"[Uncle Rock's CD, Plays Well with Others] is the album you imagine your former-rocker husband would love to make for your own kids--if only you had let him buy that Stratocaster last year instead of replacing the washer and dryer." - Cool Mom Picks
Seeing Marla BB perform at the Iron Horse last year in Northampton was great. Having her perform in her hometown of West Chesterfield, at the base of Smith Mountain with the Westfield River rushing by … now that rocked! Performing with the talented accoustic Jazz bass player, Michael Dunning, this Blues & Jazz duo brought style and class to an intimate family community social.
Families gathered for home cooked food & dessert beforehand, cooking salmon on the grill, sampling one another’s potluck dishes and sharing organic gourmet pizza donated by Bread Euphoria.
As the music began, children snuggled up under wool blankets, joining their parents on the lawn for a sunset performance. The sky turned pink and orange as the sun set behind Smith Mountain on a cool spring evening, and Marla called out to all the “Sassy Mamas” and “Sassy Papas” to join in and sing. Click here to see video.
Mother’s Day Episode
Playlist
RECAP
This past weekend we had a House Concert & Potluck Social for members of Hilltown Families at our home here in West Chesterfield. Blues Singer Marla BB & Jazz Bass player Michael Dunning did a sunset performance for families out on the lawn. Click here to read more about the event, see photos and video.
MOTHER’S DAY
This coming weekend we’re honored to host another community event at our home, the 3rd Annual Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast. Hilltown moms get to relax and enjoy the morning while sipping mimosas with strawberries, catching up with friends and stuffing their faces with pancakes and fresh maple syrup. Dads and partners cook up a storm and referee the kids (Dads cooking at last year’s breakfast pictured here.)
On this weeks program Persephone & I selected a few songs to share with our listeners in honor of Mother’s Day, including songs by AudraRox, Sweet Honey in the Rock and Ginger Hendrix. We’ll be queing up the HFVS Podcast during the Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast.
FAMILY PRIDE
This past Saturday was the annual Pride March & Rally here in Northampton. Persephone & I chose AudraRox’s song “Moms & Dads” as a tribute to family diversity. Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of Family Pride, an organization that advocates for LGBT family equality, talks about inclusion of diversity: “We might look different and come in different forms but we all share a commitment to our children that transcends our differences.” Chrisler continues, “American families are increasingly diverse and all of us benefit from treating one another with respect and understanding. Our children deserve no less.”
WIN A GUEST DJ SPOT ON HFVS PODCAST
Speaking of families, the family center in Cummington is having a silent auction fundraiser this Saturday. Hilltown Families has donated the opportunity to have a half-hour radio program produced and aired globally through the Hilltown Family Variety Show Podcast.
The winning family gets to experience broadcasting as a DJ on HFVS Podcast. They get to pick the songs, share their thoughts, give a shout out to relatives that live in Timbuktu. HFVS producer, Sienna Wildfield, will engineer the program and post the broadcast through the HFVS Podcast.
For kids with grandparents in California, or an Uncle in Hong Kong, a sister in Ohio, this could be a pretty neat experience for them. They get to experience broadcasting and then share their show with friends and family anywhere in the world via podcast. Click here to read more about the CFC Silent Auction.
ALBUM REVIEWS BY ZOOGLOBBLE
- AudraRox’s album I Can Do It By Myself!
- Ben Rudnick & Friends’ album Grace’s Bell
- Ginger Hendrix’s album Macaroni Boy Eats at Chez Shooby Doo
- Laurie Berkner’s album Whaddaya Think of That?
- Steve Weeks’s album Alphabet Songs Vol. 3 (Rabbit Run)
HEAR HEAR: The Hilltown Family Variety Show can be heard on-air every Tuesday from 7-7:30pm on WXOJ LP, 103.3 FM, Valley Free Radio, out of Northampton, MA.
Streaming Audio Archived Shows Subscribe to Podcast SUGGEST A SONG: Post your feedback & music suggestions below, or email Sienna & Persephone at swildfield@juno.com.
SUBMIT AUDIO, VIDEO & LITERATURE: Mail a press kit & media to be reviewed to HFVS, P.O. Box 98, West Chesterfield, MA 01084.
