The Fabulous 413

On this last day of October, we delve headlong into horror, which is not a nice way to talk about politics, but it may be accurate for some.To make it a little less scary, we’ll continue our conversations with the candidates for the 2nd Congressional seat.Independent challenger Cornelius Shea as we explore one of his key issues: Immigration, plus his position on Social security regulations, his thoughts on hunger policy, and more.Incumbent Rep. Jim McGovern, gives us his stump speech, responds to a dept of agriculture rumor we’ve heard from Politico, and gives quickfire answers to a long list of questions we've got in these last few days leading up to the election.Then we’ll take on the REAL scaries of Halloween with an eerie new special on NEPM TV tonight from New England Legends. “Ghosts and Witches” will traverse new haunts and haints of the regions countryside just after trick or treating time. So we have a chat with one of the creative forces behind the series and get into some of the gorier details of the ghouls and grotesqueries of Western Mass with folklorist Jeff Belanger.

We’re looking at the legacies of people and of the land itself. For people, it’s in the styles beats and compositions of Max Roach, who in addition to developing a well respected and still followed practice on the drums taught at UMass Amherst for a little over 2 decades, and helped to initiate the institution's Jazz program.The wealth of his compositions will be honored with a celebration for his 100th birthday this year. And we’ll talk with some of the folx involved: Damany Gordon of Genuine Culture, LLC and drummer Colin Jalbert who'll take the stage during the event, about the importance of his style and what you’ll be in store for when three drummers take the stage at the Iron Horse this Friday in tribute. And for the land, we’re highlighting a crop that has always been a nationally celebrated part of Western Mass: The Apple. Or rather Cider to be specific. Franklin County Cider Days is this weekend, lauding the many varieties, producers, and enthusiasts of the best fall beverage and the fruit that makes it possible. We head to West County Cider, who themselves are celebrating 40 years of cidermaking, and speak with brewers Field Maloney & Judith Maloney of West County Cider, orchardist/educator/shepherd Matt Kaminsky, of "Gnarly Pippins", volunteer coordinator for Cider Days Sue McFarland, and CISA's Claire Morenon to hear how has built and encouraged community over the years, the special things apples can do, and what activities you can participate in this weekend. Plus Word Nerd Emily Brewster, senior editor at Merriam-Webster, explains the origins of your children threatening your neighbors for the sweet stuff. Which is to say we look at the history of the phrase “Trick or Treat” which you’ll probably hear a lot tomorrow, kids and candy or no, and how long the tradition of demanding candy from strangers has been happening in the US.

Today on the Fabulous 413, we’re speaking with folx forging a path for themselves and their future on Capitol Hill and in the hilltownsIn Northampton a visual outline of the struggle for health care and equity is portrayed through the photos and drawings of Christos Palames. He’s got an exhibit currently up at the New England Visionary Artists Museum that looks at the course of his life and where it’s intersected with advances in equitable disability care and community. And the museum and exhibit themselves have an interesting history so we’ll tour the works with the artist and the museum’s founders Michael Tillyer and Susan Foley to hear about curating for this exhibition, and how their space is used and useful to the greater community as well through the building in which it's housed, the Anchor House for Artists. Plus the race for the 1st Congressional seat is heating up, and we’ll speak with the opponent for the position: Independent Nadia Milleron taking on one of the longest tenured elected officials in office. Richard Neal. We’ll hear from the candidate her reasons for running, her key issues, and about the long line of her family’s political activism as she seeks to lend a new voice to the House of Representatives

Today we’re going out in the field with Lindsay Patterson and Marshall Escamilla of the Tumble Science Podcast for kids to take a look at one of the places in Western Mass that you can see dinosaur tracks. Because it turns out, there’s a bunch of spots that you can find them right here along the Connecticut River. So many in fact that they’ve created a whole map for NEPM that you can use with your little ones to find them in your own time. We go hands on with the pair in Gill to find out how the science around locating the tracks evolved and changed paleontology as a whole, how these particular tracks end up being so well preserved, and what to look for when you’re out discovering in the wilds of Western Massachusetts... and it's like one of those cool crossover episodes between network shows. Mr. Universe, Salman Hameed of Hampshire college and Kainaat Studios wants you to watch more PBS, because Nova is really awesome, though and Salman breaks down just a few reasons why. Plus he'll address the majesty and mystery of brown dwarfs. And for us, there's the tiny milestone of this being our 400th show. No biggie.

The Shea Theater is transforming itself into a Leviathan tonight and tomorrow. It’s a happening an amazing immersive experience that transfigures the whole venue into a wholly otherworldly place. And at the core of this performance is our Live Music Friday Guest: Cloud Belly, who’ll talk about how doing expansive theater in this fashion effects the music they make. And as you stay for the play Fantasy has in store for you, we’ll take you a little further south to Easthampton where tonight the next recipients of the Pay it Forward Grant are taking to the stage. Human Agenda Theater is gearing up for a ONE NIGHT performance of their latest work “Within the Glow” which is about human gatherings, the good and bad that comes with it and why it’s an essential part of our humanity. And sorry PSL people, the real beverage of the fall is cider. And Western Mass is literally at the heart of the hard cider revival. We head to Provisions Northampton to check out two classics from the cidery that really showed American cider makers what might be possible in a West County Cider thunderdome with Benson Hyde and Bruce McAmis.

It is a fraught 12 days before the elections all the better to acquaint you with the options on your ballotSo today, we’ll give the folx from the 2nd congressional district the opportunity to do just that. by speaking with the challenger for the seat: Independent Cornelius Shea. We’ll learn his history, his drive for a spot in the house, his core issues and more as he seeks to connect with and learn more about the folx in the western MA section of the districtWe’ll even hear the current person in that seat U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern answer some of the questions Shea has for him about his tenure and positions. Plus we'll learn McGovern's feelings about the fate of the House of representatives writ large as the elections loom ever closer, and the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and the Middle east. If all that politics gets you anxious, maybe what you need is a little zhuzhing and a night on the town. Richie Richardson of FAB Fashion joins us to talk about Fab Passion Fashion Week New England going on October 25 and 26th. Along with his collaborators Richard Young, and Jerry Jordan Brown, we’ll clean up our seams and line up how the culture of fashion can have a local impact.

