The Pioneer Valley's Own

Join us October 8th and 9th for the Honk Festival in Somerville on the 8th and the parade and Cambridge on the 9th.

An awesome annual 3-day free festival bringing brass bands from all over the United States and the world to Somerville for a celebration of music, community and activism. Organized entirely by volunteers and now in its 10th year, the festival kicks off on Friday night with a lantern parade in Davis Square neighborhoods and a band showcase. On Saturday more than 25 bands take over Davis Square for a giant music and dance party. On Sunday, local community groups, artists, and activists working for a variety of progressive causes — economic justice, protecting the environment, world peace, an end to racism — join the brass bands to make a spectacular parade from Davis Square to Harvard Square along Mass Avenue. Other HONK! Fest activities include a Day of Action, when bands convene to play on behalf of a cause, and roundtable discussions for participating musicians and organizers of other HONK! festivals around the country to gather and share experiences. HONK! in Somerville has inspired festivals near – Providence, Brooklyn, Seattle, Austin, Detroit, and far – Australia and Brazil.

Boston Magazine recognized HONK! with a “2015 Best of Boston” award, writing “The music pounds in your chest. The activism moves your soul.” Please join us for our 10th anniversary celebration, and consider supporting the festival by volunteering, housing visiting musicians, or making a donation!

September 30th 7-10pm at the New City Brewery, 180 Pleasant Street, Easthampton. Enter from Ferry Street in the back of the building. The Harford Hot Several and the Expandable Brass Band will be part of the Brass Band Bash.

We will play 10am Friday August 26 in Greenfield, leading a 2-block parade at the beginning of a  festival called “Free as I Want to Be.”  It will take place jointly in Energy Park and Jaume I gallery on Miles Street and will feature a wide variety of musical performances, a visual art exhibition, craft fair, magic show and dancers. The event is organized by Community Enterprises, which serves adults (22-70+) with developmental/intellectual disabilities.

Come join this annual party to celebrate the harvest.  Come parade with us!  Sunday September 18, Noon.  We will start and end at the Hungry Ghost Bakery, 62 State Street, Northampton.  Other musicians and vendors participate in this delightful Hungry Ghost Bread Festival. Don’t miss it!

Join us at the Mason Square Branch of the Springfield City Library on Thursday, August 18th at 3:00 p.m.

The Expandable Brass Band will kickoff this Community Picnic– an afternoon/evening of farm fresh food, family fun, and time spent among neighbors!

The Springfield Carnival Association has partnered with Springfield City Library’s Mason Square Branch to present the 3rd Annual Community Festival. The free yearly event honors the Mason Square Branch Library’s benefactor, Annie G. Curran, and will include a wide variety of fun activities for all ages from 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 18th. Attendees can listen to live music from The Expandable Brass Band, Upstream, and LaDawn and Friends. Children will be delighted by facepainting and parrots, rabbits, and sheep from the Zoo in Forest Park. Families may also visit information tables and a voter registration station before enjoying fresh food at 5 p.m.

The Festival will be held at the Mason Square Branch Library, located at 765 State Street in Springfield. For more information, please call 413-263-6853. Click here for a complete listing of Festival events and performances. A rain date has been scheduled for September 1st, 2016.

We will be rehearsing/performing at First Churches on Main Street in Northampton July 31st from 12:30-2:30pm. Rehearsals are open to all (especially potential members). Contact us via this web site if you would like to get advance copies of music.

Stars In The Orchard 2016

Buy Tickets and get further information.

After the success of last year’s benefit, we are doing it again! A magical midsummer night’s cocktail party to benefit WAM Theatre with:

Wonderful music including the The Expandable Brass Band
Stellar entertainment
Delicious food
Wine made on site by Furnace Brook Winery

PLUS a Raise the Paddle auction with auctioneer Harry LaGess with funds going to WAM Events and Education! Hosted again by Hilltop Orchards in Richmond, MA, the evening’s guests will be the first to learn about this year’s beneficiary plus meet some of the cast of WAM Theatre’s fall mainstage production.

“This benefit, with it’s myriad of delights, is guaranteed fun for all! I can’t wait!” — Kristen van Ginhoven, Founder and Artistic Director of WAM Theatre

Thursday, July 14, 2016 at 6:30pm

Location: Hilltop Orchards in Richmond, MA

We are performing at the Taste of Amherst Sunday June 18th at 2pm.

Fine Arts Center Community Fest
May 1, 2016
1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Fine Arts Center Bezanson Recital Hall
Room: Plaza
UMass Amherst Campus
Celebrate 40 years at the FAC with a free party on the plaza.

Main Stage Schedule:

1:00 p.m. Mountain River Taiko Drumming
1:20 p.m. Pioneer Valley Symphony Chamber Choir
1:40 p.m. Yo-Yo Experts Performance
2:00 p.m. UMass Belly Dance / Bollywood Show
2:20 p.m. Expandable Brass Band
2:40 p.m. Amherst Ballet
3:00 p.m. Acapella by the UMass Dynamics
3:25 p.m. Mary Poppins theatrical singalong by ALS theater
3:50 p.m. The Primate Fiasco

Other activities & attractions:

Hoop Joy hula hooping performances and lessons
Dance lessons in the lobby – ballroom, hip hop, belly dance, etc
Interactive songs and games for kids by Renee Coro
Free face painting
Galleries and artists in the lobby and on the plaza
Lawn games and other activities
Crafting
Chalk art contest
University Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits
Exhibiting artwork from Anchor House of Artists & Zea Mays Printmaking Members
Food trucks, fair food and free popcorn
…And much more to come!

On May 15th we will be playing from 1 to 1:30 for the Community Farm Day at Abundance Farm.
253 Prospect Street
Northampton