The long Fourth of July weekend is upon us, and if you are looking to enjoy some live music as you celebrate America’s birthday, you will have plenty of options — and some of them are even free!

One such event will take place when rice-an American Band performs at Peskeompskut Park, located on Avenue A in Turners Falls, on Sunday, July 6, from 7 to 9 p.m.

The group’s name, rice-an American band, sums up its commitment to playing old-fashioned, American, no-frills rock ’n’ roll. For the most part, they perform original material, with the occasional cover tossed in for good measure. They are known to stretch out and jam, with the goal of showcasing each band member’s musical talents and influences.

Rice is based in Warwick and led by Phil Simon, who many know from his work with Simon Says Booking. The group formed in 2014 during an informal jam session between friends. Simon had previously been in a band and wasn’t looking to join another one at that point, as he was focused on building his booking and publicity business.

However, after playing with his friends, he realized how much he had missed writing and playing music. There was great chemistry between the band members, and realizing how much they loved playing together, they formed rice- an American band and soon moved on to performing at clubs and festivals.

From the start, this was an ever-evolving project, with various musicians coming and going over the years. The current lineup consists of Christopher Ellis on drums, Mike Wood on bass and vocals, Brian DiMartino on guitar, and Simon on vocals and guitar.

“It’s a great pleasure to have such a wealth of talent all rallying around this musical mission,” Simon said in a statement.

The group, which was a six-piece at the time, released an album in 2023 that captured the sound of the lineup at that particular point.

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They have regularly performed at StrangeCreek Campout and the Wormtown Music Festival in Greenfield, as well as at other festivals throughout New England. Simon has also hosted his own festival, the Old 78 Farm Fall Festival, for a number of years.

They enjoy playing music that connects with the crowd and gets people up and dancing — so what better way to end your holiday weekend than with a trip to Peskeompskut Park.

RiverCulture presents this show as part of its summer concert series.

When it comes to the Fourth of July, perhaps you’d like some music to accompany your fireworks, or should I say fireworks to accompany the music? Either way, you have a couple of options to enjoy both.

Greenmind Fair & Share LLC is hosting the Food and Fire Festival at the Franklin County Fairground on Friday, July 4, from 2 to 10 p.m. This event will feature music all day, including performances by local cover band Small Town Radio, Leon Trout and Creamery Station, a jam band from Connecticut. There will be food vendors, kid-friendly events, workshops and more. The Food and Fire Festival is a ticketed event, and they can be purchased at greenmindevents.net. Admission is free once the fireworks start.

On Saturday, July 5, it’s the annual fireworks celebration at Beacon Field in Greenfield. There will be music throughout the day, including sets by blues rockers Janet Ryan and Straight Up, along with Well Suited, a six-piece rock/alternative/Americana band known for high-energy shows. The Greenfield Community Band will also perform.

Additionally, Tree House Brewing Co. in South Deerfield is hosting a fireworks display on Thursday, July 3, that will be preceded by a performance from Mind Left Body, an acclaimed Grateful Dead tribute band from Easthampton. This is a ticketed event and is sold out.

It’s time again for the Wendell Reggae Festival hosted by Simon White and Rhythm Inc.

White, who grew up in Wendell, started the event as a backyard party that became popular and evolved into a successful and much-respected festival revered by reggae fans throughout the area and beyond. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, July 12, from 2 to 11 p.m. at Deja Brew Cafe and Pub, located at 57A Lockes Village Road in Wendell.

There will be a full bar, vendors, Caribbean food and a full day of live music. The festival will feature Soul Keys, Iani Soultree and the Soulrizer Crew, Rebelle, Giles Stebbins and Friends, Roosta Acoustic, Chopcity Rebels and DJ Vibewise.

This year’s event has grown from last year with the addition of more acts, including Enchanted Forest, which White said is an offspring of Woody and the Rebel Alliance, as well as Nyjah Parker, King Rhymez, Jay Rico and DJ Everlast.

White is excited about this year’s event and pleased that the festival has flourished and grown without losing its sense of community. He has always believed that hosting the festival in Wendell, a town with a rich musical heritage, was an integral part of the event’s overall ambiance. Bands like Loose Caboose, which originated in Wendell, were a big part of White’s musical inspiration and led to forming his own band, Rhythm Inc.

Of course, Simon White and Rhythm Inc. will be playing at the event. While they have been busy planning for the festival, they are also working on the July 19 release of their new single, “Way Back.” It is being mixed and mastered by Anju Blaxx and Blackstate Records in Kingston, Jamaica.

The show is for all ages. Doors open at 2 p.m. and the music begins at 3 p.m. Youth under 12 get in for free.

Advance tickets are $20 and are available at the Wendell Country Store or by Venmo @Audrey-White-222. Tickets are $25 at the gate.

For those who like to plan ahead, the Green River Festival will return to the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Greenfield on June 19-21, 2026. Three-day passes and three-day VIP add-ons are on sale now until July 7. You can purchase these at greenriverfestival.com.

Tickets remain for Michael Franti and Spearhead’s two shows, Tuesday, July 8, and Wednesday, July 9, at Tree House Brewing Co. in South Deerfield. The soul rocker, whose music is a reggae rock mix, has headlined the Green River Festival twice and sold out Tree House last year. His shows are energetic, uplifting and filled with his danceable music, which reflects his positive outlook and commitment to social activism. Tickets are available at DSPShows.com.

It has recently been announced that the Charlemont Reggae Festival will be held on Saturday, Aug. 23. No information is available right now on the lineup or ticket sales.

Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at soundslocal@yahoo.com.