or maybe you have a new tradition you’re looking forward to participating in with your family and/or community. Details on how to enter to win are below, and deadline to enter is Monday, March 19th by 7pm (EST).
Here’s what you can enter to win:
South Face Farm Sugarhouse (Ashfield, MA)
South Face Farm Sugarhouse is located in Ashfield, MA, a small rural and farming community in the Berkshire foothills. Their traditional old New England sugarhouse and restaurant is open this year on Saturdays and Sundays from March 3rd to April 7th, and closed Easter Sunday. Families can watch pure maple syrup being made and then just a few steps away, taste the results on a plate of steaming hot blueberry pancakes. They offer a varied menu of traditional New England sugarhouse food, using the best ingredients from local farms and sources. Their French toast is made from locally baked real French bread, or cinnamon bread. All batters are made from scratch each day using the finest ingredients. To see the sugarhouse menu click here to view or print. Seasonal updates are posted on the South Face Farm Facebook page and more info can be found at www.southfacefarm.com.
GIVEAWAY: South Face Farm is offering Hilltown Families readers a chance to win breakfast for a family of four at their restaurant and sugarhouse for this season. Don’t miss the chance to experience a taste of the maple sugaring season while dinning with your family in a quintessential New England tradition. (Value: Whatever your family orders, they’ve got you covered!)
Gay Coffee (Williamsburg, MA)
Gay Coffee is based in Williamsburg, MA. Each batch of hand roasted coffee is fairly traded and organically sourced, respecting their coffee growing partners, and the planet’s health. At the intersection of a historic moment in gay civil rights, and over the morning ritual of sharing a cup of exquisite coffee, Gay Coffee was conceived as the perfect integration of these two powerful themes with 1% of all profits donated to the National Gay Lesbian Task Force. Find out more about Gay Coffee at www.gaycoffee.com
GIVEAWAY: Gay Coffee gift box includes a 10 oz gift tin of Second Date, a deep and very full bodied brew that combines African and Central American beans; A 10 oz bag of Stone Butch Breakfast Blend: A classic blend of medium roasted beans from the highlands of Guatemala; and a set of “Wake Up and Taste the Gay!” mugs. (Value: $56)
Tea Guys (Hatfield, MA)
Tea Guys in Hatfield, MA is a local family-owned business specializing in artisan whole leaf loose tea blends. Their culinary-inspired tea creations are blended in small batches daily and made with the finest loose tea from around the world, freshly hand-milled spices, vanilla bean, dried fruits, nuts and artisan ingredients to create unique and colorful blends that stimulate the eyes, nose, and palate – and truly taste like no other tea. www.teaguys.com
GIVEAWAY: This Tea Guys gift box includes a selection of three tins of our unique blends: Tropical Green tea, Strawberry Kiwi fruit tisane, and Coconut Truffle black tea, along with a brewing basket for brewing the perfect cup of tea. (Value: $35)
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family breakfast for four at South Face Farm Sugarhouse in Ashfield this season, plus a gift box of coffee from Gay Coffee in Williamsburg, and a gift box of tea from Tea Guys in Hatfield is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING THIS POST ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below,
TELL US HOW MAPLE SUGAR SEASON GETS YOUR FAMILY OUTDOORS AND PARTICIPATING IN THE HARVEST WITH YOUR COMMUNITY below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
From our favorite entries (so make them good!) we’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Monday, March 19th by 7pm (EST).
Uncle Rock Returns to the Pioneer Valley
Saturday, March 10th at 10am
At Flywheel Arts Collective in Easthampton, MA
Saturday Morning Music Party Presents a Family Concert with Uncle Rock at Flywheel Arts Collective on Saturday, March 10th at 10am in Easthampton, MA. Enter to win Uncle Rock's entire collection of fabulous music CD's & DVD! (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
Hilltown Families, the No Nap Happy Hour and Flywheel are proud to present a family concert with Uncle Rock as part of the Saturday Morning Music Party in Easthampton at the Flywheel Arts Collective! On March 10th at 10am Uncle Rock will rock the house and have all members of the family on their feet dancing away the winter blues! Fill up on free pancakes before the concert, and for a suggested donation of $5 per person ($10 per family), enjoy a fun filled morning with the family!
Leading up to his performance we’re giving listeners of the Hilltown Family Variety Show the opportunity to enter to win Uncle Rock’s entire collection of music CDs & DVD. One lucky family will walk away with a fabulous collection to add to their family music/video repertoire! Find out how to enter to win below. Deadline to enter to win is midnight, March 9th!
And the day of the performance while driving on over to Flywheel, be sure to tune into the Hilltown Family Variety Show (103.3FM WXOJ) from 9-10am as Uncle Rock will be our guest DJ! Encore on Sunday, March 11th from 7-8am and podcast anytime following Saturday’s broadcast right here at www.HilltownFamilies.org!
Uncle Rock (a.k.a. Robert Burke), is a musician with a “rock of all ages” persona who blends an inventive rock sound for families. His offbeat approach, plus a dynamic live show, has won critical praise from the L.A. Times & the New York Times. Before his nephew dubbed him “Uncle Rock,” Robert Burke Warren performed as a bass player in many rock and roll bands, including international garage rock titans The Fleshtones. He portrayed the title character in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story in London’s West End. He’s also co-written songs for multi-Grammy winner Rosanne Cash and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Wanda Jackson.
Uncle Rock’s CD, The Big Picture won a Parents Choice Award, and he was voted Best Children’s Performer of 2011 by Hudson Valley Magazine. Uncle Rock has participate in several collaborative efforts, including Healthy Food For Thought, which was nominated for a Grammy, and Many Hands: Family Music For Haiti, which has raised over 40k for Haitian relief! – www.unclerock.com.
GIVEAWAY: 5 MUSICAL ADDITIONS TO YOUR FAMILY MUSIC COLLECTION!
Here’s Uncle Rock’s entire catalog of CD’s and DVD which we’re giving away to one very luck family:
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: Uncle Rock – AKA Robert Burke Warren – has lost count of the number of parents who have expressed relief and gratitude that a CD has been created that they can enjoy WITH their kids. The former globe-trotting bass player stumbled onto his most satisfying creative endeavor yet as a teacher’s assistant at the rural School Of The New Moon in Mount Tremper, New York, where Uncle Rock was born.
UNCLE ROCK U:Uncle Rock U, a collection of 17 songs, explores the joy, excitement and imagination of childhood. The album also reflects Uncle Rock’s indie-rock background (former bassist with The Fleshtones), his theatrical gifts (the lead in the London production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story) and his knack for connecting with children (being a Dad himself, as well as a preschool teacher).
THE BIG PICTURE: Shel Silverstein meets Buddy Holly! The eco-rock on Uncle Rock’s fourth CD is a salute to his musical heroes, with stylistic nods to Bowie, the Stones, Cat Stevens, and Johnny Cash. Cross-generational toe-tappin’ tunes for kids from 2 to 92!
NUMBER 1 DVD: “Uncle Rock is a musical Icon in the Woodstock area,” reviews Amazon. When you go to one of his live concerts, the smiling faces and energy flows as much from the parents in the audience as from the kids. Number 1 DVD captures positive, hopeful energy through a live concert shot at the famed Utopia sound stage in Woodstock, NY, plus five videos.
EXPRESS YOUR ELF:Express Your Elf is a holiday CD with a few surprises, including Uncle Rock’s versions of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” plus some rockin’ originals! Sure to be a welcome addition to your holiday CD collection!
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win Uncle Rock’s entire collection of music CDs & DVD is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below,
TELL US HOW THE HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW ENTERTAINS YOUR FAMILY below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Friday, 03/09/12 @ 12midnight (EST).
Family Concert with Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem
Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 @ 10:30am
at The First Churches of Northampton
Rani Arbo says the band is ready to party with the Valley: "Nonotuck knows how to cure the midwinter blues! Stir together a handful of musicians and a heap of kids and parents, pour into a beautiful old church, season with fund-raising goodwill, and presto: a party!"
For the third year in a row, Hilltown Families is a proud sponsor of the Nonotuck Community School Winter Family Concert Series. This year the school ends their concert series with a family concert with Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, “one of America’s most inventive string bands” (Boston Herald)…and we have a family 4-pack of free tickets to giveaway to one lucky family! Proceeds from the performance go to benefit Nonotuck Community School, a local non-profit preschool! Deadline to enter to win is 02/29/12 by 7pm (EST). Find out how to enter to win below.
ABOUT RANI ARBO & DAISY MAYHEM
Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem is a rootsy, Americana-style string band of four musicians — all parents — who have played and toured together for 10 years. Their grooves are deep, their four-part harmonies are rich, and their adventurous, eclectic song selection serves their debut family CD Ranky Tanky well. Family music is a new endeavor for the band, but they have longstanding reputation for performances that are, as the Boston Globe put it, “playful and profound. Ranky Tanky sticks with that equation: it’s uplifting, danceable, playful, sometimes silly, sometimes wistful, and never sarcastic. Rani Arbo fires up the fiddle; Anand Nayak plays electric and acoustic guitars; Andrew Kinsy is on upright acoustic bass (and ukulele and banjo), and Scott Kessel pilots the Drumship Enterprise, a percussion rig made from cardboard boxes, tin cans, water jugs, and a vinyl suitcase. Together, they create a joyful, musical fusion of sounds both old and new — and a great soundtrack for family tim
ABOUT THE NCS 2012 WINTER FAMILY CONCERT SERIES
The NCS Winter Family Concert Series is an annual three-part Winter Family Concert Series hosted by Nonotuck Community School. The 2012 season started off with a family concert with The Nieldsin January, followed by A Family Dance Party with DJ Joan Holliday in February and Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem in March. The family concerts take place at The First Churches of Northampton (129 Main Street). Proceeds from this concert series will go to benefit Nonotuck Community School, a nonprofit parent cooperative that provides early education and care for children aged 15 months to 5 years old, and is located in Florence, Massachusetts (221 Riverside Drive, 586-5996). For more information visit: www.nonotuck.org or call 413-586-5996.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem in concert at The First Churches of Northampton on Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 @ 10:30am, is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below,
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES CONNECTS YOUR FAMILY WITH EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES DURING SCHOOL VACATION WEEKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 02/29/12 @ 7pm (EST).
