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.

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      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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BACK TO SCHOOL FOR REAL

      Summer has 26 official days to go but most kids reentered school this week and the 19th season of Summer Sounds came to an end on Sunday. The good news is that, despite this cold front, we'll keep the high temperatures in the 70s and even 80s at least through Labor Day and the reading of the Lake remains above 70°. Summer continues at least for a little while.
      The big news is next season as the popular series celebrates its 20th anniversary. Economy permitting, the All Arts Council will need your help to host Summer Sounds concerts in several Franklin County towns. I am taking suggestions for the performer list right now. You can help us arrange an appropriation in your Town to visit there. And we need a major sponsor to help underwrite and advertise the series. Email theAll Arts Council to volunteer or for more info.
      The 2009 Summer Sounds free concert series dodged rain drops all season but we used the rain site only once and that Sunday evening turned out to be sunny. Oh, well. Mr. French played into the Fireworks at Bay Day. We had the straight ahead Burlington jazz and favorite jazz standards of the Queen City Quintet. The Nobby Reed Project anchored the Cap Cancer Festival. The Stockwell Brothers played us newgrass. Flood in the Fizzy Factory played an all original program inside the Methodist Church and I got to whistle for my keep. Yankee Chank immersed us in Cajun two-steps and waltzes and some spicy Zydeco. Jenni Johnson brought the Junketeers and the local Junkettes in a crowd pleaser. The season wrapped with a bonus Roots Music evening with Catherine Fortier and Friends under the tent.
      The free concerts in this series have been sponsored by the supporting Towns and the All Arts Council, and underwritten by Chevalier Drilling, Desorcie's Market, Drummac Septic Service, O. C. McCuin and Sons, Ray's Extrusion Dies and Tubing, and Scotty's Taxi.
      The community based All Arts Council brings the performing and visual arts to northwestern Vermont. The concerts are always on Sunday evenings, always at 7 p.m., always in a Town Park, and always free.

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ON STAGE LIVE

SHELDON--Summer Music at Grace presents Full Circle Recorder Consort in Music for a Vermont Summer with recorders, voices, guitar, hammered dulcimer, harp, and percussion in Grace Church tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m.
      The summer 2009 program combines Celtic tunes and music from the Middle Ages with songs about Lake Champlain in a celebration of the Quadricentennial.
      The five friends make music together as a professional quintet that specializes in medieval and Renaissance music as well as baroque, folk, Celtic, Appalachian, and 20th Century songs. The group plays five sizes of recorders. The members of Full Circle are Susan Reit, Linda Rodd, Mary Ann Samuels, Beth London, and Maeve Kim. Full Circle has appeared at First Night Burlington, the Lane Series, Summer Music at Grace and more.
      Grace Church is located at 215 Pleasant Street, Sheldon. The suggested donation of $10 for adults or $25 for the entire family benefits the performers. Email for more info about the performers. Click here or call 802.326.4603 for info about the music at Grace Church.

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ESSEX JUNCTION--The Champlain Valley Fair, which begins on Saturday with Chicago and ends with Kid Rock, offers the Vermont Talent Showcase at 1, 3, and 6 p.m. on the (free) Burlington Free Press Stage.
      The show begins with First Night Burlington's 3rd Annual Rising Star Search on Saturday and Sunday as performers ages 12-18 vie to become join ten finalists for the New Year's Eve celebration. Saturday Sunday, 1, 3, and 6 p.m.
      Franklin County's Number One country music star, Keeghan Nolan of Fairfield brings the fire of Patsy Cline to her own original material, along with her Band to the stage. She won the Mayor's Cup Idol, the New England Colgate Country Showdown, and First Place at the CMA Music City Rising Star Competition. Wednesday, 1, 3, and 6 p.m.
      Click here for more info and click here for tickets to the feature shows in the True Music Series in the Grandstand.

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CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK

     Visual and fiber artist Cynthia Emerlye of S. Pomfret makes mostly one-of-a-kind wearable art clothing and paintings and illustrations. Her site has a gallery of recent work, paintings and illustrations, kirigami paper cuts, wearable art, her bio, and buying info.

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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!

All Arts Council of Franklin County

Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
email us