Valley Music Showcase

09/07/2024

This coming THURSDAY-- SEPTEMBER 12TH! One of several excellent performers that night will be Derek O'Kanos. The show will be taking place at 7:00 pm @ the beautiful new state-of-the-art listening room at Holyoke Media (1 Court Plaza, Holyoke, MA). Admission is FREE!
O’Kanos’ music is best described as a mix of rock, folk, alternative and powerpop. Derek draws influence from the work of: Nick Lowe, John Prine, Ben Harper, Hank Williams, Thin Lizzy, Marcy Playground, Ramone etc. Derek has released 2 EP’s, On the Sleeve (2021) and Spoken Roads (2022)

Make sure to check out the Brattleboro VT/Enfield CT-based artist's rockin tune "What Good's a Feeling?" (see the link below).
Five additional super-talented artists will be appearing with Derek on the same bill: Erin Ash Sullivan, Peregrine Road (Rachel Bell); Zack Danziger ; Jesse Brody(Jesse Lepkoff; Sasha K.A.
To Get a Taste of what you'll hear here's a link to Derek's tune "What Good's a Feeling?": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFNVHs6C1Tk

To learn more about our September 12th Open Stage Showcase: https://www.facebook.com/events/889143563030595

08/14/2024

The NMA Radio Hour is a weekly show presented by the New Music Alliance. It features original music of performers and bands from the Western New England area. And that’s music from New Haven Connecticut and thereabouts all the way through Western Massachusetts and Southern Vermont. It includes recent releases & songs/bands from the past.

This week for our 267th show we feature a playlist curated by our guest DJ, the incredibly talented African-Jazz percussionist Tony V***a. Joining Tony to discuss this playlist is the super multi-instumentalist and prolific songwriter Derrick Jordan, who was part of the amazing African/Western New England ensembles that are featured on several of the songs in this show. Tony and Derrick share lots of interesting anecdotes about all the artists played on the show. Here’s a taste of who you’ll hear:
- V***a
- Jordan
- The Lost Tribe
- Pleasant
- Tsidii Le Loka
- Charles Langford Music
- Avery Sharpe
- NRBQ Headquarters

Catch this week’s radio hour this Thursday August 15th from 6-7PM on WXOJ Northampton (streaming on www.valleyfreeradio.org), WMNB North Adams, or WCCH Holyoke; or at 7-8 pm on WTBR Pittsfield. Or catch it at midnight Friday Aug. 16th on WWUH Hartford (www.wwuh.org). Also on Saturday Aug. 17th at 4-5 pm on WMCB Greenfield or WECS Willimantic (www.wecsfm.com; 90.1 FM) or at 10 pm on WAPJ Torrington or 11 pm on WHUS Storrs (www.whus.org). See each station's website for their streaming details. Enjoy!!

Can’t make it to a radio near you or stream the show this week? Find the show on our YouTube channel starting next week!

https://www.youtube.com//playlists

NMA’s mission is to help up-and coming Western New England musicians advance their careers and bring national attention to this region as a music destination. We do this through our radio show, musician-focused workshops, live shows (including the Valley Music Showcase and regional tours), with more to come. Please help us continue our mission by visiting our website and becoming an NMA member or business sponsor. Thank you!

05/28/2024

This is it! Thursday June 6th 7:00-9:15 pm. The Best Show Money CAN'T Buy! (Because it's FREE!) A super collection of W. New England artists! RJ McCarty! Brian Jarvis! Chris Goudreau! Helen Hummel! Kerrie Stelly! and Adam Herrick! @ Holyoke Media 1 Court Plaza Holyoke, MA-- Sponsored by Downtown Sounds

04/03/2024

Lady Moon & The Eclipse are awesome! I was blown away by their show a few years ago in New York and I can't wait to see them again this Friday night at The Marigold in Easthampton, MA. They put on a dynamite show!

03/26/2024

03/13/2024

The NMA Radio Hour is a weekly show presented by the New Music Alliance. It features original music of performers and bands from the Western New England area. And that’s music from New Haven Connecticut and thereabouts all the way through Western Massachusetts and Southern Vermont. It includes recent releases & songs/bands from the past.

This week for our 245th show our host is Mark Sherry. Mark is joined by our special Guest DJ, Williamsburg, MA-based singer-songwriter Louise Mosrie. Louise put together a playlist for the show that is full of many incredibly talented artists who are new to our show. Here’s a taste of who you’ll hear:
- Scott Ainslie
- Cliff Eberhardt
- Bobby Sweet
- Bernice Lewis
- Liz Queler
- Lisa Martin
- Louise Mosrie Coombe
- Part Luck
- Jack Swindlehurst
- Henry
- Johnny Irion

Catch this week’s radio hour this Thursday March 14th from 6-7PM on WXOJ Northampton (streaming on www.valleyfreeradio.org), WMNB North Adams, or WCCH Holyoke; or at 7-8 pm on WTBR Pittsfield. Or catch it at midnight Friday March 15th on WWUH Hartford (www.wwuh.org). Also on Saturday March 16th at 4-5 pm on WMCB Greenfield or WECS Willimantic (www.wecsfm.com; 90.1 FM) or at 10 pm on WAPJ Torrington or 11 pm on WHUS Storrs (www.whus.org). See each station's website for their streaming details. Enjoy!!