We’re getting you in touch with your kids, Because we’re betting that a lot of you out there are hearing them say words that mean absolutely nothing to you. In no small part because like children, the words themselves are growing into their meanings. One of those words might just end up being the American Dialect Society’s word of the year. Word Nerd Emily Brewster senior editor at Merriam-Webster walks up through the uncertainty surrounding "skibidi", and how that might just end up being at the top of their list for 2024. (Also how you can nominate words for that list yourself!)We’ll also get a sneak preview of an artist you can catch this evening in Amherst at The Drake. Singer-songwriter Antwaun Stanley is taking a break from his work with Vulfpeck, Cory Wong, and many others to embark on an acoustic tour. He'll make a stop in Western Mass, and bringing his incredible vocal versatility and keyboardist John Notar to our studios for an impromptu Live Music Wednesday before his show tonight. And although the area lost Belchertown realist painter Gregory Gillespie towards the end of the century, a new documentary takes a closer look at his life and portfolio. We’ll speak with filmmaker Evan Goodchild and Britt Ruhe, whose organization Commonwealth Murals the screening this Sunday at the Academy of Music in Northampton will benefit, about the importance of Gillespie's work and the challenges of bringing it to the screen in with "The Painted Life of Gregory Gillespie".

It is a giant emotional roller coaster of a show! Our nation has a legacy of slavery, and a whole host of ways it would like to deal with that legacy. The Healing Racism Institute is taking it’s own approach by bringing author Tom DeWolf in for a talk with interim director Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery. DeWolf is a descendant of the largest slave trading family not just in New England, but in the whole nation. This evening the two will talk about the author’s experiences represented in the documentary Traces of the trade, which lead to his book Inheriting the trade, and a greater conversation about confronting the ripples in history slavery has left behind and the North’s particular place in that narrative. We’ll also head to Wilbraham for a legacy of a much different sort. Rice Fruit Farm has been bringing produce and delicious baked goods to families, college students and more since the late 1800s. Current proprietor Anthony Meloni talks us through the many improvements he’s made to the establishment, including some award winning ice cream, the other farms that have come under his purview, and balancing the demand for agrotourism in his corner of Hampden CountyAnd we asked all of you about who you would like to see on the ballot for president this November, and you did not disappoint! We’ll hear about some of the characters you’d love to be able to put in the oval office as well.

We’re back from vacation!But while we were gone, we got the chance to see our friends, which is at the core of a neat initiative. Mary Daire of Dare Bottleshop and Provisions talks us through Come Over October, which is encouraging you to libate and reconnect with a bottle and those you love. And some of those friends are hitting milestones we’ve gotta celebrate. The Stavros Center for Independent Living is turning 50, and celebrating with a sold-out Gala later this week. It’s been 5 decades of growth and change since that first group of activists began this journey in a farmhouse in Amherst, and we’ll speak with CEO Angelina Ramirez, and friend of the show and director of development Jason Montgomery about the history of the organization, the many programs it’s created in it’s past 50 years, and what it has planned for the next half century. And Mr. Universe, Salman Hameed of Hampshire College and Kainaat Studios welcomes us back with a look at the looming and very real threat of nuclear war, how the trillions America has dedicated to nuclear weapons effects that prospect globally, and how the nuclear industry and their ideology is permeating academia here in New England

It's Friday, so we’ll have a lot of music, as is our wantBut we’ll also be celebrating the Bay State on screen. Made in Massachusetts is a carefully crafted amalgamation of over 200 movies that were shot in the commonwealth from 1922-2022. We speak with one half of the editorial team behind the massive endeavor Adam Roffman, as well as Berkshire Film and Media Collective’s Diane Pearlman about the movies from the century that made the cut, and what continues to appeal to studios about bringing their productions to our part of new England. Then it’s Live Music Friday times two: Including SF bay band French Cassettes who’ll make a stop to bring their catchy, clever pop to the Iron horse this evening, while celebrating the release of their third album “Benzene” earlier this year. The quartet manage to squeeze their expansive harmonies into our tiny studios and contemplate the growth they've made since their sophmore album's pandemic release.Double duty for Live Music Friday hits us with a tribute show at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls. Signature Sounds continues it’s songwriter series, which brings together current artists from their label and the area to celebrate the work of a pillar in Americana and folk and this Sunday the target of their admiration is Lucinda Williams. We’ll hear from Lisa Bastoni, Paul Kochanski, Jim Henry and J.J. O'Connell about the impact Williams has had for their own music, and what’s evolved about the series now in its 9th iteration.

A virtuoso is headed to Florence for a week-long residency. Pianist and Percussionist Omar Sosa has an amazing story and career that starts in Cuba, but has grown to be global, both in his sound and journey. Over the course of this week Bombyx will show a documentary about his life, host soundbaths inspired by his work, and have a continuation of the project he made with local musician and enthomusicologist Tim Eriksen in concert to cap it all off. We catch up with the musician and Soren Sorenson, the filmmaker behind "Omar Sosa's 88 Well-Tuned Drums," to hear about the important connections made through music. We’ll also check out homegrown frightful delights in Chicopee, where the newly minted Singing Bridge Pictures is preparing to screen its first film: a homegrown horror short. We chat with Wade Wofford, director of both the short and Chicopee TV, about building a neighborhood film club, keeping TV local through neighborhood media efforts, and the scare onscreen that might make you jump when they show the film on Oct 17th. And our weekly chat with Rep Jim McGovern ventures into the eye of Milton’s destruction, the ongoing plight of Gaza, and the books they don’t want you to read.

A little food, a little music, and a little something we can't quite think of the word forA whatchamacallit?A gizmo?A doodad?Word Nerd Emily Brewster, senior editor at Merriam Webster, walks us through the many vaguaries of placeholder words and portmanteaus and the way we linguistically gesture vaguely at things. For the music, we head to Northampton where a well established local band is about to team up with a very well established national act to raise money for a Western Mass organization. The Whole Children Friendship Band is just one facet of Pathlight, and Yo la Tengo is coming north from their NJ digs to join them onstage at a gala later in the month, and we’ll talk with some of the organizers and band members about their music, this collaboration, and the difference their organization has made to the greater community over the past decade and more.The food lands us in the very east end of Springfield to the Indian Orchard neighborhood, where on Saturday, they’ll host their 8th Food Truck Festival. With a bevvy of music, crafts, and gastronomic delights, we speak with Rep. Orlando Ramos and Indian Orchard Citizens Council President Zaida Govan about the impetus for the gathering and how it’s been growing over its tenure. And we get to share some of the delicious treats you might be able to indulge in on October 12th.

