Join us for the premiere of Rhythm & Rails, a multi-media performance featuring railroad-themed tunes that explore the complex history and impact of railroads on the landscape, lives, livelihood and culture of Northampton and the region from the 19th century until the present.
Here and across the nation, railroads in 19th century changed the country’s history and in some fashion, affected everyone’s lives. They changed the pace and place of daily life, the movement of people and goods, and radically changed the country’s economy. They not only changed the acoustical backdrop of the country with sounds of the engines and rails and train whistles, they had a definite presence in American music.
Drawing on research in local archives, and in collaboration with Jim Armenti and Jerry Bryant on music selections, artistic director Trudy Williams has created a show that weaves together a blend of narrative, live music and theatrical vignettes, and projected archival images from the collections of Forbes Library, Historic Northampton and other local institutions.
Tunes are drawn from American roots, folk, rag time, blues, jazz, pop, and rock, and will be performed by some of the area’s most talented musicians, including Jim Armenti, Tracy Grammar, Jerry Bryant, Joe Blumenthal, Rebecca Weiss, Adrienne Wade, Dan Scott, Tom Scott, Mark Roberts, Cindy Naughton, Rose Jackson. Many of the songs are toe-tapping, others expressive and poignant; some are familiar, others rarely heard.
The timely program coincides with the East-West railway initiative, the renewed interest in rail travel to and from Northampton, and the Rail Trail project.
Partners/research resources for this show include Forbes Library/Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, Historic Northampton, the American Antiquarian Society, Greenfield Historical Society, Hadley Historical Society.
Here and across the nation, railroads in 19th century changed the country’s history and in some fashion, affected everyone’s lives. They changed the pace and place of daily life, the movement of people and goods, and radically changed the country’s economy. They not only changed the acoustical backdrop of the country with sounds of the engines and rails and train whistles, they had a definite presence in American music.
Drawing on research in local archives, and in collaboration with Jim Armenti and Jerry Bryant on music selections, artistic director Trudy Williams has created a show that weaves together a blend of narrative, live music and theatrical vignettes, and projected archival images from the collections of Forbes Library, Historic Northampton and other local institutions.
Tunes are drawn from American roots, folk, rag time, blues, jazz, pop, and rock, and will be performed by some of the area’s most talented musicians, including Jim Armenti, Tracy Grammar, Jerry Bryant, Joe Blumenthal, Rebecca Weiss, Adrienne Wade, Dan Scott, Tom Scott, Mark Roberts, Cindy Naughton, Rose Jackson. Many of the songs are toe-tapping, others expressive and poignant; some are familiar, others rarely heard.
The timely program coincides with the East-West railway initiative, the renewed interest in rail travel to and from Northampton, and the Rail Trail project.
Partners/research resources for this show include Forbes Library/Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, Historic Northampton, the American Antiquarian Society, Greenfield Historical Society, Hadley Historical Society.
Copyright 2025 George Boziwick and Trudy Williams