Male Bonding Band at World Music Festival -- BSC

On Tuesday, April 27, First Parish's own Male Bonding Band will be performing early 20th-Century North American music ("Old Timey" music) as part of Bridgewater State College's annual World Music Festival. The festival had been scheduled in an outdoor location, but because of expected rain, it will be in the dining room of Crimson Hall (a relatively new dorm on the East Campus, near the clock tower and book store. Contact Jim Quinn or James Hayes-Bohanan  or the BSC Music Department for details.

The performances will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., ending with MBB around 4:15. The full line-up includes:


The Lindsays (Traditional Irish Duo)
Hot Tamale Brass Band (New Orleans Jazz)
Annalivia (Traditional Irish Band)
Veronica Robles and her Mariachi Band (Mexican Music)
BSC Chamber Choir (Western Classical)
Jason Roseman (Trinidadian and Caribbean Music)
The Bohemian Street Chanters (A Capella Ensemble)
The Male Bonding Band (Old Timey American Folk Music)

Later that day, the festivities will continue in Horace Mann Auditorium (in Boyden Hall, across from  the church). Starting at 7:30 p.m., performers will include:

Khakatay (BSC West African Drumming Ensemble)
Alley Cats (American Barbershop Quartet)
Marcus Santos & his Brazilian Ensemble

All performances are free of charge, and refreshments are provided.

Coffee Tasting & Just Trade Fair -- April 20

First Parish member James Hayes-Bohanan is also a professor of geography at Bridgewater State College, where he teaches two courses on the coffee trade. His students will be putting on the annual coffee tasting on Tuesday afternoon, April 20. At the same time, a Just Trade Fair, featuring ethically-traded products of many kinds, will be held.

Both events are in the Rondileau Campus Center's Grand Ballroom and are open to the public. The Just Trade Fair will run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The coffee tasting will be 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. More information is on the geography department blog.

Public Lecture on Henry David Thoreau

 Jeffrey S. Cramer, Curator of Collections at the Thoreau Institute and editor of several editions of Thoreau’s works, will speak on “Living Deliberately: Thinking like Thoreau Today” on Tuesday, April 13^th, from 3:00-4:30 in the Heritage Room in Maxwell Library at Bridgewater State College. Please feel free to bring classes and encourage students to attend.

Spencer West at BSC

Monday, April 5 -- 7:00
BSC Horace Mann Auditorium (Boyden Hall)


Inspirational and charismatic, Spencer West speaks candidly about the struggles he overcame after losing his legs at the age of five, and how he never lost the hope or courage he needed to overcome personal obstacles. Filled with both humour and humility, his thought-provoking message inspires people to find opportunity in every challenge. With every speech, Spencer leaves an indelible mark on his audiences, instilling hope and strong leadership so that they can inspire others to create positive change. 


Details on Facebook

Theodore Parker - abolitionist

On this day in UU history in 1855, Unitarian minister Theodore Parker was tried in Boston for inciting a riot when he protected escaped slaves Ellen and William Craft when agents came to return them to their master in Georgia.