Come out to enjoy long summer nights in Downtown Northampton with free live music in Pulaski Park! The Northampton Arts Council, in its sixth year of presenting concerts in the Park, continues a long-held musical tradition that dates back to the 1970's. Join us for live music and dancing in our beautiful park. We are presenting five shows this summer on Friday evenings in July and August, and one Saturday in September. Shows start at 5:30pm and go until 7:30pm.

Jake Manzi
Jake Manzi is a Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter. After years of touring festivals and clubs in the Northeast, Manzi presents his debut full-length record, Whatever My Heart Allows (out May 7). The new record consists of ten dreamy, heartfelt tracks, and features contributions from Grammy winner Don Was, Griffin & Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Grammy-nominated guitarist/singer Madison Cunningham, and Mikaela Davis. Raised in Western Massachusetts, his unique brand of soft rock has earned him significant acclaim, sold-out hometown shows, and opening slots for Lori McKenna, Ryan Montbleau, Chris Collingwood, and more. Whatever My Heart Allows is a sweetly confessional union of soft rock and indie pop, the story of someone growing towards a deeper understanding of themselves. A laid-back, honest meditation on what it means to let yourself love, even when you’re afraid. With lush, sweeping string arrangements, heartachey pedal steel, vibraphone, and harp, Whatever My Heart Allows reads as a love letter from Manzi to himself—a love letter he didn’t even know he was writing.

Izzy Heltai
If aliens came to earth, Izzy Heltai would describe his debut album, Father, to them this way: “There are frequencies that are going to feel like clanking, that maybe you’ll enjoy sonically. There are words strung together to sound nice. They are about an important human trajectory when one goes from a child to a slightly more serious child called an adult.” His new music is the product and reflection of the broad spectrum of music Izzy enjoys listening to. From his love of pop, analog electronic, to country, Izzy loves blending elements of genres to create his own unique take on what a folk song is. Izzy works primarily in his friend Andy Cass’s studio in Williamsburg, MA, where he recorded the entirety of his debut album Father and his new singles. Izzy plays acoustic guitar and sings on his recordings. He is joined by Garrett Salazar on drums, Andy Cass on bass, and Micah Katz-Zeiger on everything else. Izzy’s producer, Max Shakun (Parsonsfield), lovingly coins Micah as their swiss army knife, “because he plays literally everything else”. Since Father was released in September 2020, Izzy has moved from a folk sound to a blend of pop, indie, and classic rock. 

All events will take place in Pulaski Park and admission is free for all!

DATES:

*Friday July 9th 5:30pm Cloudbelly, Lisa Bastoni & Sean Staples 

*Friday July 16th 5:30pm Jake Manzi, Izzy Heltai 

Friday July 23rd 5:30pm Editrix, Thee Arcadians

Friday August 6th 5:30pm Live Salsa in the Park w/ KomboLoko 

Saturday September 4th 5:30pm Salsa in the Park w/ Dj Bongohead