By DAVE MADELONI NORTHAMPTON — Doug Ratner & The Watchmen play what they call “down & dirty rock n’ roll,” which make them a bit of an anomaly in the Pioneer Valley’s music scene. At the recent Valley Rising Compilation CD release party hosted by The Iron Horse, eleven regional acts graced the stage. Only [...]

Valley Rising Compilation Album Release Party: Joshua Meltzer, Dave Dersham, Wolfman Conspiracy, Doug Ratner and The Watchmen, The Raft, Sandy Bailey, Infinite August, Lux Deluxe, Jamie Kent & The Options, The Sun Parade, Darlingside. Iron Horse Music Hall, 16 Center Street, Sunday Dec. 11, 7 p.m.; $15 at the door.. NORTHAMPTON— “Hey, that t-shirt’s a [...]

MONTAGUE — Since Pleasant Street Video and Blockbuster were no longer available, there was no better place than the intimate Montague Bookmill for Henning Ohlenbusch to host his “Henning Goes To The Movies” CD release party. Surrounded by shelves of books and flanked by the Film Biographies section, the lanky singer-songwriter took the audience to [...]

BY DAVE MADELONI NORTHAMPTON — If our city were to crown a King of Transperformance, it could easily bequeath the throne to either King Radio or Lord Russ. Both have had absolutely majestic performances year after year, and each has nobility etched right into their name. This year’s “Nohobility” Transperformance — with its emphasis the [...]

Winterpills to open for all-star band; doors open at 5:30 p.m. BY DAVE MADELONI NORTHAMPTON — The Baseball Project is playing the Iron Horse on Friday night. Not the Football Project. Not the Basketball or Tennis Project. What is it about our national pastime that stirs and inspires folk and rock songwriters, while other sports [...]