Northampton adds new outdoor summer music stage, expands existing program

Expanding on popular outdoor dining and entertainment that first emerged during the pandemic, the city northampton A new live music arena will open downtown this summer, hoping to draw more people to the city center.

The stage, located behind the Northampton brewery, will join performance spaces that were established at Strong Avenue and Masonic Street in recent summers. Once completed around Memorial Day, they will form a triangle of outdoor arts and entertainment venues spread across the commercial heart of Paradise City.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Councilman James Nash (Ward 3), who represents about half of Northampton’s downtown area. “Anything that gets people into the city center and moving around the city center adds vibrancy.”

In the summer of 2021, as indoor catering recovers from the first stage of the epidemic, the city’s Two blocks of Strong Avenue blockedwhich is located off Main Street near the east end entrance to Northampton city centre.

Restaurants on Strong Avenue set up tables in the pedestrian zone, city officials added public seating, and performers performed on small stages multiple days a week.

billed as “Strong Summer”, This space is very welcoming.

Last year, the city added another outdoor dining, performance and event space outside the Iconica Social Club in the Masonic Street parking lot at the other end of downtown.they named it Masonic Street Live.

There, too, the city has set up communal tables and chairs for people to use, whether they eat at Iconica or not.

“I think it exceeded our expectations,” Nash said. “The sense of community it brings to downtown is really remarkable.”

The latest outdoor dining and entertainment concept will be located on a walkway called Brewster Court between the Northampton brewery and the EJ Gare car park.

City officials dubbed the venue “Brewster’s Garage Band” — a nod to the adjacent parking lot.

The city hopes to provide live entertainment throughout the week at the three performance venues at the expense of $15,000 in economic development funds. These phases will last until around Labor Day.

Over the past two summers, the city has partnered with a nearby café or restaurant to help manage each venue. According to Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, the model is working well.

“The success of these spaces is the result of a collaboration of public space, city economic development resources, arts and entertainment, and local small businesses, which together provide a creative outdoor community experience in Northampton,” she said.

Eastside Grill staff managed Summer on Strong in its first year before being replaced by the Familiars Coffee and Tea team last year. This summer, Eastside will once again occupy the space.

At Masonic Street Live, the Iconica Social Club will be tending the space for a second summer. Northampton Brewery will help manage the new stage off its rear deck.