From its intimate shows at the People’s Pint to sprawling, multi-day/multi-band affairs at Energy Park, Greenfield has been making other entertainment districts green with envy when it comes to both the quantity and quality of musical shows it plays host to these days.

Now, producer Pam Victor has tapped Franklin County’s largest municipality as the home base for her new monthly comedy series—the Happier Valley Comedy Show—and hoping to hit Greenfield’s funnybone in the process.

“It’s been over a decade since the area had a monthly improv comedy show, and the Arts Block is the perfect place to bring it back,” she says of the series that will occur on the second Saturday of every month. “It’s time for Greenfield to take its rightful place as the top arts town in the state.”

As a means to achieving that end, accomplished improvers The Ha-Has hold court at the Block for the Dec. 8 Happier Valley installment with special guests Deep Dish in tow.

Tickets are $10 at the door or $7 in advance (available at theartsblock.com). Doors open at 7 p.m. and all shows are rated PG-13 in terms of content.

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For tried and true laughs, journeyman funnyman Bill Cosby has also announced a local play. The “Cos” is slated to perform at Springfield’s Symphony Hall March 2. Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com and clock between $47.50 and $75, depending on your proximity to the hilarity.

 

Rolling over to the casino circuit, Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun has inked a deal to secure a stop on Lady Gaga’s current Born This Way Ball tour.

The master of her “little monsters” is slated to perform at the venue’s arena March 3—and the show makes a nice companion to the previously announced Pink show coming to the same venue March 27. Tix for both shows are on sale now and available at ticketmaster.com.

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Meanwhile, in what is somehow becoming regular news here, the Crawler is once again talking about ukuleles.

Last week it was the the man regarded as the Hendrix of the instrument, Jake Shimabukuro, and his Dec. 1 Calvin play.

Now, the Enfield Public Library has announced that the New England Ukulele Ensemble (NEUE) plays its Connecticut facilty for a free, fun-filled, family-friendly evening Dec. 12.

“This is not your mama’s elevator music, either,” library officials declare in a prepared release. Rather, the NEUE will tackle classic tunes from the ’60s and ’70s including “California Dreamin’,” “Blue Bayou,” “Eleanor Rigby” and “Surfin’ USA,” to name a choice few, in addition to some holiday standards.

To register for this program, please call (860) 763-7512 or kindly point your browser to enfieldpubliclibrary.org.

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Last but not least: another sonically-inspired stocking stuffer for the aspiring virtuoso in your life. In fact, the Crawler wrote about this act’s recent area performance last week. Now, homegrown alt-rock icons Dinosaur Jr. have been immortalized in doll form. Apparently, an “art doll” company in Argentina called Mediodescocido has decided to craft miniature versions of Dino’s J Mascis and company. Though the dolls were initially listed as “not for sale, just for your awe and enjoyment” on the company’s website, the corresponding Facebook page now states that parties interested in purchasing can direct all orders and inquiries to m.artdolls@gmail.com.

Speaking of the local show, one axe that fans did not see Mascis wield at Pearl Street Nov. 28 was his signature Squier Jazzmaster. According to reports, the storied six-string was stolen during a previous engagement in Eugene, Oregon.

“Some characteristics that make this guitar unique: there is a dent in the neck, the pickups have no screws as they usually do and the action is currently set high. The guitar was in a soft gig bag,” the band reports.

Persons with any information on the guitar should contact band@dinosaurjr.com or call (303) 998-0001.•

Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email garycarra@aol.com.