$25 advanced, $30 at the door
General Admission (Seated) - Doors open at 6PM
Donnie Gallagher & Friends perform. Proceeds to benefit the Amherst Survival Center. With special guests Peter Newland, Curtis Dagostino, Kate O’Connor, Rico Spence and more.
“We hope to see music lovers and folks who support the sorely needed and fine work of the Survival Center come out for a fun evening at the Drake”.
Donnie Gallagher & Friends return to the Drake for a special benefit in support of the Amherst Survival Center. Join us for an evening celebrating music, connection, and community—all while supporting our neighbors in need.
THE CAUSE
Acclaimed area musicians will take to the stage at the Drake in Amherst on Friday, June 5th from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. to benefit the work of the Amherst Survival Center.
The Center is one of many agencies and organizations affected by significant budget cuts in Washington.
Organizer and Singer-Songwriter "Donnie Gallagher and Friends" will provide music.
Donnie Gallagher has summoned musical talents from up and down the valley and the Berkshires to bring music to the Drake Amherst stage. He hopes that the June 5th event will help bring attention to food insecurity in the valley and the work being done by the Amherst Survival Center and other area agencies.
Gallagher and fellow singer-songwriters Peter Newland, Curt Dagostino and Kate O'Connor will combine their original material with covers from some of their favorite recording artists. Newland was lead singer and harp player with the legendary 70's popular rock band FAT. Newland has been instrumental in growing the Blues to Green Festival in downtown Springfield.
Gallagher will open the show with multi-instrumentalist and record producers Curt Dagostino from Colorado and the Berkshires Andy Gordon. Also on stage with Gallagher will be singer-songwriter and keyboard extraordinaire Kate O'Connor and bassist Rico Spence.
Dagostino, a native of Longmeadow has played with members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Buddy Miles, Dan Fogelburg, Starwood, the Bobby Mason Band and John Sommers who wrote for and played with John Denver.
Gordon, played with Gallagher in an award-winning New Grass band the Yokels.He formerly played with the classic Country band The Spurs and the Housatonic Philharmonic. In addition to being a sought-after recording session player, Andy now plays steel with the premiere Neil Young Tribute Band, Harvest and Rust.
Kate O’Connor is a career musician, singer-songwriter, composer, teacher and multi instrumentalist (voice, keys, steel drum, guitar and uke) inspired by world music, rhythm & blues, classical, soul, and pop/rock music. Kate performs with her bands A Beautiful Future, The Catalytics, and Blue Rendezvous. She has won best vocalist awards in Western Mass where she makes her home, worked as a long-time session vocalist for Platinum recording songwriter Tony Romeo, and performed for thousands of concerts, dances, and events primarily in New England, Bermuda and Florida.
Rico Spence is a career musician specializing in bass guitar, drums, percussion, and vocals. He currently performs with his bands A Beautiful Future, The Catalytics, and Blue Rendezvous, and has performed with hundreds of musicians and many groups over his career including the James Montgomery Band, James Cotton Band, Helen Hollins Gospel Singers Band, George T Gregory Band, Paris, Bailey Bros, and Some of My Best Friends. With his bands he has shared stages with Earth Wind and Fire, Patti Labelle, Doobie Brothers, Chambers Bros, Average White Band, BB King, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, The Pointer Sisters, and more. His musical talent is found on hundreds of recordings including by Dar Williams, Brookes Williams, Richard Berman, etc.