Country singer-songwriter Greg Hall of Easthampton, accompanied by Miguel Rodriguez of Worcester on harmonica, entertains area residents in front of the gazebo during the Huntington Summer Music Series on July 18.
Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter
HUNTINGTON — Concertgoers enjoyed soulful country ballads and a break in the weather on July 18, as they brought their lawn chairs to listen to Easthampton singer-songwriter Greg Hall play in front of the town gazebo from 6:30 to 8 p.m., accompanied by Miguel Santiago of Worcester on harmonica.
Greg Hall plays original country songs, touring with his own band and as a member of Ward Hayden & the Outliers. In the tradition of his favorite songwriters, Elliot Smith and Willie Nelson, his lyrics are centered on the grounded intimacy of personal moments and universal human stories.
All performances of the Thursday evening Summer Music Series are free, and sponsored by the Huntington Community Events committee. Every week, a local nonprofit provides refreshments. During Greg Hall’s performance, lemonade and a bake sale benefited the Huntington Women’s Guild.
Scheduled to perform on July 25 is alternative acoustic guitarist and singer Otan Vargas. Born and raised in the Philippines, Vargas spent his formative years surrounded mostly by poverty and despair. Vargas’ music is a powerfully simplistic combination of soul-stirring and dynamic vocals accompanied by a dark and earthy acoustic guitar. He writes songs about man’s struggle, sorrow and pain and finding the strength to continue on.
After gaining popularity with his music videos on Youtube, Vargas’ big break came in 2009 when Aaron Lewis, vocalist of Staind, invited him onstage in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The following year, he performed at the Jones Beach Bandshell in New York. In 2011, he shared the stage with Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour, Aaron Lewis of Staind, Lo Pro and Tesla for the It Takes a Community Charity Concert at the Pines Theater in Northampton.
Since then, Vargas released an EP titled “Selected Sorrow,” with the song “Hollow Destination” featured in the documentary film “Battlefield of the Mind.” The documentary touches on the plight of neglected U.S. veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and homelessness. He has performed for the Boot Campaign Foundation, an organization that supports U.S. troops and their families, and has made many other charitable concert appearances.
Information on Otan Vargas, including videos and his upcoming schedule, can be found at www.otanvargasmusic.com.
The bake sale on July 25 will be hosted by It Takes a Village. Since 2009, It Takes a Village has provided free postpartum and early parenting support to families with babies and young children living in Western Massachusetts, and has distributed over $2 million worth of free newborn supplies to thousands of families across New England. More information on their programs and ways to help or volunteer can be found at www.hilltownvillage.org.
The Aug. 1 concert features Woodford Way, a homegrown acoustic duo made up of Kyle Mangini and Jeff Lynch. The duo formed officially in 2006, but the two had been learning to create music together since they were 12 years old attending Gateway regional schools. While at times joined by other accomplished musicians; Woodford Way has always primarily been a two-piece vocal and guitar group. The two released their fifth album, “Make It Last,” in December 2022.
Aside from his achievements with Woodford Way, Lynch has released several of his own original EPs, and has produced and collaborated with various successful recording artists. He is currently a professor at Westfield State University, where he teaches music technology and audio engineering. He is also co-owner of Mainline Studios in Westfield, where several of the Woodford Way albums have been recorded.
Mangini works in the facilities department at Amherst College while continuing to write and record music on the side. He is consistently dedicated to polishing the next batch of original music to be laid down in the studio. Fans describe his songwriting to be sincere, witty and without a doubt authentic.
Performances for the Huntington Summer Music Series begin on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and last until 8 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts move inside to handicapped-accessible Stanton Hall next door at 26 Russell Rd., Huntington. Concertgoers are asked to leave their pets at home.