Can’t make it to a radio near you or stream the show this week? Find the show on our YouTube channel starting next week!
https://www.youtube.com//playlists

NMA’s mission is to help up-and coming Western New England musicians advance their careers and bring national attention to this region as a music destination. We do this through our radio show, musician-focused workshops, live shows (including the Valley Music Showcase and regional tours), with more to come. Please help us continue our mission by visiting our website and becoming an NMA member or business sponsor. Thank you!

02/17/2024

The results of the 2023 voting for new songs to be inducted into the Essential Western New England Songbook are in! 32 additional songs were inducted for the calendar year 2023. This brings the total songs in the Essential Western New England Songbook to 232.
The Songbook is a listenable juried anthology now comprising 232 of the best songs of all genres ever written by artists who’ve lived in Western New England and whose careers have a significant connection to the area. It’s a virtual “Hall of Fame” of original songs by artists from the extended Connecticut River Valley (aka “Western New England”—the area from New Haven CT & thereabouts north through W. & Central Massachusetts and Southern VT). Music industry professionals from around the Western New England area nominated songs that were then voted on by a panel of judges.
It exists as 3 great playlists to listen to and enjoy. And at the same time you can be proud of what great music local Western New England musicians have created. I encourage you to let your friends and family (and social media friends!) know what a great resource and pleasurable listen it is. Below are the 3 ways that you can listen to the songs on the Songbook:
Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0JqPdefbuFC2qaFzTvEAPm...
YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist...
Google Doc (most complete info) : https://docs.google.com/.../1hlql49arftFr8WsA9K03.../edit...
Two live New Music Alliance Radio Hour Shows will also be focused on the Songbook and each of the shows will have 6-8 guest artists whose songs have just been inducted this year. We'll play their songs and talk about their composition- & other fun stuff! These are shows scheduled for broadcast the weeks of April 11 -13 and April 18-20. The April 18 show will also feature co-host Tracy Walton.
We'll also have a sneak preview on the NMA Radio Hour Show the week of Feb 29!
Here is a list of the 32 New Inductees: (check out the links above to hear the songs)
2023 INDUCTEES
1) Massachusetts Arlo Guthrie
2) Harlem and the War to End All Wars Avery Sharpe
3) LA Boy Harsher
4) Dance With Me Charles Langford
5) Land of Tar Ditrani Brothers
6) Slung-Lo Erin McKeown
7) Missing Elvis Fancy Trash
😎 Runaway Boy Hank Keene & Connecticut Hillbillies
9) Stretch of the Highway James Taylor
10) Truck Eating Bridge Johnny Memphis Band
11) Two for the Road JP Harris & The Tough Choices
12) The End of Heartache Killswitch Engage
13) They Can Say What They Like Kimaya Diggs
14) Give Me Leala Cyr
15) Cadaques Cabaret Lord Russ
16) Ellipses Love Crumbs
17) Dinner with Paulus Luke Hendon
18) Gateway Drug Matt Hebert
19) Ridin' In My Car NRBQ
20) Dr. Funk One Time Weekend
21) It Still Makes Me Smile Pete Nelson
22) Peugot Peter Lehndorff
23) Loneliness Philip B. Price
24) I'm Just a Vagabond Lover Rudy Vallee
25) Thank God You Introduced Me to Your Sister Sarah Barrios
26) What Drives the Weak Shadows Fall
27) No Sudden Moves Spouse
28) Type a Prayer The Alchemystics
29) Don't Want You Either The Malarians
30) Going All the Way The Squires
31) Broken Arm Winterpills
32) Sittin' In The Saddle Yodelin' Slim Clark

02/09/2024

Don’t miss this week’s show with special guest host Scott Helland Guitarmy of One

02/06/2024

Call for Performers for New Music Alliance's "Open Stage Showcase". Want to play your Original songs in a state-of-the-art listening room with an appreciative audience and then receive a high quality multi-camera video of your performance? If you do then contact us to be considered for a spot in our 1st Thursdays Open Stage Showcase at Holyoke Media. Original songs only. (Limited to solo, duos or trios w/ no drum sets). Note: April is an exception- that date is Tues April 9).

01/20/2024

What to do while you're waiting for Groundhog's Day? Come out out to hear some great original local music the day before on Thursday Feb 1st @7:00 pm. This month's New Music Alliance 1st Thursdays "OPEN STAGE SHOWCASE" will be @ Holyoke Media in Holyoke, MA. Peter Newland and 6 more talented acts! Free Admission. Be there!