BELLOWS FALLS — On Saturday, Feb. 4, Dar Williams returns to the Bellows Falls Opera House for her fourth appearance at the historic venue, kicking off the new Ray Massucco Concert Series. “Since the runaway success of her first album, The Honesty Room,” organizers say, “Dar Williams has become one of the most beloved singer/songwriters in America.”
Massucco, a civic-minded attorney, part-time concert promoter, and full-time music lover, passed away unexpectedly in September. A group of friends who had worked with Massucco on Rockingham’s Roots on the River music festival, which ended a 20-year run just prior to Covid, quickly coalesced around the idea of a concert series.
“Dan Richardson on sound, Ezra Veitch as production manager, Maridee Serebrov and Patric Leblanc doing front of house and stage management,” says Charlie Hunter of Rockingham Entertainment Development, presenter of the series in partnership with Next Stage Arts of Putney, “these were the folks who oversaw much of Roots on the River, and they were eager to keep Ray’s spirit and vision alive.”
The group decided to base the series — one per season — around some of Massucco’s favorite acoustic and Americana performers, with Dar Williams at the top of the list.
Williams laughs at this news, however, averring, “I’m thrilled to play the first concert honoring Ray, but I don’t think it’s any reflection of Ray’s preferences. He loved so many artists and genres with no hierarchy; I’m guessing he told all of them that they were his favorites.”
The second show in the series will be Appalachian newgrass barnstormers The Steel Wheels on Friday, April 7. Guitarist Chris Smither appears Saturday, Sept. 23, with Matt Lorenz, better known as The Suitcase Junket, opening. The fourth concert in the series has yet to be announced.
With $6 movie tickets and the iconic $5 “Triple Up” (a medium popcorn, soda, and a candy), the 550-seat Bellows Falls Opera House has become known as the best value first-run movie theater in the region, say event coordinators. “The sightlines and acoustics in the room are fantastic,” boasts Hunter. Now the venue is broadening its offerings. “Movies are, and will continue to be, the bread and butter of the Opera House,” says Hunter, “but we are ramping up to present 24 live performance dates each year.
“The Massucco acoustic series, Wild Goose Players’ annual theatrical presentation, Cider Presents bringing in comics and tribute bands ... there’s a lot going on here.”
Dar Williams is known for her songs such as “When I Was A Boy,” “The Babysitter’s Here,” “The Christians and the Pagans” and “After All.” Her books, Amalie, What I Learned in a Thousand Towns, and How to Write a Song That Matters have been described as thought-provoking and inspirational. Newcomer Crys Matthews opens the show.
The Bellows Falls Opera House is located at 7 Village Square, Bellows Falls. Doors open at 6:30; showtime is 7:30. Tickets and information at BellowsFallsOperaHouse.com or call 802-387-0102. Presented by Next Stage Arts and RED Concerts.