There’s a pile of art being grown right here in Western Mass, which might be underlining the whole point of our show, but we digressBecause in looking at that art, we might discover all new historical connections. Garden Cinemas is screening two unearthed silent films both created in and with people from Greenfield, and we’ll chat with the two historians who discovered them: Carol Aleman and Chris Clawson about the rarity of such a find, and the journey they took to restore it. We’ll also visit the many growing frights at McCray’s farm, who’s Fear on the Farm is entering its 34th year. We’ll hear not just how the dairy farm has grown into its many agro-tourism offerings, and about the many milky delights you can try out at their Creamery in South Hadley and along the CT river valley And our friendly local classical ensemble the Springfield Symphony Orchestra is about to embark on a new season! We speak with President Paul Lambert and Artistic advisor Mei-Ann Chen, who herself will take to the podium twice over the course of this year’s programming, about this year’s modern minded, but tradition acknowledging concerts including their very New England focused season opener on Oct 19th

New music and a new book and new science, oh my!Like, for instance, the debut novel by Easthampton Author Sarah Sawyer. "The Undercurrent" takes a winding road through a cold case to explore the connections of found and blood family, friends, and location through two tumultuous time periods. We explore her process and story before you can hear from the author herself at a book launch party at Williston Northampton School on Oct 8thIt's also a new album by New England grown Americana quartet Twisted Pine. While being our awesome guests at the Green River Festival, they were incubating a whole new set of music that’ll be released next week, coinciding with a show at the Iron Horse on Oct 18th. We’ll hear live music from most of the band about the theme and direction of this new set of songs from their upcoming LP "Love Your Mind".Plus Mr. Universe, Kainaat Studios and Hampshire College’s Salman Hameed will tell us about discoveries we can see with eyes both remote and in our actual bodies when we hear about the next destination for the Europa Clipper, and a comet that will cross the western mass horizon this week.

We’re exploring the past’s influence on the present.First, we head to Springfield Museums, where two exhibits have just opened exploring the artistry of glass. One which looks at the flora of Louis C.Tiffany’s stained glass. And another which looks at the art deco glass powerhouse through the work of locally based world renowned glass artist Josh Simpson. We not only get to explore the influence Tiffany had on the modern artist himself, but to check out a new book that highlights a project he’s done for years that puts his work in the hands of history. Live Music Friday brings the versatile folk singer Jenna Nicholls to croon her songs with a hint of the past. From cowboys, to piggy banks, to livelong loves, there’s a tint of the vintage in her sound.. Jenna has a double base of NYC and the Hudson Valley and has toured with Ingrid Michaelson, shared the stage with Oscar Winner Glen Hansard, Amanda Palmer, Lucius, and Joan as Policewoman and many more. And tomorrow, on Oct 5th, she will grace the stage of Egremont Barn alongside previous live music Friday guest Sean Rowe.And the Wine Thunderdome has us meeting old friends through a wicked small but mighty winery. Redolent Wines is a hyper-tiny wine house in the pacific northwest, and with winemaker Boyd Pierson and Emerson Stevens from Cafe Europa we have a blind tasting of two of their red blends at Dare Bottleshop and Provisions in Lenox.

Today we explore the beautiful, and the grotesque and the point where the two converge. The beauty *IN* the grotesque which is what Monster Arts 5 is all about. We head to Easthampton to see the curious wonders with curators and artists Athan Vennell and Sloan Tomlinson, and hear more about the legacy of the show, it’s growth since the pandemic, and the very real life Monsters that inspire some of the work you can see at its gala event this Saturday. We also re-discover the beautiful catalog of Jonatha Brooke who’ll be returning to the area this weekend for a show at the Iron horse. She’s got strong ties to the valley in a number of ways, not the least of which is her alma mater, and we’ll encounter some of her many inspirations, and the multitude of ways the world continues to inspire her, both on and off-stage. And our weekly chat with Congressman Jim McGovern is all about the debates, baby. The representative has some opinions about what went down on Tuesday, and we’re eager to get into all the grotesque details of how he thinks the confrontation played out between JD Vance and Tim Walz in their bids to become second in command of the country

What do kimchi tacos, loco moco, and currywurst all have in common? They’re all delicious points of intersectionality, or you might call them "Third Culture Foods".Today on the Fabulous 413, we’ll explore a new cookbook that highlights one of those communities that overlapped and developed its own cuisine in this fashion. Sabor Judio: the Jewish Mexican Cookbook is a new release from Restless Books and we’ll chat with co-Author Ilan Stavans about the tasty ways cultures can influence each other’s dishes, and the many recetas and stories he and his co-author Margaret E. Boyle gathered from members of "La comunidad". And taste a couple of the recipes from it that we made! Plus we got to hang out with all the cool kids in Amherst for the VP debate last night. We’ll go through some of the most memorable folx and moments from the battle of the second in commands, and how the people of Amherst watching with us reacted to them. And our local dictionary in Springfield is just a little bit bigger now, with 200 new words being added to it’s lexicographical girth this week. Resident wordster Emily Brewster, senior editor at Merriam Webster takes us on a tour through what additions now get a chance to grace its pages, paper and digital.

We’ve got some learning to do about our greater community, both in people and in plantsWhere the flora is concerned, we head to South Hadley to a brand new garden shop endeavor with an important focus. Ben and Meg’s Farm and Garden Store is making it their mission to get everyone a little closer to the earth, and a little more knowledgeable about incorporating native plants into their mix. We chat with co-owner Meg Haber and her team about how the shop came to be, and the good things about getting into the dirt in the Fall. And for the people, we’ll head to Amherst Cinema who are connecting feature films with the five colleges for their Five on Film series. We’ll chat with Yasmin Chin-Eisenhower, Alex Hornbeck, and Angela Combest about the process of gathering films that involved each of the institutions, the selections they’ve made for each, and the wealth of talent from the area that leaves its mark on proverbial celluloid for us all to enjoy. And across the street from the cinema, another debate, another NEPM party at White Lion to bear witness to the verbal carnage. The Vice Presidential candidates are about to throw down, and we’ll get you prepared before you come hang out with us in Amherst to see all the hot civic action.

Today sees the end of September and full on launch into fall one of the busiest times of year for farms and those that work on and with themOne of the farms that’s working extra hard to feed the people of the four counties is that of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. We meet up with Ex. Director Andrew Morehouse at their *second* farm location in Hadley to meet the folks working that land as they harvest crops for the organization, and hear how having two farms has allowed the food bank to further foster their programs, including incubating new farmers, and more educational programming, not to mention getting ready for a certain other host of this show to walk from Springfield to Greenfield to raise awareness about them. . We also head back to Williamstown to hear about the Nightmare on Spring Street series that’s starting up for the spookiest month of the year. Images Cinema director Dan Hudson walks us through their distinctly International focus for this year, and gives us a quick glimpse of their upcoming animation feature series as well. And Mr. Universe, Salman Hameed of Kainaat Studios and Hampshire College, is erupting with all new knowledge about volcanoes on the moon, and how recently they might have been active.

