Northampton Summer Park Series 2021 *Friday July 16 @ 5:30pm Jake Manzi, Izzy Heltai Come out to enjoy long summer nights in Downtown Northampton with free live music in Pulaski Park! The Northampton Arts Council, in its sixth year of presenting concerts in the Park, continues a long-held musical tradition that dates back to the 1970's. Join us for live music and dancing in our beautiful park. We are presenting six shows this summer in July, August, and September. Shows start at 5:30pm and go until 7:30pm. Jake Manzi Jake Manzi is a Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter. After years of touring festivals and clubs in the Northeast, Manzi presents his debut full-length record, Whatever My Heart Allows (out May 7). The new record consists of ten dreamy, heartfelt tracks, and features contributions from Grammy winner Don Was, Griffin & Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Grammy-nominated guitarist/singer Madison Cunningham, and Mikaela Davis. Raised in Western Massachusetts, his unique brand of soft rock has earned him significant acclaim, sold-out hometown shows, and opening slots for Lori McKenna, Ryan Montbleau, Chris Collingwood, and more. Whatever My Heart Allows is a sweetly confessional union of soft rock and indie pop, the story of someone growing towards a deeper understanding of themselves. A laid-back, honest meditation on what it means to let yourself love, even when you're afraid. With lush, sweeping string arrangements, heartachey pedal steel, vibraphone, and harp, Whatever My Heart Allows reads as a love letter from Manzi to himself--a love letter he didn't even know he was writing. Izzy Heltai If aliens came to earth, Izzy Heltai would describe his debut album, Father, to them this way: "There are frequencies that are going to feel like clanking, that maybe you'll enjoy sonically. There are words strung together to sound nice. They are about an important human trajectory when one goes from a child to a slightly more serious child called an adult." His new music is the product and reflection of the broad spectrum of music Izzy enjoys listening to. From his love of pop, analog electronic, to country, Izzy loves blending elements of genres to create his own unique take on what a folk song is. Izzy works primarily in his friend Andy Cass's studio in Williamsburg, MA, where he recorded the entirety of his debut album Father and his new singles. Izzy plays acoustic guitar and sings on his recordings. He is joined by Garrett Salazar on drums, Andy Cass on bass, and Micah Katz-Zeiger on everything else. Izzy's producer, Max Shakun (Parsonsfield), lovingly coins Micah as their swiss army knife, "because he plays literally everything else". Since Father was released in September 2020, Izzy has moved from a folk sound to a blend of pop, indie, and classic rock. Some important information: Please bring sunblock, drinking water, and a blanket to sit on. No pop up tents or chairs with metal legs are permitted on the grass turf at Pulaski Park. For questions please contact arts@northamptonma.gov or call 413-587-1069. A2Z Kids Zone will be in attendance at this show.   We couldn't present these shows without our sponsors: Headline Gold Sponsor: The City of Northampton and Cornucopia Natural Wellness Market Media Sponsors: 93.9 & 101.5 FM The River, Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Republican/MassLive, New England Public Media, Northampton Open Media Stage Bronze Sponsors: Delap Real Estate, A2Z Science & Learning Store, Eastside Grill, Hotel Northampton, River Valley Co-op, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts   Our mission is to showcase the best music from the valley alongside top notch touring acts while bringing together the local community to enjoy the many benefits of our picturesque downtown. Outdoor concerts on summer nights in downtown Northampton is a tradition that dates back to the 1970s. Since that time, Northampton has been fertile ground for producing unique original music, often renowned on the national level. The lineup for the 2021 series reflects this trend and will showcase acts of varying age & style to each other and the community at large. This year, the Northampton Arts Council is producing the summer series in what promises to be the best summer yet! Upcoming Shows: *Friday July 16 @ 5:30pm Jake Manzi, Izzy Heltai Friday July 23 @ 5:30pm Editrix, Thee Arcadians Tuesday August 3 @ 5:30pm Priya Darshini, Max ZT Friday August 6 @ 5:30pm Salsa in the Park w/ KomboLoko; Dance instructors: Nector Garcia, Michael Rodriguez, Zamirah Santos. DJ Roger Jr. and the return of the KomboLoko live, playing a Tribute to Willie Colon. Saturday Sept 4 @ 5:30pm Salsa in the Park w/ Dj Bongohead Tuesday August 17 @ 4:00pm Transperformance 31: Unsung Heroes at Pines Theater, Look Park Florence, MA