September 27 | 5:30-8:30 PM | Stonewall Farm

Join us on September 27st from 5:30-8:30 PM for the CONNECT event, held outdoors in the beautiful New England fall weather at Stonewall Farm. We will be bussing Radically Rural attendees from the Courtyard Marriott to Stonewall Farm starting at 4:30 PM.

At our 17th annual CONNECT event this year, we will explore the history of human communication and its impact on connection. CONNECT has always pushed the boundaries on traditional networking gatherings and will include interactive installations on different forms of communication throughout history. Attendees can wander through and participate in the installations at their leisure while eating artful and innovative local food and engaging with other community movers and shakers from all over the country.

Those who have registered for the summit already have this event included in their ticket price.

Those from the community who would like to join just for CONNECT can purchase separate tickets.

Register Here

September 28 | All day | Railroad Square

Inspired by Dream Play Build: Hands-On Community Engagement for Enduring Spaces and Places by James Rojas and John Kamp

Come with us on a playful journey to think about community building in new and different ways! Radically Rural is trialing a new way of community building inspired by the book, “Dream, Play, Build.”

The future of our communities is often discussed and decided in settings that are intimidating, uncomfortable, uninspiring, and not fully accessible or inclusive. Public hearings at town hall, for example, leave little room for the creativity and collaboration that local challenges often demand. We end up getting boxed into the same old ideas. The alternative approach that we’ll be experimenting with at this drop-in session grants permission to reimagine and dream.

This session is family friendly and designed for drop-in participation. Come visit us anytime on Thursday to build a model community—either one you hope to see in the future or a cherished memory of one you’ve experienced in the past. We’ll provide the materials. No experience or skills needed; anyone can do this!

Whether your community is a school, a neighborhood, a town, or something else, come “dream, play, and build” with us and leave inspired and with ideas for implementation for your community.

September 28 | 7:00-10:30 PM | Brewbakers Cafe

African, Caribbean, Funk, Reggae, and Latin grooves meet traditional fiddle music. It’s the genre-bending future of the music of the past. The Gaslight Tinkers’ blend of global rhythms creates a joyously danceable sound around a core of traditional New England old time and Celtic fiddle music, merging boundless positive energy with melody and song. Since its formation in 2012 the band has lit up the East Coast, the West Coast, and the Caribbean, headlining clubs, dances, and major festivals. Playing what The Valley Advocate describes as “Music that consistently fizzes and pops with unexpected textures and turns,” The Gaslight Tinkers’ shows are packed with delightful surprises, elated crowds, and exuberant musicianship.”

Since the band’s formation, they’ve lit up stages and dance floors from the east to west coast and the Caribbean, even debuting on national TV in Trinidad. Independently, Peter Siegel, Garrett Sawyer, I-shea, Joe Fitzpatrick and Clara Stickney have shared stages, played and collaborated with the likes of Pete Seeger, Soca Monarchs of the Caribbean, Noel Paul Stookey of Peter Paul and Mary, The Alchemystics, Alastair Fraser, and other recognized fiddlers around the world. Together, they are a force that will lift your feet and spirits.African, Caribbean, Funk, Reggae, and Latin grooves meet traditional fiddle music and American roots. It’s the genre-bending future of the music of the past.

From the front-lines at Standing Rock to the archaic streets of Jerusalem, the Sahel Desert to Carnegie Hall, music has been the source of strength for Billy Wylder. The band features Avi Salloway (Bombino/Hey Mama) joined by an inspired cast of singular artists who have performed across five continents including concerts at Coachella, Newport Folk Festival, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Montreal Jazz Fest, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center.

Billy Wylder forge ahead with their new album, Trying to Get Free and announce US summer tour for August and September 2023. The music weaves together American folk and rock with sensibilities from the Sahara Desert, exploring new musical space akin to Devendra Banhart, Beck, and Tinariwen. Billy Wylder’s new recordings evoke musical evolutions built on grooves informed by ancient African rhythms, art-rock textures, expansive guitars, violins, synths, and drum machines. Salloway’s lyrics flow with inspiration from mythical songwriting hero Leonard Cohen, while threading together more abstract imagery reminiscent of Thom Yorke.

Register Here