We’re taking advantage of these moments we have to be with one another. Especially since someone who's become a stalwart of the community is about to cross the pond an embark on a wicked cool academic journey. Prof. Steve Waksman has taught at Smith College for a little over 20 years, and now finds himself the recipient of a grant that will allow him to explore segments of music history previously under-served. We speak with the "Doctor of Rock" about his time in the Valley, about his upcoming research, and about his band "Electric Eyes" that is reuniting to give him a send off at the Iron Horse this Sunday. It’s also because sometimes those moments become an archive. May Pang, often known for being John Lennon’s girlfriend during his lost weekend, but it’s her photography of that time, and her ties to his music that give true insight to his work and life. All weekend, the moments she captured of that time will be shown at R. Michelson Gallery in Northampton, and we speak with the artist about her work in photos and music production, and about the story that only a new documentary could tell. . And perhaps most of all, it’s in building more connections as well. Live Music Friday brings folk artist Crys Matthews to the studio, where we’ll get a glimpse of the overflowing hope, truth, and pursuit of justice placed in each of her songs, hear about collaborating with Rhiannon Giddens and Melissa Etheridge, and the insights brought by her tour with Vance Gilbert and Seth Glier which makes a stop at the Iron Horse Tonight.

Today on the Fabulous 413, we’re out experiencing the southern Berkshires at one of the prettiest locations around, nestled in 44 acres in Stockbridge Massachusetts, what once was a family home is now a location open to visitors and nature lovers through Spring Summer and Fall. We’re broadcasting LIVE from the grounds of Naumkeag as they gear up for their Pumpkin Show which starts tomorrow. We discover the gilded age history of the building and grounds with the mastermind behind both the location’s two signature events: Brian Cruey, and find out more about the Salem born entrepreneur and diplomat who made the estate his family’s part time home, how his daughter brought the grounds to their current splendor, as well as the ways the public can now enjoy the space. We’ll also hear how the current staff at Naumkeag is partnering with local tribes to ensure that the much older story of the location’s land is preserved as well. Kendra Knisley, the new education manager for Trustees of Reservations, shows us how they’re working with Mission house to make sure the ongoing legacies of the indigenous peoples who lived there survive and continue. Plus Amanda Duquette, senior engagement manager for the Berkshires and Mary Detloff, Director of Public Relations let us in on all the things you can do in the not spooky part of the year on the grounds, as well as at the other Trustees locations throughout the Berkshires and elsewhere!.

There is a beauty to make up as we go along, feet on the ground, head in the sky. And not just with the Talking Heads reference either. The Northampton Jazz Festival takes place this weekend aiming to expand the exposure of people of all generations, ethnicities and orientations to live jazz, and bringing new visitors to downtown Northampton to increase the cultural vitality and economic strength of the city. Relaunched in 2018, the festival hosts a rich line-up of jazz artists from across the globe and around the region. Ruth Griggs, President of the Northampton Jazz Festival, and Ricard Torres-Mateluna, the festival’s Communications & Marketing director both join us in studio to talk about revitalizing the city's tangible connection to music through the festivals two days of offerings. It's also in showing people that there's better things to put in your glass. The area's second oldest brewery is celebrating its 30th birthday this weekend with a party in its honor at the Franklin County Fairgrounds. We talk with Gary Bogoff of Berkshire Brewing Company about how the craft brewer got its start, where it's future is leading, and all of the flak the company might have been taking over those decades about the misnomer of its name.And Word Nerd Emily Brewster takes us online to where the dictionary at which she is a senior editor has taken a newly beloved word game and turned it up several notches. Quordle takes the now NY Times game and multiplies it by four and we talk about its popularity and that popularities repurcussions while attempting to solve today's challenge.

We're always having fun on the farm especially in this busy time of yearAnd if three farms are coming together to combine their agricultural powers for the people and the land? We've been told that three is the magic number, and showing us some of the magic being made in Hadley are folx from Preservation Farm and Orchards in Hadley, where the 33 acres shared by Carr's Ciderhouse, preservation farm, and Meadowfed lamb allow us to discover how each of their very different farms are working together to raise better crops and resilience in the land as well. Nicole Blum and Ava Blum Carr join us to highlight the ways each farm shines, and the agricultural community that is growing at Preservation Farm and Orchards in Hadley. And we’ll clown around in the corn, where Mike's Maze, one of the biggest corn mazes in western mass, is always growing under a new theme and this year it is the Circus. We’ll head to Sunderland to tumble through the ears of this years design and speak with Mastermind Jess Marsh Wisseman and David Wisseman about the many hoops they’ve jumped through to make this Maze particularly memorable.

Today on the fabulous 413, Oh the worlds we have for you to discover near and far, and within our own systems. We head to Williamstown to Images Cinema to find out more about the democratic process, as their Civic Cinema series launches tonight. We’ll hear from Executive Director Dan Hudson about the films they’ve brought together on the subject, and why engaging with these issues and avenues on screen can hopefully lead to more civil discussion and engagement in person as we ready ourselves for the upcoming election season. It’s in the fantastical spaces just on the tip of our tongues and being created in fiction and language. Easthampton based author Jedediah Berry’s new novel “The Naming Song” comes out tomorrow and is an amazing tale of the power that language and story can hold. We’ll chat with the author about his inspiration, the transient nature of borders and words, and maybe his award winning games also, before you can join him at a release party at Odyssey books in South Hadley tomorrow night, Sept. 24th. And our resident astronomer Mr. Universe, Salman Hameed of Hampshire College and Kainaat Studios, helps us be overwhelmed by scale when he tells us about the longest star excretion currently known to scientists.

We are back at Mass MoCA in North Adams broadcasting live from the Fresh Grass Music Festival! FreshGrass is produced by the nonprofit FreshGrass Foundation, and features a diverse lineup including some of the best in grassroots music — from traditional masters and iconic trailblazers to new musical discoveries.The very family-friendly experience that brings the entirety of the Mass MoCA campus to life with music on indoor and outdoor stages and in museum galleries. We'll hear live music from Cynthia Sayer, who was commissioned to create a concerto for the festival, learn more about the collaboration between filmmaker Billy Luther and musician Olivia Komahcheet, which will be viewed as part of the Fresh Scores feature, and from the people who help put it all together, Olli Chanoff director of programming for the FreshGrass foundation and the lead programmer of the festival who books all the bands, and Rachel Chanoff chief curator of performing arts and Mass MoCA

Today on the fabulous 413, more art from our communities to bring more joy and more solidarity as well! QueerCore Fest, a powerful new festival created by queer and trans folks for the community and its allies, happens next weekend on Sept. 28th, and we’ll speak with organizers Ben and Issley, about the mediums that are coming together for this afternoon of art, music, and more in Easthampton, and the importance of building cross cultural support and rally cries. Plus we’ll head just around the corner from the Station to where community members are joining with the folx of Commonwealth Murals to restore a third Nelson Stevens mural. We talk with the people working on the restoration, those from the building where the art will now live, and other as everyone gears up for a ribbon cutting ceremony this Saturday that will officially present the finalized “The Old, The Young, The beautiful” to the public. And our weekly chat with US. Representative Jim McGovern sees the congressman frustrated by the tactics of yet ANOTHER government shutdown, concerned by the apparent stalling of the Harris Walz campaign, and his take on his opponent for his congressional seat: Cornelius Shea. Note: The song that ends this podcast is "Mongoose" by Film & Gender.

We’re pulling a Janus here on the first day of the NEPM Fall Fund Drive, looking forward and backwards in music and language.We start with a new show at the very new iron horse for Kimaya Diggs, who’s been racking up some amazing concert slots as of late. We’ll have an extra special Live Music Wednesday and hear about the magic of creating from the musician herself, and get a sneak peek of some of the exclusive tunes she's incorporating into her upcoming concert this Friday, Sept. 20. Follow that with the work of our in-house living legend, jazz bassist and historian Avery Sharpe, who’ll perform his work based on the life and work of Sojourner Truth tomorrow night as part of the Beyond the Frames series at Mechanics Hall in Worcester; which granted is *not* in the four counties of western Massachusetts. But Avery lives, teaches, and hosts "Jazz a La Mode" right here with us and Sojourner herself lived in Florence for almost a decade. So we make a small exception to hear about his wealth of inspirations, the impressive ensemble of musicians that will join him, and more that you can expect from just a little drive eastAnd word nerd Emily Brewster, senior Editor at Merriam Webster wants to know if you’re feeling good or feeling well, and what truly differentiates the two.

We’re in the throes of Climate Change Week, where western Mass. is absolutely doing it’s part to help inform the public and help field solutions that will help to ensure a more resilient futureFirst, we head to April Hill Farm, where Ben Crockett of Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and Sarah Montiero and Iris Arboreal of Greenagers are preparing to for a whole evening of tours, workshops, and more at their "Farming in a Changing Climate" event this Wednesday, Sept. 18th. We’ll hear about the challenges of the BAV’s mission to help farmers of three states to thrive, the many ways Greenagers gives youth practical local ways to address a swiftly changing planet through agriculture, forestry, and practical trades, and how each organization is able to help more farms by working together. And we’ll discover new ways of collaboration and conservation at Big River Chestnuts in Sunderland, who’re seeking ways to incorporate trees into agriculture for soil health, and resiliency, especially after another summer where Western New England experienced flooding. We’ll hear from Jono Neiger about his farm's eponymous chestnuts, find out from Rachael Haas from Meadowland Farms how her farm's sheep are helping them keep the farmland trimmed and tidy, and more innovations in agroforestry they’ve been exploring along the banks of the Connecticut River. Plus, we meet the first-in-the-nation cabinet level climate chief, Melissa Hoffer from the Healy/Driscoll administrationAlso a nuanced play comes to CitySpace this weekend, and uses traditional Nepalese theater to examine the ongoing modern problems of that nation’s caste system. Director Rose Schwietz and performer/actor Suraj Malla visit us at the NEPM Studios to discuss the one person production “The Tragedy of Maila Kami” and the many ways its tale and use of the form hudkeli will cross more than cultures this weekend in Easthampton

Today we embark on an awesome endeavor. Since the last project we saw from start to finish (The Parlor Room Collective's push to reopen the Iron Horse) is now up on it’s legs and running, we need to witness the whole process of a new project’s gestation and birth. And it might take a while because this time, we’re tracking the progress of a movie. We’re joined by Turners Falls film producer and director Bob Kryzkowski about his latest project “Grendel”, which already has some big names attached including Jeff Bridges, Brian Cranston, and Sam Elliot. With him is the man helming the company that will bring that character and others to life: Brian Henson of Jim Henson Studios. We'll talk about the origins of this collaboration, what makes the re-interpretation of this saga so compelling for modern times, and all the possibilities that puppetry can bring to this and other projects. We’re also discovering how Amherst, Northampton and Pelham might soon have more access to cleaner energy. Ben Weil, Northampton CAPA director and Stephanie Ciccarello, Amherst Director of Sustainability meet us to talk about Valley Clean Energy and the community forums coming up where you’ll have an opportunity to understand more about the process and ask your questions about it. . And speaking of opportunities to get out and learn more, Mr. Universe, Hampshire College and Kainaat Studio’s Salman Hameed wants you to come to Easthampton to learn more about the universe, and we’ll speak with him and the person behind the series, soon to be Umass Professor Sinclaire Manning, about "Astronomy on Tap"; a new series at New City Brewery where you will have the chance to do just that.

Having access to instruments and making music has been a big part of our lives.And today on The Fabulous 413 we’ll talk to a Berkshire-based organization that has created not just an ensemble program that creates social change through music, but is creating and supporting families all over western Mass. We’ll introduce you to the President and CEO of 18 Degrees Family Services Stephanie Steed who will tell us all about their Kids 4 Harmony program which removes the barriers to opportunities in music and beyond, and about celebrating their work and that of other care-taking organizations at an event at Westfield State University on Sept 17th. . For Live Music Friday, we bring to the studio the man who created both an 11-string archguitar and the Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra: Peter Blanchette. His partnership with Irish singer Éilís Kennedy is the basis for a concert at Bombyx in Florence next weekend and we'll geek out over his instrument, her beautiful voice, and the way their collaboration has blossomed over the course of their 20yr friendship. And have you ever tried wines from the Canary Islands? Neither have we. But that’s just what we’ll do as the Tina Turner Memorial Wine Thunderdome returns to State Street Fruit Store Deli Wines and Spirits in Northampton

Way back in April we talked with folx at City Space about their Pay It Forward Grant Program and now 10 lucky recipients are embarking on transformative artistic journeys through their space in Easthampton. We speak with artist who is kicking off that performance series: Deja Carr, who you may know better as musician Mal Devisa. We’ll find out what is going into her night of curated performances titled: “Never a Stranger to Home”, including a talk-back with artist Michael Hanson (aka Father Hotep), and hear from program manager Zoe Fieldman about some of the other artists that make up this years cohort of grant recipients. We’ll also discover how the English language has been ruthlessly truncated. Which is to say that our alphabet used to be a little longer a mere couple centuries ago. Word Nerd Emily Brewster, Senior Editor at Merriam Webster helps us to explore the sounds and ancient origins of the alphabet’s missing letter, and perhaps the reason we abandoned it to the throes of punctuation.Plus our weekly chat with US. Representative Jim McGovern is wholly debatable. Which is to say he too was watching the confrontation between Trump and Harris this past Tuesday and definitely has insightful takeaways to share, and not just about the Taylor Swift stinger.