Lucy Kaplansky
Iron Horse Music Hall ♦ Northampton, MA
Sunday, Feb 26th, 2012 @ 7pm
Win a pair of tickets to see Lucy Kaplansky at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Sunday, Feb 26th at 7pm. Deadline to enter to win: 2/22 @ 7pm (EST).
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
For the end of February we have a pair of tickets to giveaway to see Lucy Kaplansky at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA on Sunday, Feb 26th at 7pm with opening act, Sandy Bailey. Win a pair of tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win: 2/22 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT LUCY KAPLANSKY
She started out singing in Chicago bars. Then, barely out of high school, Lucy Kaplansky took off for New York City. There she found a fertile community of songwriters and performers – Suzanne Vega, John Gorka, Bill Morrissey, Cliff Eberhardt. Lucy was everyone’s favorite singing partner, but most often she found herself singing as a duo with Shawn Colvin. Lucy temporarily left the musical fast track to pursue a doctorate in Psychology and open her own private practice, although she continues to tour extensively across North America, reminding audiences why she has been hailed as “a truly gifted performer…full of enchanting songs” (The New Yorker). www.lucykaplansky.com
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Lucy Kaplansky at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA on Sunday, Feb 26th at 7pm with opening act, Sandy Bailey, is easy & simple! To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES KEEPS YOUR FAMILY ENGAGED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DURING SCHOOL VACATION WEEK below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 02/22/12 @ 7pm (EST)
If you don’t win you should still go. Tickets are available at the Northampton Box office, online at IHEG.com, or by calling 413-586-8686.
Winklepicker Festival
Mardi Gras Ball w/ Buckwheat Zydeco
& After-Party w/ The Primate Fiasco
Saturday, Feb 18th @ 7pm in Ashfield, MA
Winklepicker Festival's Mardi Gras Ball with Buckwheat Zydeco at the Ashfield Town Hall (412 Main Street), followed by an after-party with The Primate Fiasco, happens on Feb 18th! Deadline to enter to win: 2/15. Details below.
Continuing our Parents’ Night Out promotions, Hilltown Families has a pair of tickets to giveaway to one very lucky couple to the Winklepicker Festival Mardi Gras Ball with Buckwheat Zydeco at the Ashfield Town Hall (412 Main Street), followed by an after-party with The Primate Fiasco next door at Elmer’s, in Ashfield, MA on Saturday, February 18th at 7pm. Deadline to enter to win: 2/15. Details below.
WHAT IS WINKLEPICKER?
Italy has Carnivale, Brazil has the same. Germany has Fasching, New Orleans has Mardi Gras… Ashfield has Winklepicker! – And while those other festivals are all tied to the last possible blow-out moments before the contemplative days of Lent, out here in the Protestant hinterlands, Winklepicker is tied to the hardest part of the year – when the novelty of winter has worn off, warmth is still half a globe-turn away and you’d like something to do besides plow snow and rake roofs.
Winklepicker stirs all the warmth of music, dancing, community, eating and drinking up together in one big, roiling pot. Winklepicker celebrates warmth and fun in the coldest, plainest days of the year. This inaugural year, the third weekend of February also turned out to be the weekend that precedes the above celebrated festivals, and the theme of Mardi Gras in New Orleans was picked as the inaugural theme for the weekend.
This year’s festival includes: Creole Cooking Workshop; Exhibit of Mardi Gras costumes; Mardi Gras Kids Music Camp; Concert with Chris Smither; Gospel Brunch; and a Mardi Gras Ball with Buckwheat Zydeco (after-party with The Primate Fiasco). Find out more at www.winklepickerfest.com.
MARDI GRAS BALL WITH BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO
Grammy Award-winning American musical legend, Louisiana vocalist, and accordion and organ master Buckwheat Zydeco is the preeminent ambassador of Louisiana zydeco music. The New York Times says, “Stanley ‘Buckwheat’ Dural leads one of the best bands in America. A down-home and high-powered celebration, meaty and muscular with a fine-tuned sense of dynamics…propulsive rhythms, incendiary performances.” This high-energy band will lead a night of dancing and Mardi Gras revelry that you won’t want to miss, so put on your dancing shoes and join Buckwheat Zydeco as he heats up Ashfield Town Hall. Then stay for the After Party with The Primate Fiasco. The Ball begins at 7pm; after party at 9:30pm. – Not familiar with Buckwheat Zydeco, sample his music here… but be sure to put on your dancing shoes first!
HOW TO ENTER WIN
Your chance to win a pair of tickets to the WinklePicker Festival Mardi Gras Ball with Buckwheat Zydeco at the Ashfield Town Hall (412 Main Street), followed by an after-party with The Primate Fiasco next door in Ashfield, MA, on Saturday, February 18th at 7pm is easy & simple! To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES HELPS YOUR FAMILY SHAKE OFF THE WINTER BLUES below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 02/15/12 @ 7pm (EST)
Tickets at Turn It Up!, World Eye Books, Boswell’s Books, Elmer’s Store & online at mightyalbert.com. For more info call 413-628-4003.
Ruth Moody Band
Iron Horse Music Hall ♦ Northampton
Wednesday, Feb 14th, 2012 @ 7pm
Parents' Night Out ticket giveaway for Valentine's Day to see Ruth Moody at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA! Deadline to enter to win: 02/10/12 by 7pm (EST)
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
For Valentine’s Day we are pleased to offer a chance to win a pairs of tickets to see Ruth Moody Band on Valentine’s Day, Wed., February 14th, 7pm at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA.
Win the tickets and take your sweetheart or BFF out for Valentine’s Day. Deadline to enter to win is Friday, 02/10/12 @ 7pm (EST). More details below.
ABOUT RUTH MOODY BAND
Although best known for her work with The Wailin’ Jennys, Ruth Moody is a Juno Award winning songwriter who’s made numerous critically-acclaimed albums and appeared more than a dozen times on A Prairie Home Companion. She’s also the former lead singer of The Duhks. She plays guitar, banjo, accordion, piano, and bodhrán and is a gifted songwriter. Writing with a maturity and wisdom that belies her age, her songs are timeless, universal, and exceptionally well-crafted, all sung with an intimacy and honesty that is unmistakably hers. Ruth released her highly-anticipated solo album The Garden in Spring 2010 features with an all-star cast including Crooked Still, Kevin Breit (Norah Jones, k.d. lang), Luke Doucet, and a guest appearance by The Wailin’ Jennys. The Ruth Moody Band, is Adam Dobres (electric guitar), Adrian Dolan (strings, mandolin, accordion) and Sam Howard (bass, vocals). www.ruthmoody.com
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Ruth Moody Band on Valentine’s Day, Wed., February 14th, 7pm at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA. is easy & simple! To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES KEEPS YOU CONNECTED WITH DATE NIGHT OPPORTUNITIES below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Tuesday, 02/10/12 @ 7pm (EST)
If you don’t win you should still go. Tickets are available at the Northampton Box office, online at IHEG.com, or by calling 413-586-8686.
Family Dance Party with Joan Holliday
Saturday, February 11th, 2012 @ 10am-12Noon
at Northampton Center for the Arts
On Saturday, February 11th, Northampton Center for the Arts (17 New South Street, 3rd Floor) will host a FAMILY DANCE PARTY from 10am-12Noon with DJ Joan Holliday from 93.9 FM The River, co-sponsored by Hilltown Families… and we have a family 4-pack of tickets to giveaway to one lucky family! Deadline to enter to win is 02/08/12. Find out how to enter to win below.
Families from throughout the Pioneer Valley will don their dancing shoes at this benefit for Nonotuck Community School. Come join kids of all ages under the disco ball and groove to a mix of classics, new tunes, and kids favorites at this all-for-the-family dance party!
“I’ve loved music since I was an infant (a peace and love British invasion child of the 60s!),” says Joan Holliday. “As a radio DJ at 93.9 WRSI The River, and an events DJ for almost ten years, I am especially excited to get the kids dancing to benefit Nonotuck! It’s fun for a great cause, and we’re gonna fill that dance floor!
ABOUT THE NCS 2012 WINTER FAMILY CONCERT SERIES
Hilltown Families is a proud sponsor of the NCS Winter Family Concert Series, an annual three-part Winter Family Concert Series hosted by Nonotuck Community School. The 2012 season started off with The Nieldsin January, followed by A Family Dance Party with DJ Joan Holliday this month, and Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem will conclude the series in March. Proceeds from this concert series will go to benefit Nonotuck Community School, a nonprofit parent cooperative that provides early education and care for children aged 15 months to 5 years old, and is located in Florence, Massachusetts (221 Riverside Drive, 586-5996). For more information visit: www.nonotuck.org or call 413-586-5996.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to Joan Holliday’s Family Dance Party at Northampton Center for the Arts on Saturday, February 11th, 2012 from 10am-12Noon, is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US YOUR FAMILY’S FAVORITE SONG (NAME OF SONG/ARTIST) FOR SHAKING AWAY THE WINTER BLUES FOR OUR COMMUNITY PLAYLIST below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 02/08/12 @ 7pm (EST).
