Inclusion Infusion to bring disparate artforms togetherDate: 6/8/2022 NORTHAMPTON – Among the many happenings throughout Northampton this summer, an inaugural event put together by a group of local artists aims to bring music, art and comedy together into one fun-filled night.
Called Inclusion Infusion, the gathering includes painters, comedians, DJs and musicians, and will take place on July 16 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Northampton Center for the Arts on 33 Hawley St.
“Honestly, it was just one of those things that popped in my head,” said Luis E Jr Perez, an organizer and creator of Inclusion Infusion. “I went to an event over at the Northampton Center for the Arts and I said, ‘you know what, I can do this.’”
Perez is a Western Massachusetts artist who has played music in various forms throughout the years, whether as part of Danny Pease and the Regulators, or with his other band SoulKeys, which specializes in hip hop, reggae and neo-soul. He has also played with another band before those two.
As someone who has been invested in the region’s art scene for a long period of time, Perez wanted to create an inclusive event featuring all of the artist connections he has made over the years. “Just recently, I’ve seen a lot of my friends do comedy, and I was like, ‘You know what, there hasn’t been a lot of events that combine the arts,’” said Perez. “So, a light just went off in my head.”
During the four-hour span, Perez said painters will have their art on display and for sale, while comedians will complete short sets throughout the night, and a DJ will be playing tunes. According to Perez, artists featured at the event will include surrealist painter Lisa Betournay, portrait artist Nayana LaFond, as well as other painters.
Comedians such as Joey Buddha, CW Davis, Lila Sparks and others will be doing standup and hosting, while DJ Kause +Effekt will be on the ones and twos. “Every hour or so, there will be a comedian coming out to do a bit for 10 to 15 minutes,” said Perez. The night will then end with Perez’s band, SoulKeys, playing some live music.
“In Massachusetts, besides Boston, Northampton is the hub where people go and see music and see other art,” said Perez, adding that the event will feature artists with different levels of experience. “There’s so many artists out there, so I just want to do something for us.”
Tickets for the event, which will be for ages 18 and up, are $20, and can be purchased at https://www.facebook.com/events/541856247553780. There is an Eventbrite page embedded with the Facebook page. People can also follow this event page for more updates on Inclusion Infusion as it gets closer to the date. Artist pages will also be added to the event Facebook page so people can be more familiar with everyone.
“This is really about the artists,” said Perez. “It’s going to be a fun party vibe. It’s just about art, music, and comedy, and putting it all together. We want people to see what kind of talent we have out there.”
|