We’re exploring new connections with ourselves, each other, the land, and our creative sparkSo we head to the hub of a new exhibit that has threads not just all over the valley, but halfway across the country as well. Exorcism equals Liberation is the title segment of a three part multi-disciplinary exhibit that takes a look at discourse, colonialism, and our inextricable ties to both. We’ll speak with the artist behind the work, Yanira Castro, as well as Kathy Couch from APE Gallery about the many landscapes that inspired the work, the myriad places and ways you can experience it including a dinner at the gallery, and the importance of coming together in real space to converse about the predominantly digital work. We’ll also head to Amherst where tonight the Old 97s will take to the stage at the Drake. The band has put out their 13th album, which just so happens to coincide with the 30th anniversary of their very first album, and we chat with lead singer and guitarist Rhett Miller about the drive of this new LP, all of his geeky passions, and the pains and pleasures of growing into their name. And last night many of us gathered to watch what might the only presidential debate we’ll get between these two candidates at White Lion in Amherst. We’ll hear from many of the folx who joined us why that evening was important to witness, and how they thought it went.

Today, we’re exploring possibilities, because everything is possible, even if we don’t know it yet. It’s the central idea at the core of New York Times bestselling author and Amherst resident Angela DiTerlizzi’s book that has launched a whole series: "The Magical Yet." Along with discovering the breadth of her catalog, and hearing how one of her books ended up in cereal boxes, we learn more about encouraging practice and patience in people of all ages, the recurrence of rhyme, and what those inquisitive minds might encounter after her latest book, "The Curious Why."The community theater in Monte's backyard has just gotten massively zhuzhed up with a mural by Darion Fleming, but it was a whole process to get from Idea to the paint on a wall that will get finalized this week. We check out the work in progress alongside Britt Ruhe of Commonwealth Murals, Linda Tardif, director of the Shea Theater, Suzanne Lomanto of River Culture, Town Planner of Turners Falls Maureen Pollack, along with the artist himself and explore the process of bringing the public’s consensus about what a mural in their town should look like, to the final product that will be unveiled this weekend. And we’d be remiss if we as two giant nerds of differing varieties didn’t talk about the legacy lost with the passing of actor James Earl Jones yesterday at 93, so we’ll recount our favorites, and how much of an impact beyond his voice the man has had on us and more.

Today is about empowermentIt happens when two organizations come together in order to let someone out there name a quasi moon. But what is a quasi moon, and why are we letting the public name it? We’ll talk with Latif Nasser of WNYC’s Radiolab, and Kelly Blumenthal of the International Astronomical Union, as well as Mr. Universe, Hampshire College and Kainaat Studios' Salman Hameed about what quasi moons are, how Radiolab got to name one already, and how everyone is working together to let one lucky person name earth’s own version. Plus next week the 3rd annual Climate Change and farming week begins and we get a glimpse of the many ways and interactions you can have with farmers, educators, state officials and more with Kathy Wicks, UMass Amherst Director of Sustainability for UMass Dining Auxilary and Stephen Taranto, climate program manager as CISA. And all that talking about farms is bound to make you hungry, so we’ll speak with Jillian Duclous of the Downtown Northampton Association (DNA, and get ready for the puns 'cause they're coming) about the return of the Taste of Northampton, also in its third year of this particular iteration. We chat with her about resurrecting the beloved festival, who’ll be feeding hordes of hungry samplers, and how her organization is helping build a robust economical ecosystem.

It's a double Live Music Friday kinda day! We’ll hear live music from the Happy Valley Guitar Quartet: A small section of the large guitar ensemble performs for us before their fundraiser in Shelburne Falls this weekend. Orchestra members Emmett Troxel, Charlie Salzberg, Dave Fried, and Amy Lashley bring their 6-string and 4-strings by for a performance, and maybe reveal the secrets and challenges of getting their extra big sound to fit on a small scale. Plus Dar Williams pays a visit to the studios. Dar has for the second year in a row helped to organize the River Roads Festival at Millside Park in Easthampton, which is a benefit for the Connecticut River Conservancy and their upcoming Source to Sea Cleanup. Dar will tells us about the partnership, perhaps wax poetic about her early music days in the valley, let us know what’s new at the festival and play us a couple of songs, some of which you might hear in her headlining set Sept 7th. Then we’ll Wine Thunderdome with our Franklin County Wine Friend Ken Washburn at the Leverett Village Co-op where we’ll taste California Cabernets, and leave our prejudices out of the glass. And get into one of Ken's latest accomplishments: becoming a ranked birder in Franklin County.

You may have noticed that we really like hanging out with folx who grow stuff. As they are the people who feed us, and since we also love food, it’s just a pairing that works really well. So today we’ll spend some time with an organization of folx who want you to grow stuff too, and maybe even grow it better. In South Hadley at Full Circle Gardens, Sharon Farmer, Marjorie Gerard, and JoAnne Palmer of the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener’s Association are fostering a slew of plants, and gearing up for their internship program, which is now taking applications. We'll discover how their branch of our state’s weirdly unique spot in the national network of organizations is doing it’s part to tackle hunger and climate change We also check out a new family orchard in Wilbraham that brings far more than just fruit to the people. Brook Fernandes of Fern Valley Farms joins us to chat about all things apple, agrotourism, and the multitude of pots their plans have taken root in, including movie nights, a concert series, and even pancake breakfasts! She's joined by one of the new voices from CISA we'll be hearing in Phil Korman's wake: Claire Morenon. CISA itself has a couple of farm tours coming up where you, too, can meet your local farmers, just like we do!Plus our weekly chat with Representative Jim McGovern sees the congressman feeling a bit of election and debate fever as both of those loom large, and addressing listener questions about Palestine on his journey to grow better legislature.

We’re rebuilding landscapes and crossing borders and timelines, but never streamsIn order to avoid paradoxes, we’ll meet up with Rangers Susan Ashman and Kelly Fellner, and Researcher and PhD candidate Jessica Scott at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, where they’ll hold Workers Weekend. The event is meant to highlight both the impact of the location as one of only two federal armories in the nation, as well as the industrial innovations beyond firearms that the site helped to create. We find ties to our young nation, as well as ways we all can access their records for connections to family geneologies and much more. We’re also exploring art that casts a wide net across the Atlantic to Northampton. Younes Rahmoun is a Moroccan artist who has just installed a massive and sprawling body of work at Smith College, and not just in their Art museum. We head to the campus to catch the artist alongside curators Emma Chubb and Tiffany Bradley to explore the many ways this multi-materialed, multi-faceted portfolio connects not just different departments of the college, but our humanity as well . Plus Word Nerd Emily Brewster, senior editor at Merriam Webster, elongates our vocabulary with super long words that you can’t use in scrabble because there is neither enough pieces nor board space, but d\ you can impress your friends with it (although it is probably not the one you’re thinking of, since that one only has 28 letters).