Carolina Chocolate Drops
with opening act, Joy Kills Sorrow
Calvin Theatre in Northampton
Saturday, January 28th at 8pm
Enter to win a pair of tickets for a Parents' Night Out to see the Carolina Chocolate Drops at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton on Saturday, Jan 28th at 8pm. We have TWO pair of tickets to giveaway! Deadline to enter to win: 01/25/12.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
To start off 2012, we have two a pair of tickets to giveaway to see Carolina Chocolate Drops, with opening act Joy Kills Sorrow, at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, MA on Saturday, Jan 28th at 8pm to two lucky winners! Win the tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win is 01/25/12 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT THE CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS
The Carolina Chocolate Drops are a group of young African-American string band musicians that have come to together to play the rich tradition of fiddle and banjo music in Carolina’s Piedmont. Although they have diverse musical backgrounds, the band draws its musical heritage from the foothills of the North and South Carolina. Under the tutelage of Joe Thompson, said to be the last black traditional string band player, of Mebane NC, they strive to carry on the long standing traditional music of the black and white communities. - www.carolinachocolatedrops.com
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win one of two pairs of tickets to see the Carolina Chocolate Drops at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, MA on Saturday, Jan 28th at 8pm , is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below;
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES AS CONNECTED YOU WITH YOUR COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS below (one entry per household); and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE), Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address with a third party).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 01/25/12 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win, tickets can be purchased at the Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street, by phone at 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com.
Family Concert with The Nields
Saturday, January 21st, 2012 @ 10:30am
at The First Churches of Northampton
Enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see The Nields in Northampton on Saturday, Jan. 21st at 10:30am. Deadline to enter to win: 01/18/12 by 7pm (EST). Details below.
For the third year in a row, Hilltown Families is a proud sponsor of the Nonotuck Community School Winter Family Concert Series. This year the school is kicking off their concert series with The Nields, and we have a family 4-pack of free tickets to giveaway to one lucky family! Proceeds from the performance go to benefit Nonotuck Community School, a local non-profit preschool! Deadline to enter to win is 01/18/12. Find out how to enter to win below.
ABOUT THE NIELDS
Nerissa and Katryna Nields grew up singing folk songs in the kitchen and in the back seat of the family car. Katryna learned to sing melody with their father, eventually making her an ideal front person for the band. Nerissa, on the other hand, tackled the harmonies; with that skill, she provided a natural counterpoint to her sister’s vibrant lead. As a duo, the sisters have toured nationally for years and been the darlings of the coffeehouse/festival scene, with tunes ranging from off-the-hook idiosyncratic to kicking to heartbreaking. They were a part of Lillith Fair, and have shared the stage with Natalie Merchant, Suzanne Vega, Sarah McLaughlin, Dar Williams, The Indigo Girls, James Taylor, Joan Baez, the Band, 10,000 Maniacs, Billy Bragg, Dan Zanes and countless others, all of whom informed and enhanced their musical repertoire.
A most recent influence on their music is children. “Having children has brought us back to our roots in a powerful way,” says Nerissa. “I’m much more drawn to the honesty of folk music, the simplicity of it. My kids love singing songs from Sister Holler. And I love how, when we sing these ‘Nerissa’ songs in concerts, everybody sings along, even though it’s the first time they’ve heard them. They’re songs that really invite the listener into the music making process.” Find more information about the band at www.nields.com.
ABOUT THE NCS 2012 WINTER FAMILY CONCERT SERIES
The NCS Winter Family Concert Series is an annual three-part Winter Family Concert Series hosted by Nonotuck Community School. The 2012 season starts off with The Nields in January, followed by A Family Dance Party with DJ Joan Holliday in February and Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem in March. The family concerts take place at The First Churches of Northampton (129 Main Street) and the Dance party will be hosted at the Northampton Center for the Arts. Proceeds from this concert series will go to benefit Nonotuck Community School, a nonprofit parent cooperative that provides early education and care for children aged 15 months to 5 years old, and is located in Florence, Massachusetts (221 Riverside Drive, 586-5996). For more information visit: www.nonotuck.org or call 413-586-5996.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see The Nields in concert at The First Churches of Northampton on Saturday, January 21st, 2012 @ 10:30am, is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES CONNECTS YOUR FAMILY WITH LOCAL EVENTS below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 01/18/12 @ 7pm (EST).
Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band
plus Love Canon
Calvin Theatre – New Year’s Eve
Saturday, December 31st 8pm
Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band plus Love Canon at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton on New Year's Eve ,Saturday, December 31st 8pm. Deadline to enter to win: Tuesday, Dec 27th @ 7pm.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
To end the year we have a pair of tickets to giveaway for Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band plus Love Canon at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, MA on Saturday, Dec 31st at 8pm. Win the tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win is 12/27/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT ROSH RITTER
Josh Ritter is from Moscow, Idaho. The son of two neuroscientists, he was on his way to follow in their footsteps when he discovered Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country” in high school. He has since released five studio albums and has been recently named one of the 100 greatest living songwriters by Paste Magazine, alongside Dylan, Springsteen, and Neil Young. Joan Baez has covered one of his songs; Stephen King named one of Ritter’s albums the best of recent years and David Letterman has requested him twice, so far. His latest studio album, So Runs the World Away, was released in April 2010 and Josh’s first novel, Bright’s Passage, came out this summer. www.joshritter.com
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band plus Love Canon at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, MA on Saturday, Dec 31st at 8pm , is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below;
REFLECT BACK OVER THE YEAR AND SHARE WITH US YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF COMMUNITY LIFE IN THE REGION FOR 2011 below (one entry per household); and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE), Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address with a third party).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Tuesday, 12/27/11 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win, tickets can be purchased at the Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street, by phone at 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com.
Family Yearlong Membership to the Trustees of Reservations and a Family Pass for Cross-Country Skiing at Notchview in Windsor for 2011-12 Season!
Enter to win a Family Yearlong Membership to the Trustees of Reservations and a Family Pass for Cross-Country Skiing at Notchview in Windsor this winter! Deadline to enter to win: 12/24/11 @ 12midnight (EST). Details below. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
Western MA is a beautiful place to visit and explore all year long. With winter coming and snow sure to fall, many families will be looking to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing as ways to get outside and enjoy the snowy backwoods and trails in the region.
In an effort to encourage active participation in community life and appreciation for local landscape, Hilltown Families and the Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) have partnered up to offer our readers a chance to win a yearlong family membership to The Trustees for 2012 plus two adult stickers for cross-country skiing at Notchview in Windsor for the 2011-12 season (minors ski for free with adults).
To enter to win we are inviting our readers to share with us ways they enjoy participating in community life during the winter months in Western MA. Details on how to enter to win are below. But first we want to tell you more about what a membership to the Trustees of Reservations will afford your family, and all about nordic skiing at Notchview!
FAMILY MEMBERSHIP TO THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS
A yearlong family membership to the Trustees of Reservations, the nation’s oldest statewide land conservation organization, will support your family’s outdoor adventures all year long. With 13 properties in the Pioneer Valley alone, some of the local treasures your family can enjoy include Land of Providence, Dinosaur Footprints and Mt. Tom in Holyoke, Chesterfield Gorge and Peaked Mountain.
A family membership ($67 value) includes:
Free/reduced, year-round admission to 106 Trustees stunning reservations located in 73 communities across Massachusetts, such as Notchview in Windsor, the Bryant Homestead in Cummington, Land of Providence and Dinosaur Footprints in Holyoke and beyond the Pioneer Valley and Hilltowns such as Crane Beach in Ipswich, World’s End in Hingham, the Old Manse in Concord, Doyle Community Park and Center in Leominster, Bartholomew’s Cobble in Tyringham, and Cape Poge on Martha’s Vineyard.
Discounts on stays at Trustees Bed & Breakfasts (The Inn at Castle Hill in Ipswich and the Guest House at FieldFarm in Williamstown)
Discounted fees for the hundreds of events, programs, lectures, summer camps and workshops offered by The Trustees year-round for all ages
The Trustees Property Guide, a 224-page guidebook to the organization’s 100-plus reservations—available exclusively to members
A year’s subscription to The Trustees quarterly member magazine, Special Places, which will keep you up to date on topics such as conservation, the natural world, history and culture across Massachusetts
The Colonel Arthur D. Budd Visitor Center is open year-round at Notchview in Windsor, MA. Facilities include public restrooms, and two trail shelters, open year round. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING AT NOTCHVIEW IN WINDSOR, MA
One of Massachusetts’ premier cross-country skiing centers – drawing an average of 10,000 skiers to its 19 miles of groomed, track-set and backcountry ski trails each winter – Notchview is also popular among ski skating and snowshoe enthusiasts, as well as year-round hikers and walkers. With a current Trustees’ membership, and a 2011– 12 ski pass ($45 per adult), Nordic skiers can ski free all day, every day, all winter long. Ski pass stickers for adult members also admit children under 18 in addition to the sticker holder.
Notchview is one of the only independent, all-Nordic ski areas still thriving in the region. Boasting an active all-volunteer Ski Patrol Program, Notchview regularly hosts youth, high school, college, and masters ski races throughout the season, including the annual Massachusetts High School Nordic championships and the New England Bill Koch Youth Ski Festival, which is held every four years.
The Colonel Arthur D. Budd Visitor Center is open year-round. Facilities include public restrooms and two trail shelters, open year round. For more information about Notchview, visit www.thetrustees.org or call 413-684-0148.
Chesterfield Gorge in West Chesterfield (left), and Chapel Falls in Ashfield (right), are just two of the 106 reservations sure to delight your family!
MORE ABOUT THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS
The Trustees work to promote healthy, active, and green communities locally across Massachusetts by providing hundreds of year-round programs, events and engagement opportunities for all ages. Since 2001, The Trustees have been building a stronger conservation presence in the Pioneer Valley region with educational and grassroots community outreach programs and the pursuit of significant land conservation opportunities. Currently, The Trustees own and manage 13 spectacular properties in the Pioneer Valley, and 106 reservations located in 73 communities across Massachusetts . In addition, the Trustees locally operate the Highland Communities Initiative (HCI), a program created to protect the natural and cultural character of 38 rural hilltowns located between the Connecticut and Housatonic Rivers. HCI recently affiliated with the Hilltown Land Trust (HLT), and both organizations are now headquartered in the recently renovated Bullitt Reservation farmhouse, (formerly the Ashfield Town Poor Farm), which recently underwent a deep energy retrofit and boasts many sustainable building features. To find out more about The Trustees, visit www.thetrustees.org (they’re on Facebook too); and for the HCI and HLT, visit www.highlandcommunities.org.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a yearlong family membership to The Trustees for 2012 plus two adult stickers for cross-country skiing at Notchviewin Windsor for the 2011-12 season (minors ski for free with adults) is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! Valued together is over $150!
