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Date: 8/7/2023
SOUTH HADLEY — The final show of the Council on Aging’s Summer Concert Series will be on Tuesday, Aug. 29 as a Country Jamboree is set to serve as the grand finale on the series.
The main performance of the jamboree and evening of country music will be at 5 p.m. and performed by Wild Bill and the Flying Sparks, a roots rocking country band based in Northampton. Wild Bill and the Flying Sparks have become one of the area’s most established and beloved music groups, appealing to an unusually wide range of listeners according to the Council on Aging.
Wild Bill and the Flying Sparks will be the closing concert for the Council on Aging’s summer concert series. This summer the council hosted concerts by Banish Misfortune in June, and Lauran Beluzo and Noah Lis in July. Council on Aging Executive Director Leslie Hennessey said the council was looking to do a country jamboree-style concert to end the year and Wild Bill and the Flying Sparks made for a perfect partner.
Also being featured in this summer concert series closeout show are dance lessons. For those looking to practice their moves before the show, the Council on Aging is offering Country Two-Step lessons from 3-4 p.m., and line dance lessons from 4-5 p.m.
“The dance lessons were the idea of our Activity and Volunteer Coordinator, Kathy Florence. She hopes that by giving members a chance to learn something new, we would have more dances at the concert,” Hennessey said. “No one is expected to dance if they don’t feel like it, but if they want to come and learn a new dance in a supportive lesson, then we invite them to do so.”
Hennessey added the response from Senior Center members over the summer have been overwhelmingly positive. The event is being sponsored in part by The Arbors in Chicopee and Daybrook Village in Holyoke and Hennessey added they are fortunate for the support and the concerts would not be possible without it.
Hennessey hopes concerts like this can continue to uphold the Council on Aging’s mission and continue to provide opportunities for the senior population.
“Part of our mission statement reads, ‘we offer older adults the opportunities to learn, socialize and foster a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle.’ Every program, event and activity at the South Hadley COA is planned around this statement,” Hennessey said. “We have a vibrant senior community at the Center and we are just trying to keep up with them!”