NORTHAMPTON — For the past 35 years, Transformance (formerly known as Transperformance) has served as one of the most joyful, meaningful celebrations of the arts in Northampton, bringing together musicians, performers and community members in a shared experience of creativity and connection.
Organized by the Northampton Arts Council, the festival not only showcases local talent but also raises critical funds to support the arts in public schools and throughout the community. This year, “Transformance 35: Immigrant Song” will take place on Aug. 19, from 4:30-9:30 p.m. at Pines Theater in Look Park.
“Thirty-five years of this event,” said Steve Sanderson of the Northampton Arts Council in an interview with The Republican. “I started playing this event before I was a producer for the arts council in 1996 with ‘A Night at the Opry.’ I got to perform as Hank Williams. I could never have imagined that I would someday be responsible for the continuation of this beloved and truly unique ‘Valley Experience.’ It points to some of what’s best about our valley—community engagement, inclusivity, and empathy.”
Born out of a need to counteract state-level arts budget cuts in the early 1990s, the event began without so much as a name.
“Transformance didn’t have a name the first couple of years,” said Sanderson. “Bob Cilman, the first director/producer for the arts council, came up with the name ‘Transperformance’ by year three, I believe. The vision was simple: pick a theme and ask a bunch of artists to come together and bring their energies to create a show that somehow all relates to that theme.”
The heart of the event has remained the same: transformation through tribute. “Some say the vision was to transform art from the ‘more famous artists’ into your sound and vision,” Sanderson said. “Others approach it as a way to immerse themselves in the creative process of the original artist—a tribute, if you will.”
This year’s 35th anniversary lineup promises the unexpected, with both seasoned performers and fresh faces taking the stage.
“Sure, we have acts that answer the call every year and put an immense amount of energy into transforming and tributing,” said Sanderson, “but it’s sometimes the bands who play early or have never played before that give me the biggest kicks.”
Beyond being a space for performance, Transformance is a critical fundraising engine. Proceeds from food and beverage sales go to local school PTOs. “The simple answer is, it’s how we raise money to supply arts grants,” Sanderson said. “It nurtures the local music scene by pulling everyone together at least once a year to connect in a way that is beyond the sensory—spiritual sounds cliché, but it fits.”
Inclusivity remains a cornerstone of the festival’s identity. “We include new groups every year. We welcome input and love hearing new music,” Sanderson emphasized. “The artists who play year after year know that the work they are doing is important. The goal is to put on a quality show—and that keeps people coming back.”
Planning the event is a deeply collaborative effort. “After a theme is picked, we announce an open call for submissions,” said Sanderson. “Groups look forward to this every year. We talk to artists in the community almost every day and take all that input to make the best decisions we can.”
Looking ahead, Sanderson hopes this milestone year of Transformance carries a powerful message: “On a more grand scale, I hope it sends a message of appreciation from the Valley to the rest of the country about what we stand for here—a message of appreciation for the contributions of immigrants to America.”
And, perhaps, he adds with hope, “It would be great if we could raise enough money to fund every grant proposal we receive and overfund the arts at Northampton public schools.”
In closing, Sanderson offered a quote that resonates deeply with the event’s inclusive spirit: “To quote Steve Earle, ‘All of us are immigrants’—except, of course, the Native people that took care of this land first.”
A list of scheduled performers and ticket sales can be found on the Northampton Arts Council’s website.
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