The Pioneer Valley's Own
August 2nd, 2022 — Photos
We’ve had an active year so far. Here are photos from gigs in March, April, May, June, and July 2022.
Holyoke 2022 St. Patrick’s Parade
Playing for a school picnic, June 2022
April gig in Northampton
Easthampton Farmers Market, May 29, 2022
June 8, 2022
July 10, 2022 at Masa Mexicano restaurant, Florence, MA
August 2nd, 2022 — Photos
This was a wonderful gig, in spite of the rainy day! The parade route was 7 miles long, bringing us (on a truck bed) through many roads of Hatfield, Massachusetts on May 30, 2021. People along the route – on front porches, in tents in front yards, or in parked cars – cheered and waved.
December 28th, 2018 — Events
We will be rehearsing Sunday December 30, 12:30-2:30pm, indoors at the Flywheel Arts Collective, 43 Main St, Easthampton, MA. All welcome.
We are preparing for our gigs on Monday December 31 at First Night in Northampton.
November 30th, 2018 — Events
We will be playing for the 2018 Hot Chocolate Run this coming Sunday morning, supporting this important fundraiser for Safe Passages. We’ll be leading the walkers at about 9:00am, then continuing to play while the runners pass us by. What a wonderful annual event in downtown Northampton!
November 10th, 2018 — Events, Miscellaneous
“Friends and family will mark Fred Contrada‘s death the same way he lived his life – in style.”
https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/11/republican_reporter_fred_contr.html
“In a nod to his love of New Orleans, where he waited tables after graduating college, his family will hold a New Orleans-style parade, led by the Expandable Brass Band, from the Forbes Library to Hotel Northampton at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.”
His obituary in the Daily Hampshire Gazette included this invitation: “Please join us for a New Orleans-style parade and celebration of Fred’s life on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. when the Expandable Brass Band will lead a parade from Forbes Library to the Ballroom at the Hotel Northampton for a celebration from 1-4 p.m.”
[Our band will leave soon after the parade; we have a rehearsal elsewhere, starting at 1:15pm, for another gig.]
August 3rd, 2018 — Events
The Expandable Brass Band will play for the annual “Bread Festival” hosted by the Hungry Ghost Bakery, 62 State Street, Northampton, MA. The festival runs 11am to 5pm on Sunday September 23. We’ll start playing about 11:45am, and then lead a short parade through the streets of Northampton. Don’t miss this fun!
February 25th, 2018 — Miscellaneous
Our regular pattern of Sunday rehearsals (12:30-2:30pm) should resume on April 8, depending on the weather. When the weather is warm enough, we’ll resume OUTDOOR rehearsals at Maines Field, Florence – our standard rehearsal location for the past 10 summers. (We lack an indoor alternative for April 8, so may have to cancel that one.)
On Sunday April 15 we will rehearse at the Pathways Common House in Florence, MA. We thank our friends at Pathways for providing such a lovely and spacious room. We have enjoyed that space once a month this winter.
December 3rd, 2017 — Events
On January 14th, 2018, we will rehearse at Flywheel, 43 Main St, Easthampton, MA. 12:30-2:30pm
All our rehearsals are open to prospective members. Check postings on this website to learn the location of other upcoming rehearsals. In warm months (not now!) we rehearse outdoors at Maine’s Field in Florence, MA. In winter we tend to rehearse at Flywheel, or at the Common House at Pathways Co-Housing, or at the Williamsburg Library.
December 1st, 2017 — Events
We’ll be playing Friday night December 1, 7:00-8:00pm, at the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round in Holyoke Heritage State Park, Appleton Street, Holyoke. Come enjoy the festive Holyoke Holiday Market (4pm-9pm Friday, continuing on Saturday 11am-9pm). Food trucks, vendors, entertainment, and of course rides on the historic “Holyoke’s Happiness Machine.” This special event is a fundraiser for the Merry-Go-Round, which has been lovingly restored. Years ago it was at Mountain Park, Holyoke.
September 22nd, 2017 — Events
On Saturday afternoon October 28 we will play in and around the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden as part of the Springfield Museums event “A Mystery at the Museums.” Our gig starts at 2:00pm. For more about the event, see https://springfieldmuseums.org/program/a-mystery-at-the-museums/
or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/385476868536678/