To enter to win simply:
SHARE WAYS YOUR FAMILY ENJOYS PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY LIFE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN WESTERN MA below (one entry per household); and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE), Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address with a third party).
CONSIDER SHARING THIS POST ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER by selecting the icons below.
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Saturday, 12/24/11 @ 12Midnight (EST).
A family or individual membership to The Trustees of Reservations would make a great holiday gift! For more information visit www.thetrustees.org… and while you’re at it, “Like” them on Facebook too!
An Evening with Garrison Keillor at the Calvin Theater
Northampton, MA
Sunday, Dec 4th @ 8pm
Garrison Keillor was born in 1942 in Anoka, Minnesota, and began his radio career as a freshman at the University of Minnesota, went to work for Minnesota Public Radio in 1969, and on July 6, 1974, he hosted the first broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion" in St. Paul. - Deadline to enter to win tix: 12/01/11 @ 7pm.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
For the beginning of December we have a pair of tickets to giveaway for An Evening with Garrison Keillor at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA on Sunday, Dec 4th at 8pm. Win the tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win is 12/1/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT GARRISON KEILLOR
Keillor said he plans to retire in “the spring of 2013,” in an interview with AARP so this may be your last chance to see the legendary author, storyteller, humorist, and creator of the weekly radio show A Prairie Home Companion. The show began in 1974 as a live variety show on Minnesota Public Radio. In the 1980s A Prairie Home Companion became a pop culture phenomenon, with millions of Americans listening to Keillor’s folksy tales of life in the fictional Midwestern town of Lake Wobegon, where (in Keillor’s words) “the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all of the children are above average.” His radio show inspired a 2006 movie, A Prairie Home Companion, written by and starring Keillor, Meryl Streep and Lindsay Lohan and directed by Robert Altman was Altman’s last film; he died later that year. His signature sign-off on his show The Writer’s Almanac is “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a pair of tickets for An Evening with Garrison Keillor at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA on Sunday, Dec 4th at 8pm, is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below;
SHARE WITH US A BRIEF ANECDOTE OF FAMILY LIFE IN WESTERN MA below (one entry per household); and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE), Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address with a third party).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Thursday, 12/01/11 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win, tickets can be purchased at the Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street, by phone at 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com.
Local Artist Creates Toys That Encourage Creative Free Play
Enter to win a fantasy birthday celebration kit that includes these non-toxic limited edition free-play toys by local artist/entrepreneur, Janet Street, plus CD's and a kids birthday party performance by local kids musician, Dennis Caraher. Deadline to enter to win: Midnight on Dec 5th, 2011
We were recently approached by Janet Street, a Northampton artist and entrepreneur who has launched an eco-friendly, open play toy initiative, Easy Keepers, that she is campaigning to fund through Kickstarter, a crowdfunding platform that showcases creative projects by individuals or groups who are seeking funding… We were intrigued! I shared Janet’s video that outlines and highlights her toys with my 9yo daughter. Her response, “I’d play with those.” – So we invited Janet to tell us more about her project to share with our readers.
Plus, we’re pleased to partner with her in a fabulous promotion to giveaway a very exciting package of toys and music to one very lucky family! Wait until you see the package she has put together! Along with her husband, local musician Dennis Caraher, they are not only offering a limited edition of her new toys, but also music CD’s and a kids birthday party performance! We’ve gushed about it below, but first we want to tell you about both Easy Keepers and Kickstarter, two really cool ideas!
EASY KEEPERS
Easy Keepers are eco-friendly bendable horse toys, created by Northampton artist Janet Street. Janet first came up with the idea and sculpted prototypes in the mid 1990′s but shelved the project until a year ago. With online technology like Kickstarter, and the growing demand for non-toxic, locally-made, creative free-play toys, the time just seemed right to pick back up the prototypes and move forward.
NON-TOXIC: Unable to find an eco-friendly USA manufacturer to make these toys, Janet developed her own process and materials for manufacturing. “My hope is that Easy Keepers will catch on and provide a viable alternative to toys manufactured in China, made of toxic, environmentally harmful plastic, mainly PVC,” writes Janet.
NON-COMMERCIAL: Although the materials are an innovative feature of Easy Keepers, the most important feature by far is the play factor. “It’s a toy that needs no media-driven backstory to dictate what to do with it. No electronics or gimmicks. No overstated “educational” component,” she writes. “My belief is that children want to and need to create their own world of play, using their own imaginations. Toys should be a starting point, an inspiration, for self-discovery.”
KICKSTARTER
Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform that showcases creative projects by individuals or groups who are seeking funding. It brings together a community of people looking for project funding with people interested in supporting creative ventures. It provides a format for participants to communicate their idea with a wide audience. The site provides an alternative to traditional funding sources, with the main qualification being a compelling presentation of the project. Supporters receive incentives or rewards for their donation, if the funding goal is met. If not, no funds are paid out. If the funding goal is met or exceeded, the donations are paid and Kickstarter receives a small percentage.
“Kickstarter funding will allow us to hire skilled artisans to help make the molds, cast and finish the toys,” writes Janet. “Otherwise, making toys by hand, in small quantities will make it difficult to price the toys reasonably. With the help of our community and new Kickstarter friends, we hope to reach our funding goal by December 5th.”
Want to find out more about Janet’s project on Kickstarter? Check it out at HERE.
GIVEAWAY
Here’s the amazing package Janet and her husband, Dennis Caraher, are offering (valued at over $400):
Two limited edition Easy Keepers toys
Two Carrying Case Barns
One Easy Keepers Gift Certificate
Two signed Easy Keepers posters, set of four refrigerator magnets, set of four coasters and bookmark
Three music CD’s by Dennis Caraher: I Miss the Mud, Dog Bone Town, Bow Wow Baby
Win this packet and have the most amazing birthday party for your favorite kid, presents included!
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win Janet’s collection outlined above is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below;
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES CONNECTS YOUR FAMILY WITH NEWS & INFORMATION ON NON-COMMERCIAL CREATIVE FREE PLAY below (one entry per household); and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE), Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address with a third party).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Monday, 12/05/11 by midnight (EST).
Find out more about Janet Street, Easy Keepers and Kickstarter, check out her project HERE.
The Importance of Creative Play
in a Commercialized World A Community Conversation with Dr. Susan Linn
Tuesday, Nov 15th from 7-9pm
Meekins Library • Williamsburg, MA
Co-sponsored by the Media Education Foundation and the Odyssey Bookshop.
Hilltown Families presents “The Importance of Creative Play in a Commercialized World” with Dr. Susan Linn, author ofThe Case for Make BelieveandConsuming Kidson Tuesday, November 15th from 7-9pm in the Hawks~Hayden Community Room at the Meekins Library, 2 Williams Street in Williamsburg, MA (FREE).
In the critically acclaimed Consuming Kids, Dr. Linn, the nation’s leading advocate for protecting children from corporate marketers, provided an unsparing look at modern childhood molded by commercialism. In her book, The Case for Make Believe, Dr. Linn argues that while play is crucial to human development and children are born with an innate capacity for make believe, the convergence of ubiquitous technology and unfettered commercialism actually prevents them from playing.
In an era when toys come from television and media companies sell videos as brain-builders for babies, Dr. Linn lays out the inextricable links between play, creativity, and health, showing us how and why to preserve the space for make believe that children need to be happy and to become productive adults. Dr. Linn will speak about her book and help generate ideas for preserving non-commercialized creative play, especially around the holidays. - Join us on Tuesday, Nov 15th from 7-9pm for a community conversation with Dr. Susan Linn in Williamsburg . (FREE)
This talk is free and open to all adults and older students studying the effects of commercialization and childhood development. A Q&A session will follow along with a book signing. Titles will be available for sale on site in limited quantities.
Book Giveaway: We’re giving away a couple of copies of The Case for Make Believe to our readers. Find out how you can enter to win below. Deadline to enter to win is November 14th by 12noon.
ABOUT DR. SUSAN LINN
Susan Linn, Ed.D. is co-founder and director of The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. An award-winning producer, writer, and puppeteer, she is the author of The Case for Make Believe: Saving Play in a Commercialized World, and Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood and lectures internationally on reclaiming childhood from corporate marketers. She has been featured on Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, The Today Show, The Colbert Report and Good Morning America. In 2006, she received the American Psychological Association’s Presidential Citation for her work on behalf of children. Dr. Linn lives in Brookline, MA.
ENTER TO WIN
A Q&A session will follow the talk and Hilltown Families invites the community to submit questions to Dr. Linn in advance about the importance of make believe and how to preserve creative play for our children. Submit your questions in the comment field below and be entered to win a copy of Dr. Linn’s book, The Case for Make Believe.Must include your full name and town to be eligible to win. We’ll randomly draw winners and will share the results below. Winner does not need to be present at the event to win.
This is the first in a series of Community Conversations presented by Hilltown Families that invite the community to engage in conversations on the themes of helping children connect to the good inside each of them and their development of empathy for others and the world around them.
❤ Thank you ❤ to our co-sponsors of “The Importance of Creative Play in a Commercialized World,” the Media Education Foundation and the Odyssey Bookshop.
