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Lounging for Literacy, music with Leyla McCalla, Wine Thunderdome

Now that we’ve given you a list of local authors to read, you need a place to actually flip through the pages right?

Then you may want to get thee to Westhampton this weekend, where they’ll be “Lounging for Literacy” on June 28, both to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the library’s move and renovation and raise awareness and funds in light of the national cuts to museum and library services. Library Director Meaghan Schwelm, library volunteer Laurie Sanders, selectboard member Jennifer Milikowsky, local musician and avid composer of library songs Jim Armenti, and donkey wrangler Ali Jenkins with donkey in tow join us on the Westhampton Public Library lawn to talk about the event and the connecting point the library serves to its greater community.

We also revisit our pop-up session with the inspiring and impressive Leyla McCalla from last week’s Green River Festival. Plus, we hear a bit about her recent concert with her “Songs for our Native Daughters” cohorts at the Hollywood Bowl and how place and belonging have shaped the base of her songwriting.

And, we make a return to the wine Thunderdome in Northampton down in the wine bunker of State Street Fruit Store, where we try out two varieties that are perfect for the heatwaves to come.

Lounging for Literacy
Music with Leyla McCalla
Wine Thunderdome at State Street

Christopher “Monte'' Belmonte is host and executive producer of NEPM's The Fabulous 413. He was born and raised in Massachusetts and has been a radio host in western Massachusetts for the last 20 years — the last 17 of them as host of Mornings with Monte on The River 93.9/WRSI.
Kaliis Smith is a radio host and producer for NEPM's The Fabulous 413. She was most recently host and producer at The River 93.9/WRSI where she appeared on Mornings with Monte for the Nerdwatch segment and hosted weekday evenings.