FREE ADMISSION (DONATIONS ENCOURAGED)
Doors open at 6:30pm
We are raising funds to support the Amherst Regional Music Program.
In light of recent budget cuts and the threat to our program, we want to Spread the joy and the true value of music in the community!
Your generous donation will help with:
-Music classroom funding
-General repairs and maintenance for instruments
-Miscellaneous unexpected music related funds
Sitting at the intersection of many styles, Yasu & Friends has been offering engaging original music from the Pioneer Valley for half a decade. Their sound features creative driving acoustic guitar, engaging harmonies, Latin American percussion, rhythmic basslines, and lyrical electric guitar solos. Rooted in popular music, the band has brought their lively nuanced sound to many breweries, local festivals, such as Fall Festival, Early Apple Festival, Garlic and Arts Festival, and most recently at the main stage of the Amherst Block Party.
Bandleader, songwriter, and lead singer Yasu Suzuki brings J-pop influenced creativity to a rock and funk sound, with deep ties to the Amherst community as a resident and Orchestra Director of the Amherst Regional Public Schools. Bassist/singer Nick Laurel student-taught in ARPS and currently works at the Amherst College Library. Percussionist Nick Shaw grew up in Amherst and has led the Conjunto de Bomba at Amherst Regional High School for many years. For this event a Trombonist, Ariel Templeton (ARPS Elementary Band Director) and a Saxophonist, Dan Friedman (Pathfinder Highschool Music Director) will be featured as the horn section.
Born into a family of several generations of gifted musicians, Marcia Gomes’ home was always filled with music. Her soulful originals are inspired by jazz, gospel, Latin, and R&B. From Dionne Warwick to The Edwin Hawkins Singers, from Ray Charles and Lou Rawls to Wes Montgomery, from Chaka Khan and Jill Scott to Sergio Mendes to Sting, her musical influences are rich and diverse. Marcia's songs, which explore themes of faith, redemption, and social justice, have been described as deeply moving and powerful.
Marcia is a Cleo Laine vocal scholarship recipient and graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in voice and songwriting. She also studied classical and jazz guitar privately. Marcia has performed with a number of popular local Boston bands including the jazz bands Straight Ahead and MaShanDi Jhazz, an all female R&B dance band called Sistahs of the Yam, and Move, an R&B pop band. She has appeared onstage at Ryles, Club Passim, Club 1369, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Augusta Savage Gallery at UMass Amherst, and the Arts Block in Greenfield among other venues. Marcia teaches voice at the Institute for the Musical Arts summer rock camp for girls.