Bela Fleck at the Calvin Theater
Northampton, MA
Thursday, Nov 1oth @ 8pm
Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Bela Fleck at the Calvin Theater on Thursday, Nov 10th! Deadline to enter to win: Sunday, 11/6 @ 7pm.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
For the beginning of November we have a pair of tickets to giveaway to see Bela Fleck at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA on Thursday, Nov 10th at 8pm. Win the tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win is Sunday, 11/06/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT BELA FLECK
Groundbreaking banjoist/composer/bandleader Béla Fleck has reconvened the original Béla Fleck & The Flecktones’, the extraordinary initial line-up of his incredible combo. Rocket Science marks the first recording by the first fab four Flecktones in almost two decades, with pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy back in the fold alongside Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten, and percussionist/ Drumitarist Roy “Futureman” Wooten. Far from being a wistful trip back in time, the album sees the Grammy Award-winning quartet creating some of the most forward thinking music of their long, storied career. While all manners of genres come into play – from classical and jazz to bluegrass and African music to electric blues and Eastern European folk dances – the result is an impossible to pigeonhole sound all their own, a meeting of musical minds that remains, as ever, utterly indescribable. Simply put, it is The Flecktones, the music made only when these four individuals come together. www.belafleck.com
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Bella Fleck at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA on Thursday, Nov 10th, 2011 @ 8pm, is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below;
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES CONNECTS YOUR FAMILY WITH PERFORMANCE VENUES IN WESTERN MA below (one entry per household); and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE), Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address with a third party).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Sunday, 11/06/11 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win, tickets can be purchased at the Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street, by phone at 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com.
Deedle Deedle Dees
A Family Concert at The Eric Carle Museum
Saturday, Oct 29th @ 1pm
Enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see The Deedle Deedle Dees at the Eric Carle Museum on Saturday, Oct 29th along with their new CD, "Strange Dees, Indeed" Deadline to enter to win: Saturday, Oct 22nd @ 7pm.
Lloyd Miller, lead singer for The Deedle Deedle Dees, a Brooklyn based educational rock band, was our guest DJ this week on the Hilltown Family Variety Show. You can catch Lloyd live this month in Western MA as The Deedle Deedle Dees return to the Pioneer Valley for a pre-Halloween family concert at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Arts in Amherst, MA on October 29th at 1pm for the release of their newest album, Strange Dees, Indeed… and Hilltown Families has a family 4-pack of free tickets and a copy of their new CD to giveaway to one lucky family! Details on how to enter to win are below:
ABOUT THE DEEDLE DEEDLE DEES
The Deedle Deedle Dees are four teachers and musicians who were raised on Schoolhouse Rock, the Pixies, the Muppets and Tom Waits. With an approach unique to children’s music, The Dees are not content to offer fluffy-happy tunes. Each catchy piece is based upon something from history, science and folklore, and the Dees offer a fresh perspective even on the most familiar people and places.
Strange Dees, Indeed opens with a practical exploration of the Hindu philosophy of Ahimsa (“no harm” in Sanskrit), with the acknowledgment that even grownups have a hard time staying Gandhi-cool in the face of aggression. Another song follows the famous scientist Marie Curie as she smuggles radium in her suitcase. Every song tells a story or paints a picture, whether it be Sojourner Truth singing to a hostile crowd on a moonlit mountaintop, or Sacagawea seeing the ocean for the first time with her baby on her back, or an eerie view of the detritus at Dead Horse Bay. In “a song for Abigail Adams,” John Adams sends an indie-rock love letter to his wife. And one of the Dees’ grandmothers remembers what it was like to bump into NYC Mayor LaGuardia’s big belly back in the day.
The Deedle Deedle Dees’ two previous family music CDs, Freedom in a Box (2007) and American History+ Rock and Roll = The Deedle Deedle Dees (2009), won national acclaim. The Dees perform interactive, educational shows throughout the year at schools, libraries, theaters, parks and other family venues. They also develop original songs and shows based on curriculum via in-class workshops, long-term residencies, and other cooperative programs with schools. www.deedledeedledees.com
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see The Deedle Deedle Dees on Saturday, October 29th at 1pm at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA, along with a copy of their newest CD, Strange Dees, Indeed, is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below;
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES CONNECTS YOUR FAMILY WITH LOCAL HISTORY HERE IN WESTERN MA below (one entry per household); and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE), Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address with a third party).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Saturday, 10/22/11 @ 7pm (EST).
Crooked Still at the Calvin Theater
Northampton, MA
Saturday, Oct 8th @ 8pm
Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Crooked Still at the Calvin Theater on Saturday, Oct 8th along with their new CD, "Some Strange Country." Deadline to enter to win: Wednesday, Oct 5th @ 7pm.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
For the beginning of October we have two pairs of tickets to giveaway to see Crooked Still at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA on Saturday, Oct 8th at 8 pm. Each winner will also receive a copy of Crooked Still’s newest CD, Some Strange Country, from Signature Sounds! — Opening for Crooked Still, Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer.
Win the tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 10/05/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT CROOKED STILL
The musical prowess of this defiantly non-traditional bluegrass quintet is ever more apparent as they celebrate their 10th anniversary. They mix radically re-imagined traditional fare seamlessly alongside original compositions. For their fourth album, Some Strange Country, Crooked Still’s uses quasi-orchestral string arrangements and unique vocal distortion techniques to hone in on their unique refraction of roots music.
On Some Strange Country, Crooked Still has honed in on their unique refraction of roots music, recording their most personal, visionary album yet. “The music is not just ‘alternative bluegrass’ or whatever people used to call it,” fiddle player Brittany Haas remarks. “It’s at another level now: artful, but still grounded in that funky, string band thing.”
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a pair of tickets to Crooked Still with opening act by Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA on Saturday, Oct 8th, 2011 @ 8pm, along with a copy of Crooked Still’s newest CD, Some Strange Country, is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below;
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES CONNECTS YOUR FAMILY WITH PERFORMANCE VENUES IN WESTERN MA below (one entry per household); and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE), Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address with a third party).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 10/05/11 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win, tickets can be purchased at the Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street, by phone at 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com.
Medieval Faire & Armored Tournament
Ventfort Hall in Lenox, MA
Sunday, October 9 from 10am-5pm
3rd Annual Medieval Faire with displays of armored combat; equestrian demonstrations; medieval arts, crafts, and clothing; strolling troubadours; and lectures on feudalism and medieval society. (Courtesy Photo, Kevin Sprague)
Medieval chivalry comes alive in the Berkshires at the Ventfort Hall 3rd Annual Medieval Faire & Armored Tournament in Lenox, MA on Sunday, October 9th from 10am-5pm … and Hilltown Families has a family 4-pack of tickets to giveaway to one lucky family!
The Medieval Faire & Armored Tournament is an excellent way to learn about medieval society through demonstrations and enactments. There will be strolling troubadours, lectures, people dressed in period costumes, medieval arts, armored combat demonstrations and much more!
Enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 09/28/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT The Medieval Faire & Armored Tournament
Medieval chivalry and armored tournaments are not dead, but alive and thriving. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum will host the 3rd annual Medieval Faire at the historic Jacobean-Revival mansion in Lenox on Sunday, October 9 from 10am to 5pm. The series of events will include exciting displays of armored combat every hour, equestrian demonstrations, medieval arts, crafts and clothing, strolling troubadours and musicians, and lectures on feudalism and medieval society. Men in armor and women in period costumes will take part in the action.
Heading the program is Jeffrey Mann, a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, one of the world’s largest medieval living history organizations, for nearly 30 years. Mann’s specialty is the study of the evolution of armor through the Middle Ages, how it is made and tournament combat. For over 20 years, Mann, his squire and retainers have taken their interest and knowledge of medieval life to schools, nursing homes and scouting organizations, bringing the Middle Ages alive.
Mann states, “Our lively presentation helps sort fact from fiction and explain how many of our modern customs evolved from then till now.”
ABOUT VENTFORT HALL
Ventfort Hall is an imposing Jacobean Revival-style mansion built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, the sister of J. P. Morgan. Designed by the architects Rotch & Tilden, it is located in Lenox, Massachusetts. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and declared an official project of “Save America’s Treasures,” a Millennium program of Hillary Rodham Clinton and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Ventfort Hall is the home of The Museum of the Gilded Age.
Ventfort Hall was one of the approximately seventy-five so-called “Cottages” built in Lenox in the last century when the village became a popular Gilded Age resort. Through lectures, exhibits, theatrical performances and other events, The Museum of the Gilded Age interprets the great changes that occurred in American life, industry, and society during the Nineteenth Century, a fascinating period of American history. For more information visit www.gildedage.org.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of free tickets to the 3rd Annual Medieval Faire & Armored Tournament at the Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum on Sunday, October 9 from 10am-5pm in Lenox, MA is as easy as 1-2-3 (4, 5)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN AUTUMN DAY IN THE BERKSHIRES WITH YOUR KIDS below (one entry per household), and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE). Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.— Deadline is Wednesday, 09/28/11 @ 7pm (EST)
Cirque du Soleil presents Quidam
The Mullins Center in Amherst, MA
October 5-9th, 2011
Enter to win a family 4-pack of free tickets to see Quidam on opening night, Wednesday, October 5th at 7:30pm at the Mullins Center in Amherst, MA. Deadline to enter to win: 10/2/11 @ 7pm (EST)
Cirque du Soleil is coming to town with its newest arena show, Quidam, performing 7 shows at the Mullins Center at UMass in Amherst, MA, from October 5-9, 2011.
Hilltown Families is partnering with the Mullins Center and Cirque du Soleil to offer one lucky family a chance to win a family 4-pack of free tickets to see Quidam on opening night, Wednesday, October 5th at 7:30pm! Deadline to enter to win is 10/2/11 by 7pm (EST). Details on how to enter to win are below.
ABOUT QUIDAM
Young Zoé is bored; her parents, distant and apathetic, ignore her. Her life has lost all meaning. Seeking to fill the void of her existence, she slides into an imaginary world – the world of Quidam – where she meets characters who encourage her to free her soul.
