The Fabulous 413

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 F...

It is a fraught 12 days before the elections all the better to acquaint you with the options on your ballot So 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 l...

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-Webs...

 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 wh...

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 Independ...

 It's Friday, so we’ll have a lot of music, as is our want But 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 t...

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 entho...

A little food, a little music, and a little something we can't quite think of the word for A 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...

 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 digress Because 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 Chr...

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 Wil...

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...

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 o...

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 Bo...

We’ve got some learning to do about our greater community, both in people and in plants Where 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 cha...

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 them One 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 a...

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 previousl...

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 d...

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...

We're always having fun on the farm especially in this busy time of year And 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 far...

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...

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...

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, an...

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 o...

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 future First,  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 m...

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...