Greenfield, Massachusetts, June 2, 2014 (McKenzieNewsService.com) – Holly Near with emma’s revolution is set to perform live at the Greenfield Energy Park, Sunday, June 22nd, 2014 at 6:00pm. Bring your chairs and blankets. Suggested donation of $15.00.

As Holly Near celebrates her first album in three years, Peace Becomes You, she’s building on 40 creative years and 30 recordings. Respected around the world for her music and activism, her joy and passion inspire people to join in her celebration of the human spirit. Equally compelling at her shows, her music fully engages listeners in the world around them. Holly has made a career speaking to anyone in the world who believes in peace, justice, and feminism, a wonderful spectrum of humanity.

Born in Ukiah, CA in 1949, Holly began singing in high school, including work with a local folk group. She built on her performing career with acting parts on Mod Squad and appeared in a number of guest roles in seminal 70s TV shows like Room 222 and The Partridge Family. In 1970, she was a cast member of the Broadway musical Hair. In 1971, she joined the Free The Army Tour, an anti-Vietnam War road show of music, comedy, and plays organized by antiwar activist Fred Gardner and actors Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.

In 1972, Holly was one of the first women to create an independent record company, paving the way for women like Ani DiFranco and others. Her goal was to promote and produce music by politically conscious artists from around the world, a mission that Redwood Records fulfilled for nearly 20 years. Often cited as one of the founders of the Women’s Music movement, she not only led the way for outspoken women in the music world, but also worked for peace and multicultural consciousness. Throughout her long career Holly has worked with a wide array of musicians, including Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, Arlo Guthrie, Mercedes Sosa, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Joan Baez, Phil Ochs, Harry Belafonte, and many others.

Holly Near has been recognized many times for her work for social change, including honors from the ACLU, the National Lawyers Guild, the National Organization for Women, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; she was named Ms. Magazine Woman of the Year and received the Legends of Women’s Music Award.

Thursday evening Coop Concerts

The musical line-up continues throughout the summer with Thursday evening Coop Concerts as well as Greenfield’s very own Military band on Tuesdays in July. They perform Broadway hits and pops on Tuesdays in July. The Greenfield Military Band began in 1904 when the Town of Greenfield appropriated $700 to begin a Town Band. It is now recognized as being in the top 2% of the oldest continuing community bands in America.

July’s Special Sunday Concert will feature Belle Amie & The Snaz on the 27th. Belle Amie is a trio that writes and arranges original songs with professional confidence and skill. They have played at many local venues such as Mocha Maya’s, Green River Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and the Iron Horse. The Snaz is a young indie rock band with all original songs, fronted by three women and a male drummer. They first gained attention by winning the ‘Brattleboro Battle of the Bands’ in their hometown. Since then The Snaz has performed at places like the Iron Horse and Tupelo Music hall. $10 is the suggested donation.

August’s special Sunday concert will feature The Sweet Remains on the 24th. The Sweet Remains is headed by three gifted and charismatic singer-songwriters, each of whom contribute to the writing and three-part harmonies that define the band’s sound. Driven by strong lyrical and melodic writing, their songs easily appeal to fans of modern folk-rockers like Jason Mraz, Ray Lamontagne, and John Mayer. It is their lush harmonies, that distinguish them from the throngs of guitar-toting troubadours and harkens back to super-groups of the 60’s and 70’s like CSN, the Eagles, Simon & Garfunkel. $15 is the suggested donation.
In September, the park will host the John Putnam Fiddler’s Festival on the 20th. Bring your fiddle, guitar, banjo, bass or harmonica for informal jams.
The final event for the season is the Rays of Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Walk on October 19th.

The Sunday Concert Series is made possible by generous sponsorships from Greenfield Savings Bank, Greenfield Co-Operative Bank, the Safe Schools Safe Streets Coalition, The Recorder, Bear Country 95.3, WHAI, and the Hampton Inn & Suites of Greenfield.

For more information, contact the Greenfield Recreation Department at (413) 772-1553 or visit www.greenfieldrecreation.com. You can also follow the Energy Park on Facebook: www.facebook.com/greenfieldenergypark

Contact: , Program Supervisor
Email: RecO@greenfield-ma.gov
Phone: 413-772-1553

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