Four Sundays in February 2021 Virtual Arts Festival : Northampton Arts Council

Poster by James Hindle

Four Sundays in February is one of the longest running community winter arts series in the country, the first Four Sundays being presented in 1993. The series traditionally takes place during the month of February at various performance venues in Northampton and is produced by the Northampton Arts Council. In light of Covid-19, our 2021 series will be a virtual festival broadcast to local tv and the internet with no in-person attendance. You will be able to watch all of the performances from the comfort of your own space and on the screen of your choice. Our upcoming events include Silver Chord Bowl 2021: The Northamptones Edition, KidsBestFest 2021: A Film Festival for Kids and Their Adults, The SCDT Screen Dance Festival and The Best of Four Sundays in February a video compilation showcasing a mix of our most popular February series shows.

Events are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Silver Chord Bowl 2021: Northamptones Edition

When: Sunday, February 7 – 2:00PM Showtime

Where: northamptonartscouncil.org live streamed via Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and Comcast Channel 12 in Northampton

How Much: Free!

Tickets: Donate Here

RSVP: on Facebook

The Silver Chord Bowl, now in its 37th year, is the oldest and most respected collegiate a cappella showcase in the region. Traditionally hosted in John M. Greene Hall on the Smith College campus, this year’s Silver Chord Bowl will be a virtual concert celebrating 20 years of the Northamptones, Northampton High School’s a cappella stars. The retrospective concert will showcase standout performances from the past 20 years, feature interviews with old members, and debut the newest Northamptones album. Under the outstanding direction of Beau Flahive, The Northamptones a capella group has become the shining star of Northampton High School and have continually been the most sought after local singing group year after year. This year’s Silver Chord Bowl will be a truly unique event celebrating the history of this legendary concert and its local homegrown singing heroes, The Northamptones. You will hear songs from past and present while getting a glimpse into how this year’s group continued to make music amidst the pandemic. We invite you to join us for a wonderful Sunday afternoon concert as The Northamptones once again bring our community together through song. This year’s Silver Chord Bowl will be hosted live by Northampton’s Mayor David Narkewicz.

Headline Sponsor: Smith College

Poster by James Hindle

Pizza and Songs with Lesa and Henning: Valentine's Day Music and a Meal

When: Sunday, February 14 – 2:00PM Showtime

Where: northamptonartscouncil.org live streamed via Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and Comcast Channel 12 in Northampton

How Much: Free!

Tickets: Donate Here

RSVP: on Facebook

Valentine's Day 2021 is a Valentine's Day like no other. During this stay-at-home-year we offer this stay-at-home-valentine's-day. Since they're holed up together already, Lesa Bezo (The Fawns) and Henning Ohlenbusch (Gentle Hen, The Fawns) are spending the evening focused on simple amusements. Join them in the kitchen as they attempt to make two pizzas and further attempt to play a bunch of songs around the dining room table. Expect songs old and new from the Fawns and Gentle Hen (also School for the Dead) catalogs, as well as unreleased material and, who knows, maybe a special Valentine's Day inspired cover. Lesa and Henning switch between electric guitars (6 and 12 string), acoustics, and a little old Casio keyboard. You know, kitchen stuff. While listening, follow along on their pizza making adventure. Imagine the aroma of the oven. What do you want? How about peppers and onions on one and mozz, basil, and garlic on the other. Sound good? Happy Valentine's Day!

KidsBestFest 2021: Virtual Edition

KidsBestFest is a movie festival for kids and their adults with free admission held during the winter school break. Traditionally shown on the big screen at the Academy of Music Theatre, this year’s KidsBestFest will be a virtual broadcast on the internet. You will be able to watch all of the films from the comfort of your own space and on the screen of your choice. KidsBestFest, a part of the Four Sundays in February winter arts series, is presented by the Northampton Arts Council. We kick off the free movie festival on Monday February 15th with Woolworld (2020) and other selected shorts by Joanna Polak, followed on Tuesday Feb 16 with “The Arctic Camels.” On Wednesday Feb 17 we will show Opertura shorts including Fearless Woman, The Problem with Link Think, and The Jane Bone Adventures. Thursday Feb 18 the feature presentation is “My Name is Pedro,” with the festival wrapping up on Friday Feb 19 with “Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if you're a girl).”

