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Date: 9/12/2022
EASTHAMPTON – Millpond.live, a free, grassroots, community-sponsored festival series produced by Laudable Productions, officially returned to Millside Park with four free nights of music across two different weekends.
The festival, which is in its seventh season, aims to unite the community through different musical performances, picnics, local food trucks and local breweries. After two nights of jam-packed musical acts on Sept. 9 and 10, the festival will once again return on Sept. 16 and 17 with three different musicians each night.
The Sept. 16 night features a lineup of art-folk from Eastern Europe cumbia-punk from Mexico City. Featured during this night will be a talharpa-or four-stringed lyre played with electronic loopers, and a garage-rock style cha-cha-cha with marimbas. Acts include neo-zombie-post-folk Estonian duo Puuluup, Mexico City’s garage-marimba-cumbia-punk outlet Son Rompe Pera, and Ukrainian quartet Dakhabrakha-who plans to raise awareness and support for the ongoing struggle occurring in their country.
Sept. 17, meanwhile, will feature Amsterdam’s Mauskovic Dance Band, the five-member collective known for their club-inspired take on disco, afrobeat and Afrolatin music. The female-led discodelic soul band Say She She will also perform this night, along with Massachusetts-based cellist, guitarist, composer and songwriter Jeremy Harman.
According to Cassandra Holden, the creative director for Laudable Productions, the production company typically strives to book a variety of genres and “exciting juxtapositions.” Holden said Millpond strives to showcase new artists since the event is free and audiences come with a willingness to hear new music.
“We weigh authenticity, talent, and availability to create a show that is more than the sum of its parts and will stay with you,” Holden told Reminder Publishing. “The musical themes for each night are not necessarily genre based but they are always adventurous. We like to describe each night as a musical journey.”
Aside from the musical acts, Holden said that there will be beer and libations, with guests like Abandoned Building Brewery and New City Brewery present in the fold. There will also be local food trucks at the event during the Sept. 16 weekend including, Bobby Ganache, Crooked Stick Pops, Corsello Butcheria and Holyoke Hummus.
“One very popular happening is the after-parties each of the four nights at New City Brewing across the parking lot in the Eastworks building,” Holden said. “Each after-party starts at 10 when the mainstage music stops and features one of the night’s bands playing an extended set inside. The after-parties are a great hang and a bit more intimate in the afterglow of the night’s performances.”
Holden said that Laudable will once again work with Connecticut River Conservancy Source to Sea Cleanup to help clean around Millside Park on Sept. 18 from 9 to 11 a.m. People can follow this link: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/source2seacleanup/ to volunteer. They can click on “Register Now” and search for “Easthampton Beautification Team” as their group.
Aside from the musical, food, and brewery aspects, Holden also noted that Millpond.live is a great opportunity for residents to chat with their local officials in an informal setting about certain issues.
“One of the other things I really enjoy about Millpond is we have great engagement from the elected officials in Easthampton and our state representatives,” said Holden. “It can be hard to know how to connect with local government and make a difference, so Millpond is also a way to connect with your local officials.”
Visit the Millpond website to learn more about the festival: https://millpond.live/. Gates open at 5 p.m. and music lasts from 6 to 10 p.m.