DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 20 * * All Arts News On the Web * * June 30, 2016

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.


     Franklin County's arts and music gatherings bring new opportunities, gossip, "show-and-tell" and occasional workshops. There are also booked and acoustic Open Mic Nights that feature music, readings, and more from the best new artists in Vermont.

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SUMMER MUST BE HERE!

      Summer Sounds starts this Saturday at Bay Day!
      The 36th Bay Day Festival kicks off a day with lots more than fireworks in St. Albans Town Bay Park all day this Saturday. Yep, Saturday!
      The annual summer festival offers a full family day with lakefront games, sports, fair food, fireworks, and continuous live music, all to celebrate Independence Day. This familiar Franklin County family festival has new surprises every year as does the Town Park with new access and features almost every time you visit. (The Great Race will be held on Sunday.)

LIVE MUSIC ALL AFTERNOON--The All Arts Council and the Town of St. Albans will offer live music for Bay Day starting about 2 p.m. under the tent on the Bathhouse patio at St. Albans Town Park at the Bay. The afternoon music lineup includes the band BCDC and a very special introduction to Young Tradition-Vermont with the Munkres-Bolton Family Band. These popular entertainers will mix it up with family music, rock 'n' roll, country, swing, old timey/bluegrass, jazz, some gospel, and their own originals.
      Rebecca Padula and Donna Thunder Moran, Chris Martin and Clare Innes are a powerhouse Americana band with "a growing pile of great songs" from country, jazz, and blues. They pass guitars, bass drums, ukeuleles, and great harmonies around between them. "We are regular writing partners, but do not often perform together, so this will be a special show--we've been known to make some tunes up on the spot," Ms. Padula said. 2, 3:45, and 5:15 p.m. on the Bathhouse patio.
      The Munkres-Bolton Family Band (Romy, fiddle; Ben, mandolin; Andrew, banjo; and Kristin, upright bass) are from Cornwall, Vermont. Ben Munkres and Romy Munkres were both part of the Young Traditions touring group that toured Ireland in April. They'll play traditional music from Ireland, the U.S. and Canada. Andrew and Kristin will accompany them.
      Young Tradition Vermont makes opportunities for young people to be inspired by, to learn, and to inspire others with traditional music and dance, and to support families with children with life-altering conditions. These are our new stars playing old music and they are the anchors for our future events.
      2:45 and 4:15 p.m. on the Bathhouse patio.
      [Times are approximate -- come for the whole day.]

SUMMER SOUNDS--The All Arts Council and the Town of St. Albans welcome a band that can rock the Bath House tent as IncaHOOTS opens the 26th Summer Sounds season at Bay Day on Sunday at 7 p.m.
      The four-piece country-rock-jazz-pop band is the hottest band in Franklin County this year. They play music "for all occasions" and just wowed the crowds here last year. John Geno, Jeff Wenig, David Long, and Kevin Connelly kicked off our 25th Anniversary Festival and will start the 2016 season with a bang. 7 p.m. on the Bathhouse patio.
      This Summer Sounds concert is sponsored by the Town of St. Albans and the All Arts Council. Visit summer.AllArtsCouncil.org for the summer concert schedule. The Bay Day-Summer Sounds social, presented by St. Albans Town Recreation, will be an all day event with the Bay Day food vendors starting to serve at about 2 p.m.
      Fireworks will begin at dusk thanks to generous contributions from the community.
      Remember, Bay Day and all the music is Saturday.


ART ON THE WALLS

ST ALBANS--The Artist In Residence Gallery features different artists each month. Starting tomorrow, the spotlight is on Eddie Gagne, Paule Gingras, Kelly Shawyer, and Deb Shell. The exhibit continues through the end of July.
      There will be a meet-the-artists reception with refreshments and a raffle on the third Thursday of each month, July 21.
      The Artist in Residence art cooperative features paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, sculpture, lamps, pottery, folk art boxes, scarves, hats and more by 40 Franklin County and surrounding area artists. It is owned and operated by the artists and sponsors. The gallery, newly reopened at 10 South Main Street, is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here for more info.


IN THE SAC

SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council reminds us that today is the last day to sign up for the Barn Quilt Challenge. There are three ways to participate: Create and Display your Barn Quilt for all to see, take the Barn Quilt Community Challenge ($5 entry fee), or join the Franklin County VT Barn Quilt Trail to celebrate public art.
      SAC holds its monthly General Meeting and update at the Swanton Public Library today starting at 6 p.m. Click here to view the agenda.
      Email for more info.