Quidam: a nameless passer-by, a solitary figure lingering on a street corner, a person rushing past and swallowed by the crowd. It could be anyone, anybody. Someone coming or going at the heart of our anonymous society. A member of the crowd, one of the silent majority. The one who cries out, sings and dreams within us all. This is the “quidam” whom this show allows to speak. This is the place that beckons – a place for dreaming and genuine relations where all quidams, by proclaiming their individuality, can finally emerge from anonymity.
Quidam had its world premiere in Montreal, Canada under the Big Top in April 1996. Since that time, the production has toured on five continents and been experienced by millions of people. In December 2010, Quidam embarked on a new journey, performing the same captivating production, but now in arenas throughout North America. The international cast features 52 world-class acrobats, musicians, singers and characters.
Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in nearly 300 cities on five continents. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of free tickets to see Quidam on opening night, Wednesday, October 5th at 7:30pm at the Mullins Center in Amherst, MA is as easy as 1-2-3 (4, 5)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN AUTUMN DAY IN WESTERN MA WITH THE FAMILY below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below. — Deadline is Sunday, 10/02/11 @ 7pm (EST).
Keb’ Mo’ at the Calvin Theater
Northampton, MA
Thursday, Sept 22nd @ 8pm
Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Grammy Award winning artist Keb' Mo' at the Calvin Theater on Thursday, Sept 22nd. Deadline to enter to win: Monday, Sept 19th @ 7pm.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
This month we have two pairs of tickets to giveaway to see Grammy Award winning artist Keb’ Mo’ at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA on Thursday, September 22nd at 8 pm.
Win the tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win is Monday, 09/19/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT KEB’ MO’
Three time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Keb’ Mo’ makes music that is a living link to the seminal Delta blues that traveled up the Mississippi River and across the expanse of America. His new album, “The Reflection,” is his first new studio release since 2006. The album finds Keb stretching out into various styles, rooted in soul, jazz and r&b. His trademark honest, unadorned vocal, his deceptively simple, sublime guitar work and his catchy melodies are here, of course, but with this recording Keb is more expressive than ever. He has significantly raised the bar for himself. www.kebmo.com
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a pair of tickets to Keb’ Mo’ at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA Thursday, Sept 22nd, 2011 @ 8pm is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting the Facebook icon below;
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO ENJOY A PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT IN WESTERN (aside from seeing Keb’ Mo’ in concert) below (one entry per household); and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE), Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address with a third party).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Monday, 09/19/11 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win, tickets can be purchased at the Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street, by phone at 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com.
This new title by the Nields comes with a CD of 30 songs, and includes the Nields' charming illustrations, popular song lyrics, games, and more. This book will help parents and their kids slow down their hectic pace and stay in tune as a family! Find out how you can enter to win below.
We’re thrilled to announce that our very own Western MA folk duo, sisters Nerissa and Katryna Nields, have just released their new book, All Together Singing in the Kitchen: Creative Ways to Make and Listen to Music as a Family… and Hilltown Families has two copies to giveaway to two lucky families! Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 09/14/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUTAll Together Singing in the Kitchen
Sisters Nerissa & Katryna Nields, have been performing as a folk-rock/singer-songwriter act known as The Nields for 20 years now. They have toured North America and have 15 CDs released into the world on major labels, indie labels and our own labels. They love making music for audiences and continue to do that, but in recent years, realized their life’s mission is really about teaching people how to make their own music. Several years ago, after adding four kids to their families, they began releasing kids/family CDs and a DVD. They now teach popular HooteNanny classes for toddlers/preschoolers in Western MA, and this book sprang from that program. This book is meant to show every parent (or grandparent) that they do have musical abilities to share with the children in their lives. It’s a lovely, empowering book and Nerissa & Katryna have a lifetime of experience to share.
InAll Together Singing in the Kitchen you’ll find all the tools you need for family music making along with CD of 30 songs… you don’t need to know a thing about music to get started. Filled with songs (with lyrics, chords, and audio recordings) to get you singing, musical games to get you dancing, and tips on playing instruments to get you grooving, this book will help you make music a larger part of your family’s life, from playtime to bedtime. – Making music with your family practically guarantees a lifetime of distinct, memorable, warm moments of togetherness.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, Sept 12th
4-5:30pm – Nerissa & Katryna Nields’ All Together Singing In The Kitchen Book Release Party (mini concert, craft project, singing games): The Nields will perform a brief concert in the Whole Foods Market cafe from 4-4:30, followed by a demo featured in their book about making drums made out of tin cans (provided by Whole Foods) for families to bring home, plus a round of singing games featured in the book and, finally, signing of their new books – one day ahead of its official release date. 413-586-9932. 327 Russell St., Hadley, MA (FREE)
Tuesday, Sept 20th
7–8:30pm – Nerissa & Katryna Nields’ All Together Singing In The Kitchen Book Reading, Performance, Signing will happen at Broadside Books. 413-586-423. 247 Main St., Northampton, MA (FREE)
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN ENTIRE DAY IN WESTERN MA WITH THE FAMILY (any season) below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 09/14/11 @ 7pm (EST).
UPDATE (8/16/11): Concert has been moved to The Calvin Theater in Northampton
Bright Eyes plus Titus Andronicus
at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA Calvin Theater in Northampton
Sunday, August 28th, 2011 @ 7pm
Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Bright Eyes plus Titus Andronicus at Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA on Sunday, August 28th! Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, Aug. 24th. Details on how to enter to win are outlined below.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
Bright Eyes plus Titus Andronicus are coming to Mountain Park in Holyoke Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA on Sunday, August 28th this month and we are giving way two pair of lawn tickets for two lucky couples to enjoy an evening out!
Win the tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 08/24/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT BRIGHT EYES
Bright Eyes became a household name (in a certain kind of household) when, for a few months in early 2005, they seemed ubiquitous. From magazine covers to late night talk shows, they were name-checked by everyone from sports casters to country stars. Conor Oberst has spent much of the last few years recording and touring with friends and musicians, The Mystic Valley Band, as well as releasing a a highly acclaimed album and tour as part of the so called indie supergroup Monsters of Folk. The People’s Key – the band’s seventh studio album – is the eagerly awaited follow-up to 2007’s acclaimed Cassadaga. Fully realized and bursting with charisma, The People’s Key is assured and accomplished, artfully arranged and filled with the engaging and mesmeric songwriting for which Oberst is renowned. www.conoroberst.com
ABOUT TITUS ANDRONICUS
Titus Andronicus is a punk/indie band from Glen Rock, New Jersey formed in 2005. The group takes its name from the Shakespeare play Titus Andronicus. Their debut album, The Airing of Grievances received widespread acclaim. The album’s loud, heavily distorted guitars are influenced by the shoegaze genre, while the lyrics and song titles are references to various books and other forms of entertainment (such as the album title, from the Seinfeld episode, “The Strike”, about Festivus). Titus Andronicus’ second album, The Monitor, was released on March 9, 2010, the same month that Rolling Stone magazine named the band one of the 10 best new bands of 2010. www.titusandronicus.net
ABOUT MOUNTAIN PARK
(UPDATE (8/16/11): Concert has been moved to The Calvin Theater in Northampton.) Following its opening in 1894 as a picturesque retreat on the side of Mount Tom, Mountain Park expanded and evolved into one of the most beloved amusement parks in New England. At the beginning of the 20th century, Holyoke was the most prosperous community in the state and the first planned industrial city in the United States. The city’s progress drew crowds of visitors to Mountain Park, and the park gradually developed into a bustling destination. Although the park closed its gates in 1987, the echoes of laughter from generations of visitors still reverberate throughout the Pioneer Valley. Today, Mountain Park evolves into the next millennium as a new host for music, entertainment and outdoor family fun.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a pair of lawn tickets to seeBright Eyes plus Titus Andronicus at Mountain Park in Holyoke, Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA Sunday, August 28th, 2011 @ 7pm is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN ENTIRE DAY IN WESTERN MA WITH THE FAMILY (any season) below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 08/24/11 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win, tickets can be purchased at the Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street, by phone at 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com.
Redcoats & Rebels
at Old Sturbridge Village
Weekend of August 6th & 7th
History comes alive for families at one of our local living history museums! Enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets to "Redcoats & Rebels" at Old Sturbridge Village for the weekend of August 6th & 7th, 2011. Details on how to enter to win below. Deadline to enter: August 3rd.
History comes alive as Redcoats & Rebels, New England’s largest military reenactment, returns to Old Sturbridge on August 6th & 7th … and Hilltown Families has a family 4-pack of tickets to giveaway to one family for the weekend!
Redcoats & Rebels is an excellent way to explore early American history with the family at one of our local living museums, including fashions and customs from Colonial America, marching and drill demos, fife and drum music, medical procedures, Revolutionary War reenactments, and much more!
Enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets for the weekend. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 08/03/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
ABOUT REDCOATS & REBELS
See the largest military re-enactment in New England — nearly 1,000 soldiers portraying British, Irish, Welsh, German, Scottish, French and Colonial troops. The Village is transformed into a military camp from the time of the War for Independence, as it was known in early New England. Come see what it was really like for those who fought to win America’s freedoms.
Following a parade of British troops through the town, the Village fields will become the site of a mock battle each afternoon. Troops will reenact a battle scenario where Americans and their allies attack a British-occupied town. Visitors can see surgeons “treat the wounded” and see the American troops get their smallpox inoculations. Throughout the day they can tour behind-the-scenes in both the British and American camps to learn what life was really like for these 18th-century soldiers. See how laundry was done, and meet the surgeons who tended to the wounded and administered smallpox inoculations.
Other events designed to provide a look into the lives of soldiers include reconnoitering with a Ranger from Peter’s Corps, and a prisoner exchange between the Americans and British (Saturday only). Special events on Sunday include a Sunday Service for the troops, the arrival of American soldier’s pay and uniforms, and a court martial trial with the HMS Somerset. Young visitors will enjoy learning the real words to “Yankee Doodle,” making tri-cornered hats, and drilling with the Second Massachusetts Regiment.
