Montague World Music Mini Festival

Weathervane Arts Proudly Presents: Montague World Music Mini Festival

Sunday, June 1 in downtown Turners Falls, MA

(In case of rain, this event will be rescheduled.)

1pm West African Drumming Workshop with John Hughes at the Brick House, 24 Third Street.

Internationally renowned composer, kora player, percussionist and vocalist John Hughes will offer an intimate and communal journey into the vibrant and joyful world of West African drumming—an ancient, living art form rooted in the Manding cultures. In this hands-on workshop, participants will gain a foundational understanding of the jembe (djembe) drum, its rich history and cultural significance.*Participants should bring a drum if they have one. A very limited number of drums will be available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a $0-$20 sliding scale donation to participate. No one will be turned away. Pre-register at weathervane.community.arts@gmail.com

4-7:30pm: World Music at Peskeompskut Park, Avenue A and Seventh Street

4pm. Led by clarinetist Jason Ditzian, Myrtle Street Klezmer is an ecstatic exploration into the past, present & future of klezmer- an instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe.

5pm. Consummate improvisers John Hughes (kora or 21 string harp/lute) and Stephen Katz (cello) present an avant-garde fusion of African and European musical string traditions at 5pm. Focusing on the essence of rhythm, harmony and silence, John and Stephen bring unique and proprietary styles of playing as well as the compositional agility to their collaboration.

6pm Closing the Montague World Music Mini Festival is Juan Carlos Marin Band, an ensemble of internationally acclaimed musicians led by Son Jarocho maestro Juan Carlos Marin. Son Jarocho is a traditional music and dance form from Veracruz, Mexico, featuring fast, danceable rhythms played on the 8-string jarana and catchy call-and-response melodies.

The Montague World Music Mini Festival is presented by Weathervane Arts and funded by RiverCulture, Greenfield Cooperative Bank, Harold Grinspoon Foundation, grants from the Mass Cultural Council Local Cultural Councils of Montague, Amherst, and Greenfield and by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts.