You know that spring is here when music series start popping up and I’m excited to announce the new Petit Concert Series launching this weekend in downtown Orange. This series of free concerts will take place on three Sunday afternoons: March 23, April 6, and April 13, at the Stage on Main, located at 17 South Main St. The music will fill the air from 2 to 4 p.m.

Presented by Stage On Main and sponsored by the Orange Revitalization Partnership and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, this show will consist of three acts of various musical styles that will be well known to music fans in the Orange area.

Denise Andrews, chair of the Orange Revitalization Project and former state representative, along with CandiFetzer of Stage on Main, have been instrumental in assembling this show. According to the organizers, the Petit Concert Series aims to provide a cultural and social boost to the community during the “seasonal lull” and beyond.

The first show in the series on March 23 will be the local jazz combo Legacy, which will perform a selection of popular jazz standards. The group features vocalist Linda Piragas, Mark Erwin on electric guitar, Terry Parker on upright bass, and Marty Picard, who leads the band on drums. The group has been together for about seven years and has been a familiar presence in Orange, often lending their talents to various benefit shows.

On April 6, it’s the American roots band The Millers River Band. The group, which has been together since 1991, includes Terry Reed on bass and harmonica, Ann Reed on drums, Gino LoRicco on banjo, and Tom Jordan on guitar. For this performance they will be joined on vocals by special musical guest Vivian Eliza Nichols, who happens to be the daughter of the members of the rhythm section. Since she grew up hearing the band’s music, she is a natural to sing with them.

Singer-songwriter Richard Chase will wrap up this leg of the series on April 13. Whether performing solo or with The Richard Chase Group, Chase is one of the Quabbin area’s most popular artists. He is known for his moving lyrics, rich vocals, and nimble guitar work. A Chase show is always a special treat for listeners.

The shows are free, but donations are always welcome.

Chances are you have heard of Wild Bill and the Flying Sparks, the roots rockin’ country band led by guitarist/vocalist Bill Knittle. Well, sadly, that band is no longer together, but as Knittle points out, “the Sparks are no more, but like a phoenix Wild Bill and Big Trouble rises.”

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That’s right, Knittle is fronting a new band and you can check them out at the Warwick Town Hall on Saturday, March 22, at 7 p.m. as part of the Wooden Fender music series.

Wild Bill and Big Trouble features Nick Simms (former Spark) on accordion and vocals, Paul Yandoli (former Spark) on snare drum and vocals, Roger Avery on electric guitar, Ben Covino on upright bass, and Wild Bill on acoustic guitar and vocals. Ben Covino is unable to make this show, so Mike Duffy (former pedal steel guitar player for the Sparks and currently in The Riverbenders) will fill in on electric bass.

Blending accordion, electric, and acoustic guitars with a single snare and a bass, the band puts a fresh spin on playing old classics by Merle Haggard and Hank Williams with an old-fashioned touch, and contemporary fare by artists like Tom Waits. The group will also toss in a selection of original material.

“While this band shares some of its repertoire with the Sparks, it’s expanded in a somewhat more acoustic direction, venturing into bluegrass, folk, blues, rock, and roots, in addition to country,” said Knittle of Buckland. (Knittle’s day job is that he is principal of Rowe Elementary School!)

When the band performs, the three vocalists (along with their instruments, plus the upright bass) gather around and sing into an old-fashioned condenser mic. “We’re focusing on vocals, and especially the harmonies, and this setup makes it easier to hear each other,” Knittle said about the band’s decision to perform in this manner. It also adds a nice touch of nostalgia to their performances.

The music of Wild Bill and Big Trouble is guaranteed to have you tapping your toes and singing along. And don’t forget your dancing shoes!

Admission to the music is a minimum donation of $5 to fund future programs.

And if you missed out on enjoying a traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal last weekend, head to the Town Hall early between 6 and 7 p.m. as the Trinitarian Congregational church will present a traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal. The meal will consist of corned beef and cabbage with vegetables, bread, carrot cake, and beverages. A vegetarian option is available, as is takeout. Please note this is a separate event from the music. Cost is $15 for adults, $8 for kids 12 and under, and kids under age 3 are free. All the money raised will be donated to local and worldwide charities.

Robin Lane (of the Chartbusters fame) will be joined by an ace band of Boston musicians when she performs at Floodwater Brewing Company in Shelburne Falls on Sunday, March 23, at 7 p.m. Lane has enjoyed an illustrious career that began with her singing on Neil Young’s “Everybody Knows This is Nowhere” album. She went on to form the Chartbusters and scored a hit with “When Things Go Wrong.” In recent years, she has focused on her solo work. Singer-songwriter Adam Sherman will also be part of the lineup and Lane may even join him for a few songs. Look for Sherman to drop his latest EP on March 28. This is a ticketed event. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The lineup of artists at Tree House Brewing Co. is expanding.

Tickets are now on sale for Josh Rouse and Rhett Miller, the lead singer of Old ’97s, who will perform in the house theater on April 22.

Recently, a series of shows for the summer stage concert series was announced. Singer-songwriter Aimee Mann with Jonathan Coulton will take the stage on June 10. Country musician Chase Rice, known for his appearance on “Survivor: Nicaragua,” is scheduled to perform on Aug. 14. Additionally, the ’90s hitmakers Toad the Wet Sprocket, with opening act K.T. Tunstall, will perform on Aug. 18.

Tickets for Tree House events are available at TixR.com.

Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at soundslocal@yahoo.com.