Feb. 19 meeting to feature The Doors 

By Jack Oleksyk, Student writer

Many of us are familiar with the concept of a book club, but one upcoming event seeks to recreate this idea with music at its core. 

If you are passionate about music, the Album Listening Club is a great chance to share your interest with others. Participants will listen to an album on their own time and come prepared to discuss their thoughts with others. Topics can range from specific musical details to large-scale societal impact, and the discourse will be an open conversation where all attendees can share their perspectives. 

The first album will be The Doors’ 1967 self-titled debut album, and participants will take turns choosing the next albums to analyze. There is no cost to attend, and all ages are invited and encouraged to join. The first meeting will be Thurs., Feb. 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Upton Community Center. 

The Album Listening Club was put into motion by 140Arts’ Music Committee based on a concept by Upton resident Wayne Neves. Not only does it have the potential to grow arts appreciation, but it also serves as a place where neighbors can form bonds and social connections. 

Music Committee member Ian Brackett holds the belief that this club will have a positive impact in our community. Brackett thinks the album club “will appeal to people of all different ages,” since there is “no limit to the diversity of people that can be unified by having discussions on the subject of music.” In a space like this, says Brackett, there is the opportunity for members to “meet a lot of new people” and learn to “formulate and express their own opinions to others.” 

Learning to have discussions with people of different backgrounds is a skill that can be applied beyond the walls of the Community Center, potentially leaving members more comfortable getting involved with discourse in their own lives and communities. 

If you do not have the time to repeatedly listen to albums on your own time but still want to share a music-listening experience with others in town, several upcoming events highlight various aspects of our arts community. On Saturday, March 14, local band The New Incarnation will be hosting a listening party for their debut album Jupiter Carpets. If you prefer live music, several upcoming events will feature live performances from talented musicians and poets. To highlight Women’s History Month, 140Arts is putting together a Women’s Music and Poetry Night on Friday, March 20. Featured musicians will include Adrianna Peloquin, Susan Lee Anderson, and more, while Cathy Weaver Taylor and others will recite poetry. Last but certainly not least, accomplished musician Dan Cloutier will be performing on Saturday, April 25. 

Cloutier, whose most recent album The Iceberg has received glowing reviews from various local news outlets, has sold out storied venues such as Boston’s Club Passim, where he is performing this March. The Iceberg was recorded, fittingly, in the icy regions of Greenland and Newfoundland, and follows a theme of finding hope and light even in life’s darker moments. Cloutier has opened for performers such as Richie Havens, John Hiatt, and more. Check 140Arts Collaborative’s Facebook page regularly if you are interested in any of the above events, as updates will be posted as more details become available. 

Whether you are searching for live music, connections, or just want to support the arts in your local community, these events provide an opportunity to get involved. If you are more interested in the visual arts or theater, there are plenty of events run by 140Arts focusing on those subjects as well. No matter your experience level or area of expertise, 140Arts celebrates all members of our community, and values the unique ways each individual can contribute to strengthening the arts in town. 

For more information, follow 140Arts Collaborative on Facebook or Instagram (@140artscollaborative), or send an email to [email protected].

The author is a senior at Nipmuc Regional High School