The sounds of southern Louisiana will drift through the air at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center this weekend at the Spring Cajun/Zydeco Fest, which takes place on Sunday, April 9, at 1:15 p.m.

This show is presented by musician Michael Pattavina of Greenfield, who has hosted afternoon dance events at Hawks & Reed. It will feature two bands from New York state — The Bunkhouse Boys and Zydegroove. Both are known for their highly danceable music and play at events throughout the Northeast. And don’t worry if you don’t know how to dance to this type of music. Jim Christensen will be on hand for lessons in two-step, waltzes, as well as zydeco, all included with admission.

“The Bunkhouse Boys and Zydegroove represent the most authentic Cajun and zydeco music being performed in the Northeast,” said Pattavina, who will play upright bass with The Bunkhouse Boys. “These musicians seek to play the Creole-influenced groove that mesmerizes dancers and lovers of Louisiana music.”

The Bunkhouse Boys are Mark Sagar on rhythm guitar, Roger Weiss on Cajun fiddle and Laren Droll on Creole zydeco accordion. The band’s name came about because the members started making music together after meeting in a New York bunkhouse while studying the music they love.

The music of The Bunkhouse Boys blurs the lines between traditional Cajun music, Creole styles and zydeco. You can expect to hear beautiful waltzes, richly textured two-steps, and rhythms that return to the roots of Southwest Louisiana Cajun music.

Zydegroove is also based in New York, and members say their prime objective is to “deliver the most irresistible dance groove possible.” The group was founded by accordionist Laren Droll who also plays with The Bunkhouse Boys. Droll recently moved to Greenfield from the Hudson Valley. He is a welcome addition to the area’s Cajun and zydeco music scene.

The band has been together for many years and built its sound around a mutual love of rhythm and zydeco dancing. This show will be a dancer’s delight, and another bonus is that it takes place in the afternoon.

A recent interview with actress Jamie Lee Curtis in which she calls for earlier concert times has gone viral. In this conversation with a news reporter, Curtis is urging rock stars to hold concerts in the afternoon so she can be home in bed early. Bruce Springsteen is one of the acts she called out, pointing out that he, too, is old. “I will come here to your five-hour concert Bruce,” said the actress “at 2 o’clock and I am going to be home in bed by 7:30.”

Curtis is not alone in her preference to hear music in daylight. But for Pattavina, an afternoon show is more than appealing to attendees who like to turn in early. It’s about fostering a sense of community. “We want to make these daytime dances a community event that includes family and the elderly,” he said. “Also, the Cajun and zydeco community in Louisiana do a lot of daytime events that center around food and family. It’s an important part of the tradition that the music is not just a nightclub scene.”

The schedule is as follows:

1 p.m. — Doors open

1:15 p.m.: Cajun two-step and waltz lessons

1:45p.m. — The Bunkhouse Boys

2:30p.m. — Zydeco dance lesson

3p.m. — Zydegroove

5p.m. — Doors close

Hawks & Reed also host Swing Sundays once a month, which offers music and swing dancing to bands like the Butterfly Swing Band and The O-Tones.

Tickets for the Spring Cajun/Zydeco Fest are $15 in advance and $20 day of show. Children will be admitted free. To purchase tickets, visit hawksandreed.com or call 413-774-0150.

The return of the Great Falls Coffeehouse

The Great Falls Coffeehouse held at the Discovery Center in Turners Falls is back now that spring is here. The coffeehouse was on hiatus during the winter months, but will open the doors next Friday, April 14, for a 7 p.m. show with Alive ’n’ Pickin.’

Alive ’n’ Pickin’ is the duo of John “Hal” Halstead and Dave LeBlanc. These two met in 1977 as students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. They’ve played together on and off for 40 years and performed everywhere, from campfire sing-alongs to the Talkeetna Bluegrass Festival. They play a range of country, folk and bluegrass tunes ranging from Jimmie Rodgers, Steve Goodman, Guy Clark, Hank Williams and Townes Van Zandt.

They’ve worked with various guest musicians over the years, and for this show they will be joined by multi-instrumentalist Larry LeBlanc. He moved to the area from Maine a few years back, and has brought his talents to the band Small Change and his partnership with singer/songwriter Katie Clarke. So head to the Great Falls Coffeehouse next Friday for a great night of pickin’ tunes.

There is a suggested sliding-scale donation of $6 to $15. The event is free for children.

The coffeehouse takes place in the Great Hall of the Great Falls Discovery Center at 2 Avenue A in downtown Turners Falls. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Coffee and refreshments will be available. The museum will be open during intermission.

Tribute concert for Kate Lorenz announced

Signature Sounds and the Lorenz and Gupta families recently announced that they would present a special show honoring the life and music of local musician Kate Lorenz. Lorenz, who died last summer, was a member of the band Rusty Belle, which included her brother Matt Lorenz of The Suitcase Junket and Zak Trojano. She contributed to various other projects throughout the valley, including recording with Chris Smither and fronting her band, The Constellations.

The show, called Sparkletown: A Tribute to the Music and Spirit of Kate Lorenz, will be on Saturday, May 20, at 7 p.m. at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls. This event is a fundraiser for the Kate Lorenz Memorial Community Fund and will feature Chris Smither, The Suitcase Junket, Peter Mulvey, Kris Delmhorst, Jeffrey Foucault, Caitlin Canty, Zak Trojano, Hayward Williams, The Constellations, Mike Roberts/The Rear Defrosters and Other Friends.

Tickets are on sale now at sheatheater.org or at signaturesoundspresents.com.

Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at soundslocal@yahoo.com.

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