Performance
Live Tribute Benefit Music Festival formerly known as Transperformance
The Northampton Arts Council has curated a unique and thrilling music odyssey annually at Pines Theater in Look Park for the past 34 years! LookStock, a music festival that kicked off 34 years ago, is making a grand return this year, now under the guise of Performance 34: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Performance (formerly known as Transperformance) is a one-of-a-kind experience in Western Massachusetts where our beloved local musicians step into the shoes of their favorite music artists that align with our chosen theme. Come and be a part of this extraordinary celebration of the arts while also contributing to the enrichment of arts programs in the Northampton Public School system and the Parent Teacher Organizations (P.T.O.s).
"Performance" started in 1991 when funding for the arts took a dismal turn. The Mass Cultural Council went from a budget of 20 million down to 3 million dollars. The Arts Council met with cultural liaisons from PTOs of local schools and decided to create a big event to raise money. Lookstock: The Performance Peace brought close to 2,000 people to Look Park, and we’ve been going strong ever since! The festival brings our community together to rock out to their favorite local bands, dance in the sunshine, help raise funds for a good cause, and strengthen our connections.
The original concept for "Performance" was for local bands to transform into the persona of another established nationally recognized act and perform their bands’ style, based on a new theme for each year’s festival. Examples include Transperformance 22 “Food Groups” (Heather Maloney as Amy Winehouse), Transperformance 20 “Body Parts” (King Radio as The Flaming Lips) Transperformance 13 “Southern Fried” (Mark Mulchahy with J Mascis as The Allman Brothers.)
Past Themes:
1991 – Lookstock: The Performance Peace
1992 – Beyond Karaoke
1993 – Dick Clark Look Park
1994 – Rock and Roll Heaven
1995 – Way Off Broadway
1996 – Night at the Opry
1997 – Tuesday Night Fever
1998 – Oy Vegas
1999 – Limeypalooza
2000 – Look Punk
2001 – Cali-Faux-Nia-Dreaming
2002 – Oh! Canada
2003 – Southern Fried Transperformance
2004 – Animals and Insects
2005 – New York: A Bite from the Big Apple
2006 – All in the Family
2007 – Color by Numbers
2008 – Letters and Numbers
2009 – LookStock
2010 – Body Parts
2011 – Nohobility
2012 – Food Groups
2013 – Beyond Bob
2014 – Off The Map
2015 – Look at The Movies
2016 – Labor Party
2017 – Rock N Roll Heaven
2018 – Amperbands
2019 – LookStock
2020 – LIVE AID
2021 – Unsung Heroes
2022 – Nevermind the 90s
2023 – The Elements!