Melissa Ferrick and a Dozen Bands highlight Rockin' Rainbow ...

September 22, Rain or Shine, the Rainbow Riverfest will fill the air with music.

Rainbow Riverfest 2012, the Pride of Western Mass., is an all-inclusive festival to be held Saturday, September 22, at the Holyoke Canoe Club on the banks of the Connecticut River, with special guests Melissa Ferrick, featured in Curve, Go, and Out magazines, and Bitch, heard in Showtime?s hit series ?The L Word? and seen in the film, ?Shortbus?.

Other performers include Dani Shay, a finalist featured on ?America?s Got Talent? and ?The Glee Project?, Sister Funk, Karen Grenier and more.

?The aim of our festival is bringing together people from all walks of life, including young people, who we hope are able to safely experience the LGBTQA community for the first time,? said Suzanne Seymour, the LGBT Coalition?s Executive Director. ?Our Riverfest blends music and comedy with unique concepts, including a healing Zen Zone for body, mind, and spirit, as well as the Youth Tent, where young people can connect through innovative workshops and uniting activities.?

This year, Riverfest workshops in the Youth Tent will include Learn to Zumba!, Line Dancing 101, Suicide Prevention information, as well as healing workshops, free massage, acupuncture and spiritual support in the Zen Zone area. Select entertainers will also appear in the Youth Tent to share their personal and inspirational coming out stories.

Emily Scagel, LGBT Coalition Board Member, stated, ?Feedback received from youth participating in last year?s festival stated that Riverfest allowed them to realize the many positive opportunities that await them. It is our hope that we achieve this not only for them, but for everyone in attendance.?

Chely Wright in Wish Me Away

The Riverfest weekend starts out Friday evening with a film screening of ?Wish Me Away? starring country-western singer Chely Wright, at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton at 8 p.m.

?Chely Wright showed great courage in coming out as a lesbian while at height of her career in the country music industry, an industry that has not been supportive of LGBT rights,? said Debra J?Anthony, Executive Director of the Academy of Music. Chely Wright is the first commercial country music singer to come out as gay, shattering cultural stereotypes within Nashville. The film shows both the devastation of internalized homophobia and the transformational power of living an authentic life. Special guest Karen Grenier, one of the Riverfest?s featured performers, will be welcoming the crowd and performing before the film.

Diva?s Deal

Diva?s Nightclub will be sponsoring the official Rainbow Riverfest afterparty, with doors opening at 8 p.m. for 18+. A special meet and greet with The Glee Project?s Dani Shay will be held later in the evening, along with a drag king performance. Reduced admission for 21+ with a Riverfest wristband will be honored at the door, with entrance to the Dani Shay VIP section.

The LGBT Coalition of Western Mass. sponsors many community events, including the area?s first National Gay-Straight Alliance Day event, held in Springfield, ?Loving Your Gay Teen? workshop for parents of LGBTQ youth, Northampton?s Transgender Day Of Remembrance, as well as an ongoing film and forum series. Ticket information is below.

MELISSA FERRICK

Melissa Ferrick has a great deal to show for two decades in the music industry. This independent artist has developed her craft and fan base over the span of sixteen albums and over her twenty years of experience; ?she has strengthened a voice that has been challenged by breakdowns and breakthroughs. Her sound is her own and yet so familiar, taking inspiration from, and sharing the stage with, artists such as Bob Dylan and Weezer.

Ferrick?s Still Right Here (released Sept 13, 2011) is some of her hardest earned music to date, boasting guest appearances by Ani DiFranco and Kaki King.

Ferrick was also featured in the Dec. 2011 issue of Out Magazine in their Out 100 as an out artist who has made an impact on the community.

Check out melissaferrick.com

BITCH

Bitch?is an indie-electro band and also the chosen moniker of the fierce front-woman who is known for her?electric violin?and?electric performances.?Bitch also plays?bass,?ukulele?and?keytar,?and works with a beat-maker named?Alligator. Her shows, like her name, are exercises in self-liberation.

Bitch started classical violin at 4,?and later expanded her musical horizons by studying fiddling with?Andrew Bird.? She first burst onto the scene when her band,?Bitch and Animal, toured with?Ani Difranco?in the U.S. and Europe and released two albums on Difranco?s label,?Righteous Babe Records.In 2008, ?Bitch produced and released an entire album of one of her musical idols,?Ferron, called??Boulder.?? ?Boulder? features performances by such luminaries as?Ani Difranco, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls, JD Samson,?(Le Tigre, MEN)?and?Samantha Parton (The Be Good Tanyas).??

