DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 12 * * All Arts News On the Web * * May 15, 2008

STUFF YOU SHOULDN'T MISS

      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.


      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 various restaurants around Franklin County throughout the week, 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.

      Find links to these events and more in our Spotlight!

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MUSIC DOWNTOWN!

      Chow Bella presents Avi and Celia this evening at 6 p.m. The soul-folk duet travels here from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and have appeared in the Events for Tom Series.
      "I met Avi in Italy," Connie Jacobs-Warden said. Celia's lead vocals and Avi's guitar and harmonies commingle modern rock ‘n roll with the tradition of folk, blues, and bluegrass.
      "And Vern Coburn is back in town," she said. "He does the early bird special at 5:30 on Fridays."


ON STAGE LIVE

BURLINGTON--Events for Tom and Burlington Parks and Recreation present the 6th Annual Young Traditions Concert as part of Kids Day on Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., at Waterfront Park. 25-Year-Olds-and-Under Children, Youth and Young Adults Playing, Singing and Dancing in Folk and Traditional Style
      Fiddleheads are part of the line up that also features Avi and Celia, Matt Bean, the Bosnian Lilies, Roland Clark, Hannah Beth Crary, Jaden Gladstone, Nathan Harrison, Liza Mackey, Owen and Elly Marshall, Pale Fire, Rehana Pothiawala, Anna Roberts-Gevalt, Colin Savoie-Levac and Beatrix Methe, the St. Andrews Highland Dancers, Maryse Rose Smith, Ida Mae Specker, Triskele, the United Celtic Dancers and more.
      Audience favorites will receive cash prizes up to $500 for first place plus dozens of other prizes from Anthony Boccio Photography, Carol’s Hungry Mind Café, the Champlain Valley Folk Festival, Hello Darlin’ Productions, Higher Ground, Hooker-Dunham Theater and Gallery, Middlebury Festival on the Green, Occasional Concerts, Quechee Balloon Festival, Shelburne Farms Harvest Festival, Valley Stage Festival, and others.
      Admission is just $1 and includes all Kids Day activities.


BURLINGTON--Singer, songwriter, pianist, and poet Meg Willey of St. Albans and Burlington now has a regular Wednesday gig at Nectars. "We do a mix of originals, dinner music, cabaret. music theater, rock, and even comedy," she said.
      Ms. Willey has "finally finished the musical!" She will also appear in Summer Sounds this season.
      Nectars has opened up the dining room for sit down dining.


CALL FOR MUSICIANS and COMMUNITY GROUPS

     Oh, yeah. And a Call for Sponsors without whom there will be no music.

MUSIC IN A TOWN PARK–Summer Sounds, Franklin County's most popular free outdoor music series opens the new season in just over a month. There are still a couple of Sunday night gigs unbooked.
      Do you have a favorite band to recommend? Here are the requirements: the group needs to be able to fill our outdoor venues and they need to be from outside of Franklin County. Summer Sounds generally showcases musicians "from away" because it is a series meant to introduce top notch new or new-to-us groups. Email theAll Arts Council for more info.
      Do you have a local non-profit group that needs to raise some money or simply to "show the flag"? Summer Sounds has a different host each week doing just that. The audience likes the food and the opportunity to meet and greet anyone doing community service.Email theAll Arts Council for an available concert.
      Do you have a business that needs promotion? Summer Sounds leverages your marketing dollar with other grants to provide a good show, a community gathering, and a PBS-style advertising opportunity. Email theAll Arts Council for more info.

MUSIC IN THE GARDEN--Swanson's Farm and Nursery in Fairfax invites any musicians to set up and practice outside on any beautiful weekend day and be able to pass the hat. The site has electricity but there will not be a stage. Swanson's is open from 9-5 and sometimes 6.
      "Even if your whole band can not play and you just want to sit in the garden and fiddle or play guitar, it might be a way to get a little cash when you were going to practice anyway," Shelly Pottala said.
      Call Ms. Pottala (802.849.2570) for more info and to set a date.


CALL FOR THESPIANS

     The Fairfax Community Theater Company summer show A Cry of Players is also just around the corner but the open audition call for the show is right now. Auditions will be held at BFA-Fairfax next week, May 20, 21, and 22, from 7 - 9 p.m. It is a potentially huge cast with some 18 roles from Anne to Sir Thomas, another 18 or 19 Towns persons, and, of course, Will. Everyone who wants to play a part or be a part of the production is welcome to try out.
      A Cry of Players is the story of the conflicted life of a young William Shakespeare as he takes his first tentative steps on the road to immortality. The play has comedy, drama and even fight scenes.
      Call Jennifer (802.879.2867) or click here for more info.


MAY-JUNE ART DEADLINES

YOUNG ARTISTS (now)--The South Shore Art Center Members and Young Artist shows are held 53rd Annual Arts Festival in June. Artwork for the shows is being accepted this weekend in Cohasset on Saturday, May 10, 10-4, Sunday, May 4, 11-4 and Monday, May 12, 9-9. Members and Young Artists may submit one piece per person. The entry fee for members is $12. There is no charge for young artists. Click here for a prospectus.


AS FRESH AS IT GETS (June 6)--The logo contest sponsored by the Coastal Arts League and the San Mateo County Farm Bureau wants a design promote the fresh food, flora and fauna produced in San Mateo County, California. The logo will be used in print, in-store marketing, paper grocery bags, store signs, decals, electronic media and more. There are cash prize p to $1,000 for the winner. The contest is open to vector-based graphics only. Click here for more info.


VERMONT FULL ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS (June 15)--Year-round 2-12 week independent residencies at Vermont Studio Center in Johnson offer private studios, rooms and 3 meals daily plus access to prominent Visiting Artists. The fellowships include all artists and writers, artists/writers with mobility restriction. Call 802.635.2727, click here, or email for more info.


CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK

     Improv Everywhere is all about having fun by creating unexpected scenes of chaos and joy in public places. Created in 2001 by Charlie Todd, the group has executed over 70 events. It is based in New York City.
      The events ("missions" in their words) are meant to entertain the participants as well as anyone who might to see the show live. And now, many of them are online. The food court musical on this page could have happened in Swanton.


FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF

      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.


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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      This article was originally published in the St Albans Messenger and other traditional print media. It is Copyright © 2008 by Richard B. Harper. All rights reserved. Archival material is provided as-is. Links are not necessarily maintained (if a link in this article fails, try Google.com or your favorite search engine).
      Thanks to recent misuse of copyright material on the Internet by individuals and archival firms alike, we emphasize that your rights to this article are limited to viewing it and printing it for personal use only. You must receive explicit permission from the All Arts Council and the author before reprinting or redistributing this article in any medium.