GALA to hold coffee house on Friday

GALA to hold coffee house on Friday 
Katie Landeck
News Staff Writer

Courtesy Photo
Nate Smith, a folk singer, will be performing at the GALA Coffee House this Friday.

 GARDNER - Now settled into to their new home, the Gardner Area League of Artists is ready to entertain, starting with a series of monthly music performances.

“GALA believes a healthy community is one that celebrates the arts,” said volunteer Donna Harkness. “We’re known for our art shows, but the organization was formed to promote all the arts including music.”

With the new studio space at 205 School Street, GALA is hosting Coffee Houses on the first Friday of every month. This January Fitchburg musician Nate Smith will take the stage, while attendees have a chance to listen, as well as peruse the work of local artists.

“Nate is a troubadour in the true sense,” said Ms. Harkness. “He’s written original music that interprets the life of our time.”


Mr. Smith, who names Bob Dylan among his biggest influences, started writing his own music in the 1960s, when folk music became intricately linked to social movements of the time. He started his musical career in Ann Arbor Michigan, before moving to the New England area.

He stopped performing for nearly 20 years while raising his children, but soon his wife convinced him to take the stage again.

“It’s nice to have someone else hear my songs,” said the singer and songwriter. He joked, “it’s better than playing in my room.”

Since 2003, Mr. Smith has released four albums.

In December, Mr. Smith performed along with Burrie Jenkins, Bob Adelman, Billy Bishop, Bethany Price, Mark Fisher and David Thayer at the first Coffee House. He said he knows about the organization through friends and that his view of the arts is in line with GALA’s.

“Arts have to be second only to science, if not tied,” Mr. Smith said.

For 12 years, GALA had been looking for a permanent space before moving into the New England Wooden Wares building this August. Now that they have a studio, they are working to expand their offerings.

So far, they have added more art shows, a store, demonstrations and classes in addition to the Coffee Houses.

Ms. Harkness said she is hoping to build on the Coffee Houses as they become more established.

“I hope each month a few more people get away from their televisions and computers and come share in the live audience experience,” she said. “I would like to add the spoken word and storytelling in the future for people to share their original material.”

There is a suggested donation of $5 at the door. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and light refreshments will be served.