Marty Ruggiero, co-owner of The Range in Mason, summed up the Granite Meltdown festival in six words — “We put Mason on the map.”
Since opening The Range in 1992, the Ruggiero family has made a name for itself by hosting the some of the largest concerts in the Monadnock Region. On June 3 and 4, the venue hosted nine bands ranging from funk, country and psychedelic styles of music during the second Granite Meltdown. The band Humans Being opened Saturday event with a bang, showcasing members switching instruments during the performance. One member of the band said his festival experience is about more than just the music.
“A lot of the bands that have played we look up to,” said Brandon O’Grady. “To be playing on Saturday with all of these bands, it’s pretty rad.”
Members of the Mason community embraced one another, soaking in the moments surrounded by music, food, friends and family. For some, this concert was the first they had been to since the start of the pandemic.
“This is a big deal to have some place where we can be proud of, happen right here in Mason,” said concert-goer Mike Bromberg.
Production Manager Cooper Leafe, who has been organizing events and concerts for more than eight years, said his musical vision is finally coming true.
“It’s been a goal of mine for a long time to make a larger platform for this area in arts and entertainment,” said Leafe. “It feels like I’m on the right track.”
Co-owner Nicole Ruggiero said her efforts to expand the business go beyond just hosting concerts.
“We have substantially grown over the years,” she said. “It is now my passion project. We just really see the bigger picture. We really want to hone in on the arts and the music scene and support local business.”
In addition to the live music, the festival also featured the venue’s craft beer in partnership with 603 Brewery. For every $1 spent on the new drink, The Range pledged to donate the proceeds to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Massachusetts, an organization that advocates for mental health awareness nationwide. Marty Ruggiero said he is proud to be part of the efforts to advocate for those struggling with mental illness.
“[Mental illness] is an overlooked disease and it’s real,” he said. “It means a lot to us.”
The Range will be hosting more summer events, including a “Cruise Night” every Thursday. Max Creek will headline the next concert on July 8 starting at 6 p.m.