DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 14 * * All Arts News On the Web * * July 29, 2010

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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      The Big Four Music Weeks of summer continue this week. With three or more live concerts, fairs, or festivals each week, there is plenty to see and hear in Franklin County.

AMERICAN SOUL

      Desorcie's Market presents Tammy Fletcher and Mountain Girl in the free Summer Sounds concert in Highgate Municipal Park on Sunday evening at 7 p.m.
      Both Tom Messner and Ms. Fletcher say it will be dry.
      Tammy Fletcher is best-known as Vermont's Soul Queen but she has enthralled audiences from the Apollo Theater in Harlem to the Gaiety Theater in Dublin because she sings. My, oh my does she sing. She has sung in Reykjavik and Highgate. She has sold out the Flynn while fronting the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. She sang the National Anthem at Fenway Park. Deeply rooted in our American traditions, Ms. Fletcher sings gospel and rock, opera and country, and the blues.
      Mountain Girl is a raw to the roots Americana band. The band includes Ms. Fletcher on vocals; Dakota Foley, mandolin; Bob Hill on guitar; Jim Pitman on dobro/steel, Simon Plumpton on percussion; and Stacy Starkweather on bass.
      "We'll do rockin' bluegrassy country alternative folk," Ms. Fletcher said of the Summer Sounds event. "We're doing the acoustic show, but we'll still be loud."
      Just before the concert, stop by for Summer Sounds Social in the Park starting at 6:30 p.m. The social hour is a chance to visit with friends and eat plenty of delicious desserts.
      The Summer Sounds concerts are sponsored by the Town of Highgate 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 arts to northwestern Vermont. The concerts are always on Sunday evenings, always at 7 p.m., always in Highgate Municipal Park, and always free. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair as you settle in to enjoy outdoor family music and festivities. The rain site is the Highgate United Methodist Church.
      "Please, please ask whoever did the dump cake to come back," Ms. Fletcher said. I think she really really liked it.


LUCKY, LUCKY US

     The Opera House at Enosburg Falls presents John Cassel's Green Mountain Lucky in a 3-day run tonight though Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. Co-written with Al Boright, the musical comedy in two acts is Mr. Cassel's first musical.
      The original show features Wendy Maquera (sore knee and all) and Jack von Behren, Matt Stebbins and Keeghan Nolan, and "flatlanders" John Schreindorfer, Jim Walsh, Steve Comeau. The Band is Skeeter Camera, Will Patton, Dono Schabner, John Cassel and Jim Pitman. It is directed by Suzanne MacKay with choreography by Taryn Noelle.
      Admission is $12/10. Tickets are on sale now at Better Planet Bookstore, all Enosburg Banks, Enosburg Pharmacy, Parkside Cafe, Precious Things, the Somerset Inn, and Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce.


FIELDING AFFAIR

     Today through Sunday, Vermont's finest country fair takes to the fields of Highgate as the 35th annual Franklin County Field Days brings a lineup of the best music, arts and crafts, and of course weeds that Franklin County has to offer. The musical lineup includes ten bands that are worth the price of admission alone. And it all begins today at 12 noon.
      Jessica Prouty Band and Maple Creek light up the main stage today. Tomorrow look for Ms. Prouty to return plus the Jim Daniels Band and the Ivory Band. Field Days will hypnotize you on Saturday; Keeghan Nolan continues on the Country note, the Green Mountain Cloggers keep it going, and the Country Classic Band wraps it up. Junior Barber and Bear Tracks jump start Sunday morning and the Nobby Reed Project anchors the stage until the Field Days gates close, giving you just enough time to drive due East for Tammy Fletcher in Highgate on Sunday evening.
      Franklin County Homemakers Club will hold an ongoing quilt demonstration and quilt raffle.
      Comedian Joey Allen will hypnotize us on Saturday, noon - 1 p.m.
      The Bear Tracks trio plays roots country, bluegrass and Americana music with the soulful resonator guitar work of Junior Barber. Sunday, 10 - 1 p.m.
      Country Classic Band takes you from the beginning of country to the end of the night. Saturday, 7 p.m.
      The Jim Daniels Band offers up original and traditional old-time country and bluegrass. Friday, 1 - 3 p.m.
      The Green Mountain Cloggers perform their foot-stomping, toe-tapping Appalachian-style dance to Bluegrass music. Saturday, 4 - 6 p.m.
      Well known at weddings, Ivory Band performs a soft-rock mix for fair goers who like to dance, cozy up to that special someone, or just enjoy the music. Friday, 7:30 p.m.
      Maple Creek is an, upbeat country-rock band with the foot-tapping music to get you on your feet and dancing. Today, 7 - 10 p.m.
      Vermont's favorite young country singer, Keeghan Nolan of Fairfield wowed us at Bay Day and won the Colgate Country Showdown, and the CMA Rising Star Youth Vocal Competition. She performs across New England plus West Virginia, Florida, and Nashville. Saturday, 1 - 4 p.m.
      The versatile Jessica Prouty Band won the John Lennon Tour Bus Daddy's Junky Music Rockin' Roland Battle of the Bands. They take to the stage today 3 - 6 p.m. and Friday 4 - 7 p.m.
      The Nobby Reed Project, Vermont's premiere blues trio, plays the best original music in the soul-shakin'-electric Texas and Chicago blues styles with a Vermont touch. The band includes Eric Belrose, percussion, Ray Bushey, bass, and Mr. Reed on lead guitar and vocals. Sunday, 1 - 4 p.m.
      Field Days has "One Price" admission of $8 per day for adults, teens, and children three years old and up. It includes all midway rides, exhibits, and entertainment. Parking cost $1 per car inside and outside of the gate.
      Call Tammy-Jo Parks (802-524-9771 extension 101) or click here for more info.