In addition, visitors can learn about the fashions and customs of the time during programs like “Mrs. Peabody’s Levee” – a look at 18th-century foundation garments presented by the group “Ladies of Refined Taste,” which will also present “Runaway Runway” – a look at civilian clothes in the late 1700s. Military fashions through the years will be presented by the Tenth Massachusetts Light Infantry. On Saturday, music, dancing, and ball games will be featured. A complete schedule of activities can be found at www.osv.org.
ABOUT OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE
Old Sturbridge Village celebrates life in early New England from 1790 – 1840. Located just off the Massachusetts Turnpike and Routes I-84 and 20 in Sturbridge, Mass., OSV is open year-round, but hours vary seasonally. Currently, the Village is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Admission is: $20 for adults; $18 for seniors; $7 for children ages 3-17; children under 3 are admitted free. Each admission includes free parking and a free second-day visit within 10 days. For details, visit www.osv.org or call 800-733-1830.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a a family 4-pack of tickets to Redcoats & Rebels for the weekend of August 6th & 7th at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND A DAY OUT AND ABOUT IN WESTERN MA WITH YOUR KIDS (any season) below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 08/03/11 @ 7pm (EST).
The Decemberists
at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA
Sunday, July 31st, 2011 @ 7pm
Enter to win a pair of tickets to see The Decemberists at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA on Sunday, July 31st! Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, July 27th. Details on how to enter to win are outlined below.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
The Decemberists were one of the first bands to play at Mountian Park in Holyoke in 2009 and the Portland, Oregon band whose artistic and career trajectory has continued to rise will return to the outdoor mountainside venue this summer on Sunday, July 31st at 7pm – and we’re giving away two pair of lawn tickets for two lucky couples to enjoy an evening out!
Win the tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 07/27/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
The Decemberists have just released the video for “This Is Why We Fight,” a cinematic tour-de-force by acclaimed director Aaron Stewart. “This Is Why We Fight” is the second single from the band’s new album The King Is Dead (Capitol Records), which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 after its January 2011 release.
ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS
With their brilliant sixth album, The King Is Dead, The Decemberists illustrate the power that comes from continual artistic evolution. One idea spawns a fully realized project and, from a seed within it, the next is born. The band’s wildly ambitious 2009 song cycle The Hazards of Love was a narrative suite that grew out of old English folk tunes. Colin Meloy took a few songs that had been left off of Hazards and started working on a set of more stripped-down, country-based songs. The mostly-acoustic arrangements on The King Is Dead, which included cameos from Gillian Welch and Peter Buck, showcase the ways in which The Decemberists’ Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query, and John Moen sound just as glorious in simple, concise compositions as they do on the elaborate structures that have defined their work for years. Says Meloy, “I guess I’ve kind of come back to a lot of the more American music that got me going in the first place; R.E.M. and Camper Van Beethoven and all these bands that borrowed from more American traditions like Neil Young and The Byrds.” The Decemberists take their live shows as seriously as their albums, and there is never a dull moment. www.decemberists.com
ABOUT MOUNTAIN PARK
Following its opening in 1894 as a picturesque retreat on the side of Mount Tom, Mountain Park expanded and evolved into one of the most beloved amusement parks in New England. At the beginning of the 20th century, Holyoke was the most prosperous community in the state and the first planned industrial city in the United States. The city’s progress drew crowds of visitors to Mountain Park, and the park gradually developed into a bustling destination. Although the park closed its gates in 1987, the echoes of laughter from generations of visitors still reverberate throughout the Pioneer Valley. Today, Mountain Park evolves into the next millennium as a new host for music, entertainment and outdoor family fun.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a a pair of lawn tickets to see The Decemberist at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA Sunday, July 27th, 2011 @ 7pm is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND A DAY IN WESTERN MA WITH THE FAMILY (any season) below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) Must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 07/27/11 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win, tickets can be purchased at the Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street, by phone at 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com.
Brooklyn to Burgy Balkan Bash Up
A Summer’s Eve Event in Williamsburg
Friday June 17th from 5-10pm
What do you get when you bring Balkan and Romany Music to the Hilltowns and mix it with Macedonian food and funny mustaches? A summer evening bash the whole family can enjoy! Enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets! Deadline is Thursday, June 16th!
Hilltown Families and Bread Euphoria are partnering up to offer a family 4-pack of free tickets to Brooklyn to Burgy Balkan Bash Up at the Williamsburg Grange on Friday, June 17th from 5-10pm in beautiful downtown Williamsburg, MA! Win tickets for a fabulous evening of gorgeous Gypsy music, a kids dance party, Balkan dance instructions, Macedonian food from Bread Euphoria and an evening dance… there will even be a Mustache Contest! Deadline to enter to win is Thursday, June 16th by 12Noon (EST). Details on how to participate below.
ABOUT THE BROOKLYN TO BURGY BALKAN BASH UP
Brooklyn’s Raya Brass Band team up with local heroes Radio Free Earth to take over the Williamsburg Grange at 10 Main Street (Route 9) in Williamsburg, Massachusetts on Friday, June 17, 2011 from 5 to 10 pm.
This special event promises to be a night rich in diverse musical stylings and fun for the whole family. Raya Brass Band does it on the dance floor, mashing up the music of Eastern Europe with American dance grooves. Featuring odd meters, unusual scales and a fine helping of gorgeous Balkan and Romany (Gypsy) melodies played on reeds, trumpet, accordion, tuba and drums, Raya Brass Band brings the East European get-down wherever it goes.
Radio Free Earth, a two-man “band on shuffle,” ignores boundaries to play the good stuff you don’t ordinarily get the chance to hear – “Crossover Music,” as the band calls it – featuring great songs by unknown people, unknown songs by great people, plus the band’s trenchant originals.
At 5pm, with the help of Grasshoppa Artist and dancer Maureen Shea, Radio Free Earth will be throwing one of their patented kids’ dance parties. At 6:30pm Raya Brass Band will offer a Balkan dance instructional, followed by a dance from 7 to 8pm. After that it’s anybody’s guess as RFE and RBB trade sets – and players – for a proper Balkan/American/world hoedown in the Grange Hall. As for the food, it’ll be Macedonian – says Mark Pollard of Bread Euphoria, “Think Greek Turkish, or Turkish Greek, if you prefer.”
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of free tickets to Brooklyn to Burgy Balkan Bash Up at the Williamsburg Grange on Friday, June 17th from 5-10pm in beautiful downtown Williamsburg, MA is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND A SUMMER’S EVE WITH THE FAMILY IN THE HILLTOWNS below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline to enter to win: Thursday, June 16th, 2011 at 12Noon (EST).
If you don’t win, you simply still must go! What a TERRIFIC way to spend a summer’s eve in the Hilltowns! Tickets are $10 general admission at the door, $5 for children under 12 and free for children under 5. Food and beverages will be provided by Bread Euphoria for an additional fee.
Win a Pair of Tickets to the
GREEN RIVER FESTIVAL
July 16th & 17th, 2011
Greenfield, MA
Enter to win a pair of tickets to the Green River Festival in Greenfield, MA! Deadline to enter to win is Thursday, July 7th. Details on how to enter to win are outlined below.
Hilltown Families and the Green River Festival have partnered up to offer two very lucky families a pair of tickets to the 25th Annual Green River Festival, the weekend of July 16th & 17th, 2011!
With a pair of tickets, and free admittance for children under twelve, two adults can take a gaggle of kids and plan on spending the at this great festival on either Saturday or Sunday (their choice)! Tickets do not including parking or food.
Details on how to enter to win are below. Deadline is Thursday, July 7th by 7pm (EST).
ABOUT THE GREEN RIVER FESTIVAL
Located in Greenfield, Massachusetts, the festival is presented by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce on the campus of Greenfield Community College. This 2-day festival combines music on multiple stages, delicious local food, crafts from a range of artisans, a dance tent, the River Meltdown tent, balloon illuminations and hot air balloon launches (weather permitting) for Western Massachusetts’ biggest outdoor event of the summer!
The Green River Festival began in 1986 as a balloon festival and has gained increasing popularity each year as more and more music and dance entertainment have been added. Today it has become a fantastic summer musical event in Western Massachusetts with three stages of music. This year the festival will feature Toots and the Maytals, Emmylou Harris, Eilen Jewell, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Mister G, Wanda Jackson, Grupo Fantasma, Patty larkin, Terry Adams and the New NRBQ, Black Joe Lewis & the Honey Bears, Baze & His Silly Friends, Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys, and many many other great acts! See the complete schedule here.
The Greenfield River Festival is a winning event and a great way to spend two days in Western MA! But what about non-events? Share with us a great way to spend one day with your family in the region.
In the spring, maybe you have a favorite sugar shack you enjoy breakfast at every year, followed by cross-country skiing at one of our local park or reservations, then your favorite place to pick up dinner at the days end.
In the summer, maybe you have your favorite morning farmers’ market you like to visit before lunch at a family friendly cafe or favorite picnic spot, followed by an afternoon bike ride or spray park, then an evening concert on the green, stopping for ice cream on the drive home.
In the fall, maybe you have a favorite farm to pick pumpkins in the morning, followed by an afternoon hike to view the foliage, stopping for a hot cup of cider at your favorite apple orchard as the day ends?
In the winter, maybe you know of a great place to get a steaming cup of hot cocoa after sledding, snowshoe hike or ice skating at an outdoor pond with the family?
You get the idea! We’re looking for recommended ways a family can spend a full day here in Western MA during any season. Selected recommendations will be featured on Hilltown Families throughout the year. From those, we will randomly select two winners to receive a pair of tickets to the Green River Festival for either Saturday, July 16th or Sunday, July 17th (their choice)!
To be eligible to win simply:
POST YOUR RECOMMENDATION AS OUTLINED ABOVE (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK and “Like” this post.
