Hi there, I'm Nate. Thanks for dropping by. I'm a writer and musician in the valley, and I love walking almost as much as I love playing piano. I'm taking a big walk this September to keep the music going.
Miles for Music helps me support two beloved nonprofit music venues, The Drake in Amherst and The Iron Horse in Northampton. I'm putting one of my great loves (walking long distances) to use in order to keep another great love (live music) thriving throughout western Massachusetts.
Now, again, I love a long walk — and I mean it, anywhere from 4 to 16 miles is what I'd call "a good weekend day," and not just because of the fairly bad public transit in the area — but Miles for Music is more than that.
I may be doing this for the love of the game (that's right: walking), but I'm also doing it because The Drake and The Iron Horse are regional treasures. I've seen dear friends build music careers here. I've played my own music on a donated Steinway in front of hundreds of people because of the generosity of people who believe a space like the Drake should exist. I've seen the rush of life reinvigorating downtown Northampton upon the reopening of the Iron Horse. And I've made countless memories at rock, jazz, folk, comedy, and holiday shows in each room.
Live music dwindled in the valley for several years. I wouldn't dare take it for granted, so I'm doing what I can to keep the beat going: for the aspiring artists, music lovers, and an overall sense of togetherness that is so precious. Through intimate venues like The Iron Horse and The Drake, music becomes the ephemeral thing we can hold onto, binding us to one another, galvanizing us to seek harmony, to inspire, to require we make good on the idea of a social contract.
I'd be grateful for your support. Every donation helps sustain nonprofit live music, support local artists, and ensure these important community gathering spaces continue to serve western Mass for years to come.
Connecting communities through music.