ON STAGE LIVE

40th Army Band
      "Vermont's Own" 40th Army Band will perform every day during Independence week. Their programs will feature traditional patriotic American tunes, as well as contemporary musical favorites. Several Franklin County musicians serve in this exceptional military band. These concerts are free and open to the public.
WORCESTER--The 40th Army Band Marching Band will march in the Worcester 4th of July Parade, starting at 11 a.m.
JEFFERSONSVILLE--The Concert Band plays Smugglers' Notch Resort on the green also on Monday, Independence Day, at 8 p.m.
ENOSBURG--The Concert Band plays the Opera House At Enosburg Falls on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
MILTON--The 40th Army Band Power of 10 plays Bombardier Park on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
BURLINGTON--The 40th Army Band True North plays Ethan Allen Homestead also on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
FAIR HAVEN--The Concert Band plays on the Green on Thursday, July 7, at 7 p.m.
NEWPORT, VT--The 40th Army Band True North plays the Newport Jazz Fest on Friday, July 8, at 7 p.m.


Saturday
SWANTON--The Swanton Chamber of Commerce presents A&M Live and rocking in the Music in the Park series on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. With Aaron Bachelder on guitar and Melinda Lussier on piano, the dynamic rockers jam a mix of classic rock like Smoke on the Water to modern tunes like Royals by Lorde, Collective Soul as well as some originals.
      Admission is free. Bring a chair or a blanket.


EAST BURKE--Mike's Tiki Bar presents the Nobby Reed Project on Saturday at 5 p.m. Vermont's best known blues trio includes Eric Belrose, percussion, Ray Bushey, bass, and Mr. Reed on lead guitar and vocals.


Tuesday
JOHNSON--The Tuesday Night Live Summer Concert Series presents the Will Patton Quartet live in Legion Field on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
      This free concert series takes place every Tuesday evening throughout the summer. Community organizations have booths to offer "tasty treats" and the Johnson Historical Society offers slices of homemade pie along with McKenzie hot dogs and salads. The rain site is the Johnson Elementary School. The community is invited to bring a blanket or chair and a picnic supper. Email or call Lois Frey (802.635.7826) for more info.


Wednesday
ST. ALBANS--Summer Sounds favorites incaHOOTS continue the Downtown Summer Concert Series in the E.A. Loomis Bandshell in Taylor Park on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The Road Grill BBQ serves food at all of this year's Summer Concerts Series events.
      Admission is free.


Thursday-Saturday and ongoing
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs presents Arthur James this evening, Cooie Sings on Friday, and VT Chamber Jazz on Saturday. Performances begin at 7 p.m.
      Twiggs offers Music to Dine By with relaxed music and the arts. They have three stages with live piano, violin, or light guitar on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, in the dining room, the Window, or the main stage. The Cabaret offers live performances by musicians, visual artists, poets, and more. Vern Colburn is Live on the Piano, Dayve Huckett on the guitar, and additional performances by Abby Road, Bobby Cee, Mint Julep, Sean Ashby, and Sean Casey.
      Call 802.524.1405, email, or click here for more info or booking requests.


Ongoing
BURLINGTON--The Breakwaters Summer lineup continues on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday evening each week, often with bands well known in Franklin County. Bands play from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 6-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3-6 p.m on Sundays.


MORRISVILLE--Moog's Place has "live music every night we're open, starting between eight and nine pm" with open mic night scheduled most Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.
      Click here for more info.


MORRISVILLE--River Arts holds a Farmers and Artisans Market at the River Arts Center every Wednesday from 3 - 7 p.m. Click here for more info.


FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF

     Most libraries will be closed Monday for Independence Day.


FAIRFIELD--The Bent Northrop Memorial Library has a special program presented by VINS Falconry on Friday at 10:30 a.m.
      Have you ever seen a hawk soar through the air, only to land on a person's fist? The Vermont Institute of Natural Science family-friendly adventure will explore a sport that has related humans, animals, and the environment for 4,000 years. They will also have three live raptors to meet up close.


FRANKLIN--The Haston Library's Wonderful World of Bats! will introduce audiences to the exotic world this morning at 10 a.m. The program uses interactive dialogue, slides, and taped bat calls, to understand bats in our attics, vampire bats, bat eyesight, echolocation, migration and hibernation. Children can create stenciled bat tee shirts (bring a shirt, or one is available for $4).


GEORGIA--The Georgia Public Library brings the VINS Falconry program on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
      Rebecca Rupp will lead Brilliant Biology at the library on Wednesday at 1 p.m. Attendees will perform hands-on experiments to examine the science of burps, candy chromatography, and sugar rainbows.


SWANTON--The Swanton Free Public Library celebrates Art All Day at the Library on Friday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Drop in while the lbrary is open and get creative. Paint, build, draw, sculpt and craft. All are welcome.


ON THE 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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