Feminist, Acoustic-Rock Band, Taking Back Eden, To Perform First Night Northampton 2015

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This year marks the 30th anniversary of First Night Northampton, the city's most popular festival of the arts. With over twenty venues spanning downtown Northampton and one-hundred outstanding performers, the Happy Valley is the place to be for New Year's eve.

Events range from a street circus to cookie decorating, face painting, opera, a guitar orchestra, and live music performances in every genre. The festival starts at noon with fireworks are at 6:15 from the roof of the city's parking garage and at 11:30, you can ring in the New Year with a countdown and ball-raising at the Hotel Northampton.

With so many performances to choose from, one band you don't want to miss is Taking Back Eden. Taking Back Eden is slotted for 3:00 P.M. at Saint John's Episcopal Church, located at 48 Elm Street, Northampton. Described as “contemporary, original, acoustic-rock with ties to folk, indie, rock, and classical music,” Taking Back Eden is fronted by Carolyn Walker on lead vocals and violin; Sylvie Abate on acoustic guitar, nylon guitar, and acoustic bass; Heather Sommerlad on violin and cello; and Christine "Tina" Abate on full kit and percussion. All four women have serious musical training and extensive credits in the regional music scene.

At an Eden show, fans may hear an acoustic ballad featuring finger-style nylon guitar, violin, and percussion; a lush blues-acoustic-rock song with soaring violin and cello leads with full drum kit; a rhythmic chant featuring all four women on percussive instruments, or an indie-folk song with folk guitar and vocal harmonies. The musical landscapes, created by Taking Back Eden's use of traditional classical and rock instrumentation, provide an expansive foundation for the band's soulful vocals and literate lyrics.

Each women in Eden is a songwriter in her own right and together they spin thoughtful lyrics that speak about the environment, women's issues, LGBT rights, animal rights, nature; and of course, love and relationships. Taking Back Eden could be called a modern day protest band as they offer up melodic, catchy songs about issues that matter. Two Taking Back Eden songs that exemplify their ability to deliver melody with meaning are "I Was Always Myself," a song about Adam and Eve, from Eve's perspective, and "Apathy" which opens with the lines "I want your heart to break like mine. I want to cure your Apathy." A city known for its cultural renaissance, diversity, and LGBT inclusion, Northampton couldn't have chosen a better band than Taking Back Eden to start the New Year celebration.

First Night Northampton Buttons may be purchased online with no fee or at area sales vendors listed at http://www.firstnightnorthampton.org. The First Night website also includes a complete schedule of events and details about each performance. Parking is free. For more information about Taking Back Eden, visit their website at http://www.takingbackeden.net