A song, a dance, and a dip in the riverAnother someone we know has just completed traversing the whole Connecticut River, but this time, astride a bicycle. We’ll talk with Reporter Ben James about the in-between moments of recording his journey for NEPM and several other New England news outlets, and introduce him to someone else who has taken the same journey but through a different medium: Kari Kastango, who finished swimming the river late last year. And we’ll introduce you to Baye and Asa, who have landed at the Adams Theater as part of their incubator program. Amadi Washington and Sam Pratt, the creative team who make up the company, chat with us about the importance of spaces encouraging art that breaks the mold, the inherent challenges of their medium, and the many evolutions of their thought provoking work, including one they’ll perform Saturday night in the Berkshires, "Second Seed".Plus we're celebrating new songs in particular. Singer-songwriter Jeffrey Foucault is releasing his first new album in 6 years this Friday and celebrating with a show at the Iron Horse. He and his guitar will join us for a quick live music Tuesday to hear selections from "The Universal Fire" and about some of the finishing touches others have helped put on the tracks you can hear in Northampton on Sept. 6th.

Nothing but entertainment for your Friday. Singer songwriter Johnny Irion joins us for Live Music Friday. His latest album, “Sleeping Soldiers of Love,” just came out earlier this month, so we’ll hear a bit about his musical journeys, including a collaboration with one of the Wilcos: Pat Sansone, find out what’s fun about that playing at the Red Lion Inn, where he’ll be August 31st, and how he’s gearing up for a tour with Son Volt next year.And we’re giving ourselves all the feels, including a good fright. Greenfield Garden Cinema has just announced a 25 movie 5 week marathon of Stephen King movies leading up to the spooky season. So we’ll talk with Isaac Mass, one of the owners of the theater not just about the amazingly frightening and visceral promotional campaign they’ve had for the event, but about the many other offerings they’ve been able to bring to Franklin County.Plus, we’ll get a beverage in there too. Lauren Clark and Miranda Brown at Tip Top Wine Shop in Easthampton have us pit two field blends against each other in today’s Tina Turner memorial thunderdome. Each attempting to make way more out of doing less in their wine making process.

Today, we’re exploring the subliminal stuff that’s there when you think it’s not. Take John Cage’s 4’33”, which was first performed 72 years ago today. It’s a work that is seemingly nothing, but contains a whole lot more. And now there’s a picture book so you can explore the silence with your little ones. We’ll talk with Northampton author Nicholas Day about his book Nothing, and the neat ways to talk about incredible advances in modern music in the simplest of terms It’s also in the archive of Frida Kahlo’s photographs. Only recently found and containing thousands of photos of the artist herself, her family, loves, and interests, the collection paints a new picture of her work and life. Springfield Museums will have a few hundred of these photos on view through next week, which coincides with their 2nd annual Latino Art Festival, so we head down the street to get a peek into the private collection of one of the 20th century’s most prolific artists with Curatorial Assistant Sophie Combs and chair of Mi Museo Lydia Martinez Alvarez about the intersecting power of those two events. Plus our weekly chat with Congressman Jim McGovern covers quite a bit of both subtle and obvious ground with his farm tour, political figures switching sides, ongoing Israeli Palestine conflicts, and persisting rise of covid cases as students head back to campuses in Western Mass and beyond.

Today has a little glimpse of the many stories our neighbors have to tell usStarting with the Hampshire County Food Policy Council, who have been collecting stories from some of the folx in our neighborhoods who are experiencing food insecurity. From those interviews, they have created an audio archive that highlights the challenges and intersections of the struggles of folx across the 20 towns and cities of Hampshire County. Kristen Whitmore, Alexandra Mello, and Iohann Rashi Vega, . We’ll hear some of the stories they have collected, learn about how those stories may translate into real change in the commonwealth, and find out how you too can share these stories now that their exhibit at Forbes Library has closed.Alice Parker, celebrated songwriter and Hilltown community member who passed away at the age of 98 at her home in Hawley last year, left a legacy of over 500 compositions, some of which will be performed in Charlemont this weekend through the concert series she helped to create. We’ll talk with Alice’s daughter Molly Pyle (STAY Skall) Stejskal and Alice’s neighbor and friend, Tinky Weisblat both of whom will be on stage to honor her memory as a part of the concert. Plus Word Nerd Emily Brewster, resident wordster and senior editor at Merriam-Webster, will gin up an answer to Kyle from Pittsfield’s question about the etymology of “gin up” and see if or how it might be related to the word "djinn."

Ever since the very beginning of this show, there’s one person who we’ve seen the three H counties of western Mass. with just about every week. And despite bringing them along on this ride from my previous radio life, this person has managed to broaden all of our ideas of who, what, where, and how agriculture happens in Western Massachusetts. His name is Phil Korman and this is his last week as executive director of CISA or Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture. So today on The Fabulous 413 we’re giving Phil a well-deserved sendoff as he embarks on his next big adventure. We’ll hear from Mike Wisseman of Mike’s Maze and Warner Farm about what his time during Phil’s early years at the organization were like and the changes he's seen on and off its board. As well as from Kat Chang of Reed Farm who’s newly been appointed to CISA’s board about Phil’s influence and leadership on the organization now and how the board's relationship with him and his position are evolving. We’ll tag along with Phil as he accompanies Congressman Jim McGovern on his yearly Farm Tour for the final time to a stop at Amherst Nurseries in Hadley, where we'll meet and hear from the man himself about the impact the last 16 years have had on him.

Today we learn the things we've always wanted to, but weren't sure of the channels to do it with. Including a thing we talk about a lot: Music! The parlor room collective has just announced a Fall workshop series of classes offering tons of opportunities for newbies and veterans alike to come together and build more music. We’ll talk with Executive Director Chris Freeman, and Leo Harrison, Parlor Room Collective Programming co-ordinator about this expansion of offerings, many of which are specifically BIPOC and LGBTQIA2+, and the importance of giving everyone access to art. Plus it’s time to look at the skies again! Arunah Hill is an organization that brings dark skies events to areas so people can see more of the heavens. This weekend in Cummington, they’ve got two nights of activities planned for those who want a better look at the stars, and we’ll chat with Jenny Powers of the Springfield Science Museum and amatuer astronomer Ed Faits about how much more you can see when the lights go out, and the extra fun things they've got planned to do during the daytime too. And our resident astronomer, Mr Universe, Hampshire College’s Salman Hameed, is ironically not watching the stars today, but screens and walls and stages. He got to experience an artist talk at Mass MoCA, so we’ll hear his take about Osman Khan’s recent exhibit "Road to Hybridabad", which you can also see in North Adams.

