| VOLUME 8 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | November 4, 2004 |
ArtBits always features a calendar of the goings on of Franklin County artists. Check out these events around Franklin County. Each issue includes the entire text of our weekly newspaper column. STUFF YOU SHOULDN'T MISS
Stop in for live music and more at the Fairfax Music Sessions at the Foothills Bakery in Fairfax most Saturday afternoons at 1 p.m., at ChowBella in St Albans 8-10 p.m. most Wednesday evenings, at the Kept Writer in St Albans mostly once each month, at the Bayside in St Albans Town most Sunday afternoons, and the Cambridge CoffeeHouses at 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of every month.
These gatherings bring new opportunities, gossip, "show-and-tell" and occasional workshops. The booked performances and acoustic Open Mike Nights feature music, readings, and more from the best new artists in Vermont.
The All Arts Council presents Vermont singer-songwriter Karen McFeeters in a concert of original contemporary folk/pop music at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in St. Albans on Saturday at 8 p.m. The concert celebrates the release of her second CD, Maybe Day. BACHELOR GIRL RETURNS TO ST. ALBANS WITH MAYBE DAY
The Saturday concert will be "a full 2-hour show with a live band." The band includes Craig Anderson, guitar; Mitch Barron, bass; Matt DeLuca, drums; and Alex Julien, guitar. Another local singer-songwriter John Gibbons will join her for some songs.
"I've taken some guitar lessons and I am going to play it on one song," she said. She has been "singing as long as I've been speaking. I did take a couple of voice lessons when I was in college but it's primarily just doing what I love." Her primary instruments are piano and keyboards.
"My favorite thing about songwriting and performing is composing harmonies, so we're going to do something special at St. Pauls where people will get to hear a little bit of my harmony compositions." Her sisters Melissa and Sarah will sing harmony.
The third cut on Maybe Day is the title song. "It's about a period in my life when I felt uncertain about relationships so it reflects the question, Do I do it? Do I jump or do I not jump? Do I fall or do I not fall?" Ms. McFeeters said.
St. Albans native Karen McFeeters began her folk career at the Songwriter's Showcase at Burlington's Contois Auditorium. She has participated in Summer Sounds, First Night--Burlington, the Mad River Valley Festival of the Arts, the St. Albans Concert in the Park Series, and the Independence Day Celebration on the State House lawn in Montpelier.
She released her solo debut album, Bachelor Girl, to a standing room only crowd at the FlynnSpace in Burlington. Bachelor Girl was chosen as one of the Top 10 Best of 2002 releases by Vermont Artists.
Ms. McFeeters has sung lead and harmony vocals on recordings by fellow songwriters. She has opened for singer/songwriters Carrie Newcomer and Diane Ziegler and is a member of a vocal/acoustic trio with Craig Anderson and John Gibbons.
By day Ms. McFeeters is a speech and language pathologist specializing in voice therapy. She lectures about the craft of songwriting and taught Beginning Songwriting for Teens, a four-week Burlington City Arts class last year. She will teach a songwriting course for adults in the spring.
Creating the new album "happened more quickly, about half the time it took me to do Bachelor Girl," she said of the six month production. She had "gotten through the learning curve on the first project and knew what to expect the second time." She also co-produced the recording with Peter Engisch at Ad Astra Studio. She gave "a lot of direction and a lot of input about how I envision things and how I heard things in my head.
"I was in St. Paul's on Friday," she said. "It's a nice sanctuary and the acoustics are wonderful. We're going to have refreshments during intermission. I'm hoping for a good home town turnout."
Admission is $8. Tickets will be available at the door. CDs are available at Rail City and Kept Writer.
The community based All Arts Council brings the performing arts to northwestern Vermont.
ST. ALBANS--Singer-songwriter Karen McFeeters will appear on Neighbor to Neighbor for an interview and to sing a couple of numbers on Adelphia Channel 15 starting tonight at 9:30 p.m. The interview repeats Friday, March 12, at 2:30 p.m. Chris O'Neill will interview her tomorrow morning on WLFE, 102.3. ON STAGE LIVE
FAIRFAX--The regular Music Session continues Saturday with acoustic instrumentalists playing traditional songs at the Foothills Bakery, 1-4:30 p.m. Admission is free by donation.
WATERVILLE--Cambridge Arts Council presents community dances on Saturdays at 7 p.m. in the Waterville Town Hall. The evening will feature contras, squares, circles, play parties and singing games and all dances will be taught. Bring a partner, the entire family, or come alone. Caller Mark Sustic offers dance instruction. Frank Heyburn and Michele Lajoie play. Guest musicians with acoustic instruments are welcome. Admission is $5 per person and $10 for families at the door.
ST. ALBANS--The Overtime Saloon offers Open Mic with Abby Jenne and Friends every Wednesday at 8 p.m. Abby encourages performers of all kinds to attend. If you need instrumental accompaniment, e-mail with the title/artist of song you wish to perform or click herefor more info.
ST. ALBANS BAY--The All Arts Council will present the Nobby Reed Project in a concert and dance next Friday, November 12, at the Bayside Pavilion. The concert celebrates the release of his new CD, Moonlight Drivin'.
Nobby Reed has shared the stage with Blues Traveler, Dickie Betts, James Cotton, Delbert McClinton, Buckwheat Zydeco, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Roomful of Blues, and The Neville Brothers.
Tickets will be available at the door.
Amy Cook makes books in Milton on the Lamoille River near Sandbar. She uses traditional bookbinding tools and methods with a variety of commercial and handmade papers from around the world for one-of-a-kind books for brides, gardeners, new mothers, birdwatchers, travelers, lovers, friends and others. CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK
Links to this week's artists: Abby Jenne, Karen McFeeters, and Nobby Reed.
ArtBits features a quick weekly peek at the bookshelf or night stand of the folks you know in and around Franklin County. That popular feature has a page of its own at the Franklin County Bookshelf here on the AAC site. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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This article was originally published in
the St Albans Messenger and other traditional print media. It is
Copyright © 2004 by Richard B. Harper. All rights reserved.
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