Adams Growing Musical Appeal

Think of the Berkshires, and the town of Adams and its neighboring communities probably don't come to mind as a regional hub for music study and performance. But a team of advocates behind the Adams-Anthony Center are working to scale up their efforts to change that notion.

The Berkshire Eagle  reports that coming up in this final stretch of summer the nonprofit collective will sponsor two signature programs: the second annual Berkshires' Summer Jazz Camp and the daylong Nashville in the Berkshires concert series.

The free jazz camp for middle and high school students runs daily sessions from 1 to 5 p.m., Aug. 19-23, at Hoosac Valley High School in Cheshire. The program will be directed by professional trumpeter Richard Boulger and Hoosac Valley Band Director Jacob Keplinger. Registration is open to any student in the Berkshires with some musical instrument experience.

The country and rock-tinged Nashville in the Berkshires event will take place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 7 at George Bowe Park Field at the Adams Agricultural Fair grounds. C.J. Field and his band will headline. Five other regional acts share the lineup on the pavilion stage, including: country artists Jessica Wilson, Hot Shot Hillbillies and Lindsay and the Four and One Trio, as well as Bennington, Vt.-based indie alt-rock darlings Immune Friction and Connecticut-based acoustic crooner Mike Leonard, who ranges between Neil Young and David Bowie-like vocals.

In addition to the return of food and crafts vendors, the event will feature new family-friendly additions, like a classic car show, farm animal petting area, pony rides and other amusements. The event continues this year to be held in honor of the late Eagle reporter, Derek Gentile, an Adams native, avid concert goer and reviewer. Admission is $10 in advance, $15 at the gate, free for youths ages 12 and younger, and on-site parking is $3 per vehicle. "