Saturday, September 18: Musica Franklin Presents Fun Fest

Saturday, September 18
Peskeompskut Park, Avenue A and Seventh Street, Turners Falls

Join Musica Franklin for our Third Annual Fun Fest, a FREE afternoon of music, hands-on activities, and general merriment! Explore our instrument petting zoo, make your own paper marbling bookmark, play with giant bubbles, and listen to some fabulous music by Musica Franklin students, The Gaslight Tinkers and Libro Azul.

Schedule of Events
1:00-5:00—Gates open, arts & crafts activities open
1:30-2:10—Musica Franklin students perform
2:15-5:00—Instrument Petting Zoo open
2:30-3:10—The Gaslight Tinkers
3:30-4:10—Libro Azul

About The Gaslight Tinkers:
Afrobeat, Caribbean, breakbeat, funk, and Latin grooves meet traditional Northern Fiddle. It’s the future of the music of the past. The Gaslight Tinkers’ blend of global rhythms creates a joyously danceable sound around a core of traditional New England old time and celtic fiddle music, merging boundless positive energy with melody and song. Since its formation in 2012 the band has lit up the East Coast, the West Coast, and the Caribbean, headlining clubs, dances, and major festivals. The Gaslight Tinkers’ shows are packed with delightful surprises, elated crowds, and exuberant musicianship.

About Libro Azul:

Libro Azul is an amalgam of various musicians who share a love of Latin music. The group is led by musical director, pianist, arranger/composer Joe Velez. Joe’s compositions and arrangements can be heard being played many of New England’s finest Salsa orchestras. The core group, consisting of piano, bass, congas, bongo, flute/sax and augmented with vocals and more horns, has been playing together for over 30 years. The group plays a variety of original and classic Latin dance and Latin Jazz music. Musicians for 9/18 include:

Juan M. Garcia – vocals (boy band TMC) Mulende (PR)
Joe Velez – piano
Nelson (Pipo) Milano – conga
Carl Oman – bass
Jon Weeks – flute/sax
Manny Montas trumpet
Jim Messbaur – trombone
Anthony -“Prez”Perez – perc./vocal

Musica Franklin is grateful for sponsorship that makes this event possible from RiverCulture, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Franklin First Credit Union, and Greenfield Savings Bank. Unvaccinated folks are asked to wear masks, and all are asked to wear masks within 6 feet of our activity tables, regardless of vaccine status.