Thanksgiving weekend is STUFFED with great music in Northampton.

Thanksgiving weekend is about family, sure, but it always ends up being a chance to catch up with old hometown friends too. The annual Sighs reunion show at Pearl Street on Friday 11/27 at 9PM is a great example of this phenomenon. One of the greatest pop bands of the 80s/90s, said with no apologies, The Sighs put on an exhilarating show of timeless tunes. The Ray Mason Band only adds to the appeal of the local celebration that’s a little ‘Hamp and a little Noho.

If you want to get the night started early, join us for dinner Friday night 11/27 at the Iron Horse for Roomful of Blues at 7PM. Roomful of Blues’ lineup has changed over the years, but the band has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world. Currently an eight-piece unit, the band has never sounded fresher or stronger.

The Equalites – Iron Horse- Friday 11/27 10PM The local six piece reggae - rock - roots - dub - ska - r&b band is fronted by the strong, soulful vocals of lead guitarist David Boatwright and the sultry, haunting melodies of accompanying lead vocalist Cinamon Blair. The Equalites deliver a performance like no other anywhere within the reggae genre. They’ve taken reggae music into exciting new territory reminiscent of the classic Studio One recordings that also pushed the boundaries into advanced dub, afro beat, one drop, rockers, and bluebeat.

The centerpiece of the weekend is Hot Tuna at the Calvin Theatre on Saturday, November 28^th at 8PM From their days playing together as teenagers to their current acoustic and electric blues, probably no one has more consistently led American music for the last 50 years than Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, the founders and continuing core members of Hot Tuna. While in The Jefferson Airplane, putting together the soundtrack of the 60s, the pair remained loyal to their blues, jazz, bluegrass, and folk influences from years before. While the Airplane went Starship, Jack and Jorma kept their feet on the ground and waved goodbye to that trip, having built their city on blues and folk.

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters Saturday, November 28^th- 7PM- Ronnie is a two-time W.C. Handy Blues Award winner as Guitar Player of the Year. He’s played alongside such greats as B. B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, the Allman Brothers, Muddy Waters, and dozens more. Ronnie’s latest album is Living in the Light. He plays frequently at the First Baptist Church of Littleton, MA, as well as playing for children and adults with special needs, benefits for cancer research and programs that serve the homeless population. He also plays at the Iron Horse and we love the guy.

Coco Montoya who plays the Iron Horse on Monday 11/30 at 7PM, learned his chops as a member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Albert Collins' Icebreakers. His fiery blues rock has earned him the praise of fans and critics worldwide as well as a W. C. Handy award and numerous nominations. "Blistering contemporary blues...piercing attack, funky, shivery guitar tones and aggressive, soulful vocals" -Blues Revue.

Eva Cappelli and the Watershops Band make their Basement debut at 8PM Saturday 11/28. Springfield’s Ciderhouse play the 10PM show at the Iron Horse on Saturday night as well. Viva Quetzal plays Sunday 11/29 at 7PM at the Iron Horse.