We’ll randomly draw two winners and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Thursday, 07/07/11 @ 7pm (EST).
Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell
A Family Concert at MASS MoCA
Saturday June 11th @ 2pm
"True children's music, but executed with such sweet (and un-gooey!) humor, casual multiculturalism and shambling groove that you can call it your own," says The New York Times about the music of Dan Zanes. - Enter to win tickets below. Deadline to enter is Wed., June 8th @ 7pm (EST).
Hilltown Families and MASS MoCA (North Adams, MA) have partnered up to offer a family 4-pack of free tickets to one very lucky family to see Grammy Award-winner Dan Zanes, and critically acclaimed children’s folk musician, Elizabeth Mitchell, live at MASS MoCA’s Hunter Center on Saturday, June 11th at 2pm! Find out how you can enter to win below:
ABOUT DAN ZANES
Dan Zanes is the former lead singer of the Del Fuegos, a garage pop band that was named “best new band” in 1984 by Rolling Stone Magazine. The birth of his daughter, Anna, in 1995, lead Zanes to start playing children’s music due to a dearth of intelligent musical options on the market at that time. Since 2000, Zanes has released 9 albums for children and was nominated for a Grammy in 2003 for the album House Party. His 2007 album,Catch That Train! won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children in 2003… among many other noteworthy awards and honors. www.danzanes.com
ABOUT ELIZABETH MITCHELL
Elizabeth Mitchell has been recording music for children since 1998 and will offer a solo performance this month at MASS MoCA. She has release 4 children’s music albums, including the gospel-folk-reggae album, You Are My Sunshine.
Hilltown Families contributing writer Amber Bobnar reviewed Elizabeth’s newest album, Sunny Day in her column, Must-Hear Music Monday. She writes: “Elizabeth sings many traditional folk songs from around the world, but combines them in her seamless style. Her voice and arrangements are soft and safe; you can’t help but feel comfortable and comforted while listening to her music. It’s perfect music for after-school-wind-down time, for snuggling, or for just feeling happy and at home.” www.youaremyflower.org
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of free tickets to see Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell live at the MASS MoCA’s Hunter Center on Saturday, June 11th at 2pm is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES CONNECTS YOUR FAMILY WITH LOCAL MUSEUMS below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline to enter to win: Wednesday, June 8th, 2011 at 7pm (EST).
Tickets for Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell in concert at MASS MoCA are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Mueseum members are eligible for a 10% discount. Tixs are available through their Box Office (Marshall St., North Adams, MA) or can be charged by phone by calling 413-662-2111 during Box Office hours, or online at www.massmoca.org any time.
JAM FOR THE FANS:
20th Anniversary Family Concert with The Nields
Saturday, June 11th @ 10:30am
At Northampton Center for the Arts
Jam For The Fans, the 20th Anniversary celebration of Nerissa & Katryna Nields making, recording, and performing music includes a very special Family Concert at the Northampton Center for the Arts (17 New South Street, Northampton) on Saturday, June 11 at 10:30am… and we have a pair of tickets to giveaway! The lucky winner will a pair of tickets AND a sampler of their music and videos, including All Together Singing in the Kitchen, Rock all Ray Rock all Night, and Organic Farm (DVD)!
ABOUT THE NIELDS
National recording musicians and front-women of the Northampton-based band, The Nields, which toured North America throughout the nineties, Nerissa & Katryna were a part of Lilith Fair, and have shared the stage with Natalie Merchant, Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, The Indigo Girls, James Taylor, Joan Baez, the Band, 10,000 Maniacs, Dan Zanes and countless others. They have released 15 CDs – two of which were family music recordings – as well as one family music DVD, two books, and they teach weekly “HooteNanny” family music classes. This fall, they will release their sixteenth CD entitled, Ten Year Tin: The Full Catastrophe, and their third book, All Together Singing in the Kitchen: Creative Ways to Make and Listen to Music as a Family.
HOW TO WIN
Win a pair of tix along with 2 CD's and a DVD!
Your chance to win a pair of tickets to Jam For Fans 20th Anniversary family concert with The Nields, along with two CD’s and a DVD,at Northampton Center for the Arts on Saturday, June 11th at 10:30am, is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)! To win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES KEEPS YOU CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline to enter to win: Saturday, June 4th, 2011 at 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win, you simply still must come to celebrate 20 years of great music by these fabulous Western Mass mamas! Tickets are $5/$10 child/adult in advance and can be purchased online at www.nields.com or by calling 413-527-9393. Tickets at the door are $7/$12 at the door
Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole
Iron Horse Music Hall ♦ Northampton
Friday, June 3rd, 2011 @ 7pm
We're giving away two pair of tickets for a night of Cajun music with Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole at the Iron Horse Music Hall on June 3rd! Zydeco dance lessons at intermission! Deadline to enter to win: 5/31 @ 7pm.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
For June we are pleased to offer a two chances to win a pairs of tickets to see Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole on Friday, June 3rd, 7pm at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA. There will even be Zydeco dance lesson with Larry Kauffman at the break!
Win the tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win is Tuesday, 05/31/11 @ 7pm (EST). More details below.
ABOUT CEDRIC WATSON
One of the most noted young talents to emerge in Cajun or Creole music in the past few years, Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy-nominated fiddler, vocalist, accordionist and songwriter of seemingly unlimited potential. Born in 1983, Cedric grew up in San Felipe, Texas surrounded by the sounds of blues, old soul, country and zydeco. Unlike his hip-hop focused peers, Cedric was drawn to the old-style French songs of Southwest Louisiana and the greater Houston area. He soon made his way to Lafayette, LA where he was enthusiastically accepted into the musical community and immediately recognized as an important participant in the continuity of Creole music. — www.cedricwatson.com
Listen up to Cedric’s song, Zydeco Paradise:
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole on Friday, June 3rd, 7pm at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA is easy & simple! To enter to win simply:
CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES KEEPS YOU CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Tuesday, 05/31/11 @ 7pm (EST)
If you don’t win you should still go. Tickets are available at the Northampton Box office, online at IHEG.com, or by calling 413-586-8686.
Welcome to Hilltown Families, a grassroots communication network for families living in Western Mass, established in 2005 by hilltown mother and long time activist Sienna Wildfield.
"Hilltown Families keeps us connected with all the amazing educational and cultural activities and resources that abound here in W. Mass and curates them in a way to let us know just what’s out there for the many varied interests of our young families and communities,while creating networks of support and growth." - Kara Kitchen (Plainfield, MA)
The Hilltown Family Variety Show (HFVS) airs Saturday mornings on Valley Free Radio, 103.3FM WXOJ, Northampton, MA from 9-10am with encores on Sunday from 7-8am. Playlist and podcasts are posted immediately following broadcast. Listen to our archived shows at any time: HFVS Archived Shows.
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disclaimer
Information provided on Hilltown Families (HF) is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Reasonable efforts are made to provide the most accurate information, but no guarantees of any kind can be made. Information can be changed without prior notice. Please check with 3rd parties to confirm all listings for date/time, cost, location and age appropriateness before attending. Opinions expressed on HF are that of the writer and not necessarily that of HF. In no event shall HF be liable (directly or indirectly) for any losses or damages causes (or allegedly caused) in connection with HF. All health and wellness related information is for entertainment purposes only and should not be used to substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. All provided links are provided as a courtesy and not as an endorsement.
The exhibit will be on display at the Forbes Library in Northampton for the month of February 2013, and at the City Hall Gallery in Easthampton from Sept 13-Dec 11, 2013. - We're currently booking shows for the Spring/Summer of 2013 and for 2014. Each exhibit is a unique showcase of images that correspond with the season and venue. Contact us to inquire about hosting this fundraising exhibit for Hilltown Families in your town/venue.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: Uncle Rock – AKA Robert Burke Warren – has lost count of the number of parents who have expressed relief and gratitude that a CD has been created that they can enjoy WITH their kids. The former globe-trotting bass player stumbled onto his most satisfying creative endeavor yet as a teacher’s assistant at the rural School Of The New Moon in Mount Tremper, New York, where Uncle Rock was born.
UNCLE ROCK U: Uncle Rock U, a collection of 17 songs, explores the joy, excitement and imagination of childhood. The album also reflects Uncle Rock’s indie-rock background (former bassist with The Fleshtones), his theatrical gifts (the lead in the London production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story) and his knack for connecting with children (being a Dad himself, as well as a preschool teacher).
THE BIG PICTURE: Shel Silverstein meets Buddy Holly! The eco-rock on Uncle Rock’s fourth CD is a salute to his musical heroes, with stylistic nods to Bowie, the Stones, Cat Stevens, and Johnny Cash. Cross-generational toe-tappin’ tunes for kids from 2 to 92!
NUMBER 1 DVD: “Uncle Rock is a musical Icon in the Woodstock area,” reviews Amazon. When you go to one of his live concerts, the smiling faces and energy flows as much from the parents in the audience as from the kids. Number 1 DVD captures positive, hopeful energy through a live concert shot at the famed Utopia sound stage in Woodstock, NY, plus five videos.
EXPRESS YOUR ELF: Express Your Elf is a holiday CD with a few surprises, including Uncle Rock’s versions of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” plus some rockin’ originals! Sure to be a welcome addition to your holiday CD collection!
Book Giveaway: We’re giving away a couple of copies of 
Your chance to win a family 4-pack of free tickets to see Quidam on opening night, 
Jam For The Fans, the 20th Anniversary celebration of Nerissa & Katryna Nields making, recording, and performing music includes a very special Family Concert at the Northampton Center for the Arts (17 New South Street, Northampton) on Saturday, June 11 at 10:30am… and we have a pair of tickets to giveaway! The lucky winner will a pair of tickets AND a sampler of their music and videos, including All Together Singing in the Kitchen, Rock all Ray Rock all Night, and Organic Farm (DVD)!