Check out bitchmusic.com

DANI SHAY

From viral videos on YouTube, to ?America?s Got Talent,? to this year?s season of critically acclaimed TV show, ?The Glee Project,? Dani Shay has been creating quite a buzz for herself in the entertainment world. Despite the fact that many people are only just discovering this androgynous singer/songwriter, Dani has been performing her own music and self-producing original albums since 2008. Her message is one of love, but she delivers it with wit, precision, humor and insight. Her voice is pure, soulful and slightly addictive. ?Warning: She may cause you to question everything you thought you knew, and all of who you thought you were. www.danishay.com

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KAREN GRENIER

With the release of her latest CD ?Crazy Love?, Karen Grenier continues to make her mark as both a gifted songwriter and crafty lyricist. Drawing in both new and faithful fans, Karen?s songs resonate in the heart and leave listeners anticipating the next song and humming her catchy melodies.

A polished performer, Karen?s smooth, penetrating voice, rhythmic acoustic style, and positive emotional energy make for an excellent concert experience. Several of her songs have been featured on the Dawson?s Creek DVD. Karen has performed at clubs, festivals, coffee houses, and colleges throughout Northeast.?Currently promoting her ?Crazy Love? CD, Karen continues to impress audiences with her catchy melodies, intimate lyrics and gutsy performances. For Karen, it?s all about being genuine and connecting with people.?www.kgrenier.com

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SISTER FUNK

Sister Funk, the proud, 2011 Women?s Hall of Fame inductees, deliver hot original music with power, energy, and sass!

This high powered all female-band has been committed to music for the past 10 years & still going strong. Let?s not forget their cameo appearance on Showtime?s smash hit show, The L Word, performing LIVE on an Olivia Cruise.

Sister Funk has been igniting stages from coast to coast, including Canada, performing at some of the largest GLBT Pride events and Women?s Festivals. CURVE Magazine describes Sister Funk as ?provocative, high energy, and entertaining, these women put on a hot show?.
The myth that women can?t rock has been dispelled!

With all their awards aside, it?s the music, the fans, the love for each other that keeps them going. After 10 years, Sister Funk continues to stay strong and focused, delivering a passionate and energetic performance time and time again!
www.sisterfunk.com

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LAUREN BATEMAN

As a childhood cancer survivor, Lauren Batemans knows the importance of living in the moment. That is why at the age of 27, Lauren quit her job as a research scientist to pursue a career in music. Her most recent release, Here I Am, shows that she made the right decision.?

Here I Am shows the more rocking side of Lauren Bateman. Drawing from influences like Melissa Etheridge, Pat Benatar, Sheryl Crow and Brandi Carlile, Lauren blends her singer/songwriter roots with edgy guitar riffs and a big drum sound to direct the emotional flow of her new release.

?The band and I are just going to keep on getting better and making our live performance even more amazing. Every time I get on stage, whether it?s in front of twenty people or a thousand, I feel like I have found my way home. There is no stopping me now.??www.laurenbateman.com

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WILL SHISHMANIAN

Will Shishmanian is a transgender singer/songwriter from Colchester, CT who is currently majoring in Music Composition at Ithaca College. He has performed for many years as a solo artist under the name Maria Shishmanian. In the Summer of 2010, Will worked with long-time friends Nick Napoletano, Justin Morse, and Ben Perry to record his full length album ?The Right Words for the Wrong People? which can be found on iTunes under the band name Maria Shishmanian and the Boys. After coming out as a transgender man and having a good laugh at the irony of his previous band name, Will now performs most frequently in Ithaca, NY with the wildly talented cellist, Erin Snedecor. He also sings and plays trumpet in the CT Ska band, Llama Tsunami.
More information about Will can be found on his Facebook page.

