Hey everybody!
Happy Snow Day to those of you who are in the part of the country that is currently getting walloped (as my grandfather would say) by the storm the Weather Channel™ is calling “Stella.”
Enjoy the above video from our good friends, The Fawns. It’s their tune, “Snow Day” and it’s a tradition that Jodi started a while back to play on days just like today.
Keeping with a local theme, if you are in the Pioneer Valley and want a take on the weather that is intuitive, informative and refreshing make sure to check out Dave Hayes The Weather Nut. Dave, as many of you know, was Colorway’s original bassist and appears on both of our albums. He’s carved out quite a niche for himself (even being voted #1 in the Valley Advocate reader’s poll for best local meteorologist). Myself and tens of thousands (that’s right) of other valley residents count on him for up-to-the-minute takes on Mother Nature’s plans. And even if you aren’t a local I think you’d enjoy his fervor for weather.
Figured today is as good a time as any to update you on the rest of this lovely month of Smarch. 😉
On Friday (St Patrick’s Day, even) we will be heading back down to NYC again. This time we’ll be stopping in a new place in a new part of town. Shrine World Music Venue is the name of this amazing Harlem club. Our buddies in Shokazoba play there on a regular basis and we’ve heard nothing but great reviews of how they treat their bands and just the general vibe of the place and the area. We play at 9pm and the show is absolutely free!. Details and directions on all the shows mentioned below (or jump to our shows page here). You can join our Facebook Event Page here. If you can’t make it but know somebody who would enjoy what we do please pass it along or invite them yourself.
Two days later, on Sunday, 3/19 I’ll be playing a solo show at Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton. I’ve played there a bunch of times now and it’s always fun. They brew amazing beer on the premises and are a great addition to Easthampton’s vibrant business community. I play from 3-6pm. It’s absolutely free (again) and all ages! Here’s the Facebook Event Page for that.
Next Friday, March 24 is a big show for us. We will be competing in the second annual Valley Music Showcase at New City Brewery in Easthampton. We will be among five bands in this bi-monthly showcase who get to give it their all on stage in hopes for fame and glory. 1st & 2nd place finishers of each showcase will receive gift certificates and cash prizes. The winners are invited back as the headline band for the next month’s showcase. If we win this round we will move on to the “Crème de la Creme Playoffs” to be held at the end of the 2016-2017 season. The playoff winner earns $500 cash, a gig at the BIG E, & two full days free recording time at Northfire Studios in Amherst, MA. The 2nd place overall finisher will earn one free recording day. You can join our official Facebook Event Page here.
Part of the judging is based on audience reaction so we could really use your support for this one. It’s only $5 to get in and see six bands!!
I haven’t competed in a battle of the bands in a while. That said, I’ll never forget that time in 1985 when my band, Atria came in second only to Tina and Toni Allard (or the “T-N-T Sisters”) at the Fall River Police Athletic League’s annual talent show.
See, you can tell I’m the guitar player because I’m holding my guitar. And you can tell I love my hair because I am presenting it to the public with a sly cock of my head. Oh, and yes, I still have that trophy and that sleeveless shirt (and I might wear it on 3/24). 🙂
Moving on to the end of the month, on Thursday, 3/30 we will be closing out March with another FREE show at Whetstone Station Brewery and Restaurant in beautiful Brattleboro, VT. This is yet another all ages show and we’re really looking forward to coming back to Whetstone to play . . . and to enjoy some amazing food. We will play for a couple of hours starting at 8:30pm so come on down, have some grub and hang out with me and Matt and Riley for a couple of hours.
Well, that’s it for now, gang. I hope you all fare well in the snow if you are in that part of the country (or world) where it’s coming down like crazy. It’ll be spring before you know it and the flowers will be blooming. We have a lot of great shows coming up this year. You can see more about all of them right here and check out vids, pics and more anytime, anywhere.
And when you do see us next we promise to kick out some of the new material we’ve been working on. We’re really proud of it and can’t wait to share it with you.
Hope to see you at the shows!
Rock on,
~FAJ
All the deets:
Friday, March 17, Colorway Performs at Shrine World Music Venue, New York City
Happy to bring our music to a new part of The City. Come on out (on St Patrick’s Day even) to this great venue for all types of music from here, there and everywhere.
When: Friday, 3/17
Where: Shrine World Music Venue
2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd
New York, NY 10030 (Harlem, just below 134th St )
Directions
Find them on Facebook
Phone: (212) 690-7807
What time: 9-10pm
How much: No cover! (tips appreciated)
Full bar and menu available. Check out their amazing food offerings here.
Subway directions:
Shrine is located on the east side of Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (7th Avenue), just below 134th Street.
It is easily accessible from two subway lines. From the B & C train, exit at the 135th Street station and walk east,
away from the park, one short block across Frederick Douglas Boulevard and one normal block to Adam Clayton
Powell Boulevard. From the 2 or 3 train, exit at the 135th Street station and walk west, away from the hospital,
one block to Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. Various buses also run along St Nicholas Avenue and Malcolm X
Boulevard (Lenox Avenue). The M2 bus runs from the East Village and stops right in front of Shrine’s door.
Sunday, March 19, Alex Performs At Fort Hill Brewery, Easthampton, MA (solo show)
When: Sunday, March 19.
Where: Fort Hill Brewery
30 Fort Hill Rd, Easthampton, MA
Directions here
Fort Hill on Facebook
Phone: (413) 203-5754
What time: 3-6pm
Cost: FREE!! (tips appreciated)
This event is all ages!
Independent Music Award winner and Colorway guitarist, F Alex Johnson is back at one of the most unique places to see live music in the area: Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton, Mass. On Sunday, March 19 at 3pm come see Alex perform two sets of songs from his twenty five years of making music in the valley from atop Fort Hill’s intimate corner stage.
Since it’s inception in 2014 Fort Hill has carved out a niche for themselves hosting local legends like Ray Mason, Bruce Korona and Wildcat O’Halloran on a regular basis early and free (and all ages) every week. Alex has become a bit of a staple at the brewery over the past two years where he is fond of imbibing some of the nation’s top rated tap water while playing to both beer aficionados and the under 21 crowd alike.
Fort Hill Brewery is one of the areas best new places for fresh, craft beer made on premises.
From their website: Our goal is to provide the Pioneer Valley with the best traditional German-style lager for a clean, refreshing taste you’ll always come back to. All of our beers follow the German purity law of Reinheitsgebot, meaning that our beers contain only four ingredients: water, malt, hops, and yeast.
Not to mention they are the #2 thing to do in Easthampton according to Trip Advisor.
Friday, March 24, Colorway Performs At The Valley Music Showcase, New City Brewery, Easthampton, MA
When: Fri. 3/24
Where: New City Brewery
180 Pleasant St.
Easthampton, MA
Directions
(rear of building)
Phone: 413) 529-2000
Email: newcitybrewery@gmail.com
What time: the event starts at 8:00pm and finishes up at 10:45
Cost: $8.00 (write to/click info@colorwaymusic.com for advance tickets)
All ages!!
Special guest judges, including Massachusetts Senate President, Stan Rosenberg!
VMS Facebook Page here! And check out the official VMS Event Page for the March showcase.
Come on out and cheer on Colorway as they take part in the bi-monthly Valley Music Showcase. 1st & 2nd place finishers of each showcase will receive gift certificates and cash prizes. The winners are invited back as the headline band for the next month’s showcase. If we win this round we will move on to the “Crème de la Creme Playoffs” to be held at the end of the 2016-2017 season. The playoff winner earns $500 cash, a gig at the BIG E, & two full days free recording time at Northfire Studios in Amherst, MA. The 2nd place overall finisher will earn one free recording day.
Part of the judging is based on audience reaction so come on out and root for Colorway!
Thursday, March 30, Colorway returns to Whetstone Station, Brattleboro, VT
Colorway is excited to return to one of Brattleboro’s best places to see live music, Whetstone Station. The venue is located right off of downtown and right on the banks of the Connecticut River. Don’t miss this very special performance. Whetstone Station has amazing food, craft beers, a full bar and so much more.
When: Thursday, 3/30
Where: Whetstone Station
36 Bridge St
Brattleboro, VT
Directions
Whetstone on Facebook
Phone: (802) 490-2354
Time: 8:30pm
Cost: Free
All Ages!
See their full lineup of music right here.
PS:
Remember, the new album is available at www.colorwaymusic.com on CD and 180gram vinyl, as well as at www.colorway.bandcamp.com for the digital download. And to celebrate a year of The Black Sky Sequined, through the month of May everything in the store is 20% off. But you can also pick it up an any one of these great Valley establishments. Support your local musician and support you local music store.
Turn it Up
5 Pleasant St
Northampton, MA
Platterpus Records
28 Cottage St
Easthampton, MA
Cup and Top Cafe (CD only)
1 North Maple St
Florence, MA
Electric Eye Records
52 Main St Suite 6
Florence, MA
Mystery Train Records
178A North Pleasant St
Amherst, MA
“No music, no life.”