IMPORTANT: The movie will be available to stream for 24 hours on the day it is shown. If you would like to watch the movies selections, please sign up and we will provide you with a link and a password to the movie.

When: Monday February 15th - Friday February 19th

How Much: Free

Where: All movies are password protected, sign up to receive the movie link and the password

Tickets: Donate here

RSVP: Facebook

Monday Feb 15: available for 24 hours - Woolworld (2020) by Joanna Polak

Tuesday Feb 16: available for 24 hours - "The Arctic Camels" (2017)

Wednesday Feb 17: available for 24 hours - Selected animated shorts by Opertura (2017-2020)

Thursday Feb 18: available for 24 hours - "My Name is Pedro" (2017)

Friday Feb 19: available for 24 hours - "Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if you're a girl)" (2019)

Headline Sponsors: Greenfield Savings Bank, Northampton Open Media, A2Z Science & Learning Store

Poster by James Hindle

SCDT Screen Dance Festival

When: Sunday, February 21st – 2:00PM Showtime

Where: Live-streamed via Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and Comcast Channel 12 in Northampton

How Much: Free!

Tickets: Donate here

RSVP: Facebook

THE SCHOOL FOR CONTEMPORARY DANCE & THOUGHT (SCDT) is sharing an innovative collection of dances for film with the Northampton Arts Council for Four Sundays in February 2021.

1.Motion State Arts PLAYING FAVORITES:

Highlights from the first two seasons of the Motion State Dance Film Series! Including dance films from: Omari Carter (UK), Dagmar Daucher: (AT), Jordan Fuchs (USA), Mistaya Hemingway & Clyde Henry Productions (CA), Ali Kenner Brodsky (USA), Shon Kim (Korea), Rebecca McGowan and Jackie O'Riley (USA), Ellen Oliver (USA)

2.Valley Artist Cynthia Mclaughlin's, Brangelina:

These are part of the SCDT Winter/Spring 2021 Season. SCDT will offer a short artist talk before the screening of the film live on Zoom. The whole event is 2 hours long. The SCDT WInter/Spring 2021 season revolves around online platforms to keep performance available to our local and national communities. SCDT has received several grants to support this programming directive that includes collaborations with several other non profit arts organizations including Motion State Arts (MSA) of Rhode Island, First Generation of Holyoke and A.P.E of Northampton. The SCDT dance film season includes several collaborative curations with MSA, that highlight professionally choreographed dance for films on an international scale (January- June 2021 ), two Work In Progress events highlighting in process works from artists from the region (March and April 2021) and a NEW TEEN SCREEN DANCE FESTIVAL curated by young adults from the Hatchery Dance company and First Generation, Holyoke (June 2021).

THE SCHOOL FOR CONTEMPORARY DANCE & THOUGHT (SCDT) is a Northampton based non profit performance art organization. SCDT provides innovative programming for all ages to activate imaginations and facilitate empowerment, transformation, and development through the movement arts. SCDT connects interdisciplinary dance practices, performances, and classes with thoughtful public conversation, encouraging and invigorating community engagement.

Poster by James Hindle

February’s Finest: The Best of Four Sundays 2014-2020

When: Sunday, February 28th – 2:00PM Showtime

Where: Live streamed via Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch

How Much: FREE

Tickets: Donate here

The Northampton Arts Council presents February’s Finest: The Best of Four Sundays 2014-2020 a video collection showcasing a mix of our most highly-acclaimed Four Sundays in February series shows, compiled and remastered with Northampton Open Media. Spotlighting moments of magic from classic shows like Mumbai in Massachusetts, The Really Big Gong Show, Music in Motion, Sunday Afternoon Live, Big Bird comes to Northampton, Miwa Matreyek: This World Made Itself, Back to The Baystate and more! Relive amazing performances from gifted local artists to visiting international stars! Although many of these great shows were appreciated by packed houses on their debut, it is now time to let them be enjoyed by wider audiences on the internet and from the comfort of one’s own home. This compilation intertwines sensational scenes from our numerous February stage productions into a compellingly fresh narrative for video audiences. February’s Finest: The Best of Four Sundays 2014-2020 will reaffirm the remarkable community we live in and the undeniable gift of art.