The Arcadia Folk Festival kicks off today. Two days of un-amplified fun times celebrating both the great outdoors. So we’ll chat with Jonah Keane , CT River Valley Sanctuaries Director at Mass Audubon, about the Arcadia Sanctuary and the many things it does when it’s not hosting a giant festival, and hear music from some of the folx playing tonight’s Paul Simon tribute and tomorrow at the festival: Heather Maloney, Pamela Means, and Isabella DeHerdt and Isaac Eliot of High Tea. And speaking of festivals, the DNC has just finished a four-day run in Chicago, but we sent 413 cameras to cover the events happening there, and hear from folx of the commonwealth and beyond who attended the convention. We’ll talk with photojournalist Barry Goldstein about what he’s seen and heard over the past three days covering the convention for the NEPM series Unprecedented and find out from his experience at both the RNC and the DNC if we are really as divided as it seems

Today is a heaping helping of hometown heroes of stage, screen, and governanceWe’ll head to the Berkshires to talk with Colrain native Elizabeth Perkins, and hear all about how western mass played a part in her love of acting, and get a glimpse of what it was like to film the movie Big before you can ask your questions of the actor herself after a screening of that very movie at the Triplex in Great Barrington on Saturday. We're also going backstage with music that still looms large on the local scene. The band FAT has left a lasting legacy on the Pioneer Valley, and we’ll hear from one of the folx that helped that legacy to endure: Peter Newland. In addition to hearing some of his music, we’ll find out about what sustains their sound in the area, and what is in store for their upcoming show with NRBQ this weekend at the Academy of Music in Northampton. And Congressman McGovern is at the DNC this week. We’ll hear his highlights so far from the event, what he’s looking forward to on his upcoming farm tour next week, and a heartfelt reminiscing of his time with CISA’s Phil Korman who retires next week.

Today, we're traversing Franklin county to nourish the body and spirit. Lake Pleasant started as a summer retreat for like minded and curious spiritualists, and has grown into a quiet but resilient community while retaining some truly unique locations. We’ll visit their sites and hear their history as they get ready for their 150th commemoration festivities this Saturday with Mary Bordeaux and David James, two residents of the areaPlus we head across the bridge to Greenfield to Stone Soup Cafe who’ll host their Harvest Supper on August 24th. This annual event has become a tradition for Franklin County, and we talk with Board director Whitney Robbins and Executive Director and Chef Kirsten Levitt about how the idea to just feed the people with no strings right in the downtown commons came about, and what new things folx can engage with at this years dinnerAlso word nerd Emily Brewster, senior editor at Merriam Webster, is igniting a pursuit for clarity between the words flammable and inflammable that may just be flammatory.

Today, we're awakening to some truths the plants in our lives can tell us about. We’ll head around the corner to Jen’s Organics where Jenell Smith is bringing a more public face to her ongoing journey of flavorful veganism in Mason Square. We’ll find out what inspired her change of habit, and the challenges she’s facing in her new brick and mortar endeavor, and the many delicious surprises that have happened along the way. .We then turn our attention to the plants and soil, and the people who tend them, who have been getting very very sick under our very noses and see a documentary that outlines one man’s legal fight against a massive corporation just to get answers, and find out that his struggle is connected to all of us. The film is called Into The Weeds and takes both a micro and macro look at Monsanto, the avalanche of legal troubles they’ve encountered, and the product at the core of it’s troubles: RoundUp or Glyphosate.We talk with Carey Gillam, author of "The Monsanto Papers;" Jennifer Baishwal, director of the film itself, and Massachusetts State Representative Carmine Gentile, who is sponsoring a bill regulating pesticides in the Bay State, and who will be introducing the movie when it shows tonight at the Triplex in Great Barrington.

We're back from vacation and highlighting some folx in the area who are also leaving their respective chrysalises.In Northampton, those emergences are musicians taking on the guise of other artists they know and love to raise money for arts education in the city. For the past 34 years, the Northampton Council for the arts has been ending summer with a locally packed blow out concert at Look Park that specifically raises money for art programs in the city’s schools. We’ll speak with organizer Steve Sanderson, as well as local artists Ian St. George and Inde, both of whom willl be performing, about Performance 34: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, happening August 20th. More broadly, its in the literature that grows from not just widening one's perspective, but in being well fostered as well. The Straw Dog Writers Guild has just opened up applications for the Third Emerging Writer of Color Fellowship this past week, and we’ll chat with the Fellowship's founder, Nicole Young-Martin, and Regine Jackson, the most recent Fellow about the program, and how it broadens everyone's literary perspectives and in providing space and stipends for BIPOC women and gender expansive authors, address an oft overlooked issue for developing talent as they prepare for a virtual information session tomorrow night. And Mr. Universe, Hampshire College and Kainaat Studio’s Salman Hameed has just returned from convening in South Africa with a bevvy of other astronomers about the nature of science and more. We’ll hear about the International Astronomical Union, and what a giant pile of scientists have to say about Space this year.

We're about to go on vacation here at the show and it feels like we should start our pause with a bang. So for Live Music Friday we welcome the Greenfield-based synth-pop duo Homebody to the studio before their return to the Hatch Shell at Peskeomskut Park for their fifth free Homebody and friends show this Saturday. And ask them about the evolution of their sound and stage showin their 13+ years, and the wicked neat toys they've brought for a "stripped down" set of songs. Senior Editor Emily Brewster, our resident wordster, from Merriam-Webster in Springfield kindly digs into a request from Kaliis to explore the unicorn-like linguistic phenomena of hapax legomenaPlus the Tina Turner Memorial Wine Thunderdome returns to Provisions Longmeadow where, in Benson Hyde's absence, Bruce McAmis and Eric Rueli pit two very different, very-chillable, naturally fermented late-summer wines against each other, and against their fiercest competitor: cheese!

We’re blending the old with the new, musically and agriculturally! Sounds-wise, we’ll hear from renowned jazz guitarist Sheryl Bailey who is bringing her savvy touch and bop forward sensibilities to sit in with W. Mass’ own Green Street Trio. We’ll also find out from member of the trio Paul Arslanian what makes her style so compelling, and how their collaboration might sound this evening at their concert in Northampton We’ll also head over the mountains where a new cidery is meeting an old orchard and making a wonderful feast out of the whole affair. August 22nd is the date of the 4th annual cider maker’s dinner and we’ll hear from Kat Hand and Mike Brogan from Berkshire Cider Project, and Carrie Holland, CEO of Hancock Shaker Village about the spark behind this collaboration, the delicious things we can enjoy at the event, and some of the lessons the Shakers still have to impart on all of us. Plus our weekly chat with Congressman McGovern finds the representative discussing the democratic VP Pick, chatting with his constituents in Greenfield, the ongoing olympic medal winning magic in his district, and addressing a listener question about protecting democracy.