ON STAGE LIVE

WOODSTOCK--Pentangle Arts Council presents Yankee Chank in the Brown Bag Concert series on the Village Green today at 12 noon.
      Call 802.457.3981 or click here for more info.


ST ALBANS--One Federal Street presents The Fizz (formerly Flood in the Fizzy Factory) this evening at 7 p.m.


BURLINGTON--The Champlain Valley Folk Festival begins tomorrow and runs through Sunday afternoon. The long weekend celebration brings folk music, dance and song traditions to its new and early location in Waterfront Park. There are family-friendly intimate concerts, workshops, crafts with tradition-bearers and cutting-edge roots-based performers including Franklin County favorites and residents Atlantic Crossing, Big Spike Bluegrass, Will Patton Trio, Possumhaw, Starline Rhythm Boys, and Yankee Chank plus Annalivia, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, Anais Mitchell, Old Sledge, Pete Sutherland, and many more.
      Admission ranges from $10 for Friday only to $45 for the full weekend. Kids 12 and under are free. Click here for more info or here for tickets.


MONTGOMERY CENTER--The Montgomery Historical Society Concerts By The Common series presents the Peterman Quintet in Pratt Hall on Saturday at 8 p.m. This classic and contemporary jazz ensemble features tenor sax, piano, drums, bass and vocals. They traveled to Yaroslavl, Russia, for the Jazz Over The Volga Festival in 2009.
      Admission is $12 or $10 for MHS members; purchase the entire series for $30 ($25 for members). Call Lutz Automotive (802.326.4528) for advance tickets. The concerts are underwritten in part by grants from the Vermont Arts Council, the Eastman Foundation, TD Bank, and area businesses and individuals. Click here for more info.


JEFFERSONVILLE--The Brewski presents Conscious Roots Reggae Band on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. The band has Jason Corbiere, drums; Adam Dunsmore, trumpet, percussion, backing vocals; Charles Hungerford, vocals, rhythm guitar, clarinet; Jeff Kenyon, lead guitar; and Danny Ries, bass and mandolin.
      "Great reggae grooves! Come on out and party with us!" Mr. Corbiere said.


GRAND ISLE--Island Arts presents Elisabeth Von Trapp in concert at Grand Isle Lake House Sunday at 7 p.m.
      Born and raised in Vermont, Ms. Von Trapp's earliest memories are the sounds of music; she is the granddaughter of Maria von Trapp, whose story inspired The Sound of Music. She has performed all over the world, in churches and concert halls, European cathedrals and the Kennedy Center.
      Admission is $30/ $35. Tickets available at the door. Click here for more info.


FAIRFIELD--The sixth or seventh annual Raw Milk Theater down-home variety show has about 15 cats, jugglers, musicians and actors, a barn, hay wagon, sound system, lights, as well as the Missisquoi River Band, all to portray country life in Vermont at the Flack Farm’s Covered Barnyard on Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m.
      Admission is free. Bring your own chair. Call the Flacks at 933-7752 or click here for more info or if you want to perform.


SWANTON--Nation Night out features the Dave Keller Blues Band with Jason Corbiere on drums in the Swanton Village Park on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
      Singer/guitarist Dave Keller has forged a unique, intense, gritty, sweet style. He learned from Mighty Sam McClain, Paul Rishell, Fontella Bass, and the late Robert Ward. His band features Jan Schultz, Fender bass; Mr. Corbiere drums; and Ira Friedman, Hammond organ.
      The National Night Out introduces local police, fire, EMS, and border patrol officers with exciting exhibits plus activities for the kids. Come out to meet the people keep us safe then dance the night away.


ST. ALBANS--The Bayside Pavilion hosts the Starline Rhythm Boys in a regular summer Wednesday gig at 6 p.m.
      Call 802.524.0909 or click here for more info.


CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK

     Twins Natasha Haugen and Saskia Reinholt of Bolton Valley and Kingfield, Maine, create mosaics and stained glass, murals, tile art, and Venetian plaster. The fine art gallery and other samples he fascinating slide shows. The site includes their portfolios, info and contacts.


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.


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      This article was originally published in the St Albans Messenger and other traditional print media. It is Copyright © 2010 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.