The Imagine Project
The Imagine Project was born when friends Peter Nabut and David Bulley decided to organize the first Mud Season Festival in 2020, an all-day multi-venue music event in downtown Turners Falls. Peter, a singer/songwriter since 1978, set out to create a full-band project for the event; to recreate an iconic album in its entirety live on stage. The art of the “album” as a medium has arguably taken a backseat to the streaming playlist and its associated algorithms when it comes to how people experience recorded music. John Lennon’s Imagine is a desert island disc for Peter, the second album he bought with his own money, and its music and messages still resonate. Rather than copying the record, Peter says “we’re recreating the tunes in our own voice with more complex vocal arrangements and opportunity for the musicians to stretch out and improvise.” The John Lennon album Imagine was originally released on September 9th, 1971. We welcome you to this performance on this, the 52nd anniversary of that date.
THE PLAYERS:
Peter “Petey” Nabut is a singer/songwriter multi-instrumentalist. Theatrical sound designer, composer and audio engineer. Exhibiting a serious case of “pick your favorite musical style” indecision, here, Petey is playing guitar and is lead instigator of The Imagine Project. His original music can be found online https://soundcloud.com/user-183222591.
Klon Koehler is on electric bass. Mixing rhythm and melody since 1968. Klon is also currently playing with musical partner, Jenny Burtis who’s 2023 release with Klon on bass can be found at jennyburtis.com.
Dan Belmont on keyboards. Musical theater director and arranger of the Off-Off Broadway Castillo Theater (1993-2001) where he arranged music for over 20 productions. Dan has written scores for three original musicals, and performed on the original cast recording of Sally and Tom: The American Way. Here in the Valley, Dan performs jazz with saxophonist Steve Kurtz and with The Free Range Cats. Dan has played with pop country band Southern Voice and Motown band, The Soul Sensations. Currently he plays keys with Shenanigans with Friends, a singer-songwriter and country band. DanBelmontmusic.com on Youtube – Shenanigans and Friends Demo.
On "lead" guitar: Kip "just kip" Dresser, long-term Franklin County open mic host and front/sideman, formerly of Sweet Rachel and Three Feet Thick, currently with Curly Fingers DuPree, the Tommy Fuentes Band, and Kip and the Trip.
Heather Cupo is a fine singer and fine gardener from Cummington, MA.
Sean Kimball is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
“Kim Wachtel Repas' singing evokes the feels. Her whole hearted sound and vibrations create an effect. Leads, harmonies, belting, authentic, honest emotional… it's a mysterious thing… what makes a voice? But whatever it is, she has it.”
Jim McCrae tickles the ivories, sings, plays guitar and hosts open mics regularly at the Rendezvoux in Turners Falls.
J.J. Humphrey is a homegrown Turner’s Falls drummer. He has been drumming in local bands all around the valley for the last 40 years, from original bands like Sweet Rachel, and cover bands like Ruby’s Complaint and with his current band OVERDRIVE.
