Tuesday, December 31, 2024 Happy New Year! You’re invited to attend First Night—Northampton’s most beloved signature event. Since 1985, First Night Northampton has filled Paradise City with a 12-hour, family-friendly festival of the arts, culminating in a traditional ball-raising from the roof of the Hotel Northampton. Gather with friends, neighbors, and visitors at over 20 terrific downtown venues for an astounding array of entertainment presented by hundreds of talented performers.
The Folk ImplosionFormed in 1993 by Lou Barlow (Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr.) and John Davis as a songwriting and DIY recording project, The Folk Implosion released an album and a few singles on Communion before finding unexpected success in 1995 when they were commissioned to do the soundtrack to the film Kids. Their song “Natural One” became a hit single, reaching no. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 4 on the Modern Rock Charts. They released one more album, Dare to be Surprised, on Communion before signing to Interscope Records. The band dissolved shortly after the release of their major label debut, 1999’s One Part Lullaby.
They surprised fans when they reunited in 2021 and self-released the Feel It If You FeelIt EP in 2022.
2024's Walk Thru Me is their first album of new music in 25 years. Separated from their homes in Massachusetts and North Carolina, Barlow and Davis collaborated remotely, flashing back to their early friendship as penpals. A sweaty bass and drums session went down in Barlow’s attic, before they booked studio time with producer Scott Solter (St. Vincent, Spoon, The Mountain Goats).
“Because we’re so separate, part of this album is me desperately trying to telepathically communicate to John and Scott, who are 700 miles away from me,” Barlow concludes. “A big part of what I consider to be the Folk Implosion is taking disparate things and turning them into pop.”