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PHOENIX DANCE ACADEMY

Phoenix Dance Academy offers a place where people can learn to dance, meet new people, have fun, and feel comfortable. We offer a varied dance program with affordable price options for all levels of interest, with greater emphasis on group classes and small package sessions to reach dance skill objectives. Our instructors have access to continual training with some of the area?s top professional coaches. This provides all our students with up-to-date steps and technique and access to the latest dance trends. Phoenix Dance Academy welcomes a diversity of people and maintains a non-smoking and alcohol free environment.
For more information, check out their Facebook page

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DEDICATED TO DELILAH

Dedicated to Delilah?s music is a blend of 80s pop rock and ballads. An ode to the infamous radio personality ?Delilah,? the band prides itself on playing familiar, feel-good tunes from the past. Audiences love their all-girl vocal power, musical prowess and shameless enthusiasm for cheesy songs, sweatbands and unitards. Formed two years ago on a dare, Dedicated to Delilah has now found their niche entertaining anyone who has ever sung-along to the likes of ?Total Eclipse of the Heart.? Check out their Facebook or follow them on Twitter @Ded2Delilah.

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WHITNEY BORISENOK

At the early age of 4, the only item on Whitney Borisenok?s Christmas list was a guitar. Later, she sat down to teach herself, motivated by the early musical influences of John Frusciante and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In college, she performed at her first open mic in Burlington. Fast forward four years, a notebook full of half-finished and complete songs and a couple of broken hearts later, Whitney released her EP, ?Heart on Sleeve,? in December. ?I write, sing, and play music because it?s what I love to do ? My goal is to simply make music that people can enjoy. That?s what makes me happy.? www.facebook.com/whitneyborisenok

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ROLLA

Rolla returns to New England with her signature style of soulful rhythm and blues. She began singing at age two, with her mother playing guitar. Now, Rolla has been compared to names like Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott. Runner up in 2012?s Boston Pride Idol and performing at other pride events, like the first annual Northshore Pride, Rolla returns to the stage for this year?s Rainbow Riverfest. Rolla will take you by storm when she lives up to her slogan, ?Rolla ? Smile with me!? www.facebook.com/rollazonemusic

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JOHN BRANDOLI

John Brandoli is packing venues in New England, as his fan base continues to grow. With the release of his album, Suspended Disbelief, he continues to make an impact here and abroad. His versatile style of rock, folk-rock and pop is rapidly gaining momentum and recognition. A favorite at Coalition events since 2010, John and his band are back once again. www.johnbrandoli.com

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KERI + DEJA

Keri and Deja are seasoned musicians who have been playing separately in many bands for decades. Keri made her living drumming for the ?Starlighters? for several years, while Deja played with ?The Real Drafte? and ?Sebastian and After the Fact?. It was the Springfield transgender support group, UniTy, that brought these two musicians together. In addition to UniTy gigs, Keri and Deja are favorites at several area open mic nights. Keri and Deja are both members of the LGBT Coalition and are thrilled to be playing at this year?s Rainbow Riverfest!

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Tickets, Additional Details

Tickets for the Rainbow Riverfest are available through the Northampton Box Office or nbotickets.com Adults are $17.50 in advance/$25 at the gate. Ages 13 ? 20 are $5 advance/$10 gate, 12 and under are free. Doors open at 11am, and the festival will run until dusk. Beer and wine will be available for 21+; positive ID required. This is a rain or shine event. Tickets for Wish Me Away are available at the Academy of Music Box Office. For more information, please visit www.rainbowriverfest.org or call (413) 588-1018.

The Holyoke Canoe Club is located on Old Ferry Rd in Holyoke, Mass. off of Northampton St/Rt-5.

About the LGBT Coalition

The LGBT Coalition of Western Massachusetts is a non-profit 501c3 tax-exempt organization and a member of InterPride (International Organization of Pride Organizers), the Northampton Chamber of Commerce and CABO (LGBT Chamber of Commerce), and was named 2012 Best Local Activist Organization by the Valley Advocate. To learn more about programs and other events, visit www.lgbtcoalitionwma.org.

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Tags: Alex Morse, Bitch, Dani Shay, Dedicated to Delilah, Holyoke Canoe Club, John Brandoli, Karen Grenier, Lauren Bateman, Melissa Ferrick, Phoenix Dance Academy, Rainbow Riverfest, Rolla, September 22 2012, Sister Funk, The Deja + Keri Project, Whitney Borisenok, Will Shishmanian

Source: http://berkshireonstage.com/2012/09/03/melissa-ferrick-and-a-dozen-bands-highlight-rockin-rainbow-riverfest-2012-in-holyoke/

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