Take this opportunity to watch candidates Mary Hurley and Jeff Morneau debate each other leading up to the upcoming election. Learn more about each of these candidates so you are able to make an informed decision on election day.

Thank you all for supporting local arts, culture, and music by attending this past weekend’s Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival! Relive every moment of the music you loved this past weekend by watching the sets below. Make sure to send this great music along to your friends that weren’t able to make it to the festival! In order, the sets posted include:

Charles M. Greenlee Ensemble
Jose Gonzalez & Banda Criolla
Samirah Evans and Her Handsom Devils
Heshima Moja & Ofrecimiento with special guest Rayon Owen
Joey DeFrancesco Trio
Terri Lyne Carrington Group
Sammy & Tess Plotkin
Eric Krasno Band
Taj Mahal

Charles M. Greenlee Ensemble

Jose Gonzalez & Banda Criolla

Samirah Evans and Her Handsome Devils

Heshima Moja & Ofrecimiento with special guest Rayon Owen

Joey DeFrancesco Trio

Terri Lyne Carrington Group

Sammy & Tess Plotkin

Eric Krasno Band

Taj Mahal

Or, click here to watch all the videos.

Everyone’s pain is personal. So much so, many isolate themselves into thinking they are alone in their suffering. ‘After the Pain’ is a community forum comprised of leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs who have each overcome adversity. Their challenges span addiction, criminal activity, sexual abuse, and attempted suicide.

Join us on July 26th when panelists Crystal Vazquez, Jeremy Casey, Stefan Davis, Roger Sessom, and Thom Fox share their stories in hope of letting others know they are not defined by their suffering. Audience members will also have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A session following the moderated discussion.

Watch the event live or on demand here:

Or, click here.

ABOUT PANEL:

Crystal Vazquez, Crystal Vazquez & Co; Lead Makeup Artist – Crystal was targeted by a sexual predator in her teens. Although it took 14 years to bring the individual to justice, Crystal took control of her life vowing not to live as a victim. Today, Crystal is a wife, mother, successful business owner, advocate, and contributor to various projects, causes, and charities throughout Western MA.

Jeremy Casey, Founder Name Net Worth – Jeremy struggled with Major Depression throughout his adolescence leading him in a downward spiral of severe self-mutilation and multiple attempts at suicide. Today, Jeremy is a community leader, successful Commercial Banker, and Entrepreneur, recently founding his first mobile app development company.

Stefan Davis, Host & Co-producer Against All Odds – Stefan is a Educator and the talk show host of Against All Odds. He survived the pain and darkness of mental and physical abuse, gang affiliation and suicidal thoughts. Stefan has found light in his life; sharing his struggles, and successes, with at-risk youth in hopes of them avoiding similar circumstances.

Roger Sessom, HiSET Educator; Community Leader – Roger served almost two-decades in prison. While dealing with the horrors of incarceration, Roger focused on not just bettering his life, but bettering the lives of others. He successfully lead GED programs within two federal prisons, helping inmates further their education. Today, Roger is an Adult Educator for at-risk young men, board member of “Keep Springfield Beautiful” and a motivational speaker.

Thom Fox, Solutionist; Host The Engine (WHYN-AM) – Thom is a consultant, community leader, and radio personality; however, his life started out on an altogether different path. Thom battled a variety of substances throughout his adolescence; the most challenging among them PCP. Under its influence, he has been stabbed, shot at, and left for dead on a handful of occasions.

We created “Live @ Focus” to help celebrate the great music across all genres that comes out of Western Mass and surrounding areas, as a public service to the community and participating artists. We do our best to replicate the look, feel, sound, and energy of a live show, with no audio post production of any type. So far, we’ve recorded everything from rock and mariachi to jazz and acoustic pop.

Have suggestions, or know someone you think would have a great “Live @ Focus” set? Contact us HERE.

Watch all our previous “Live @ Focus” live music sets here: