DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 20 * * All Arts News On the Web * * July 7, 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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BIG MUSIC WEEKS

FRANKLIN COUNTY--The Big Music Weeks of Summer begin today as some of our friends play multiple gigs. Summer Sounds celebrates 26 years of concerts in Highgate with rock'n'roll music and we find multiple shows in Burlington, East Fairfield, Essex Junction, Enosburg Falls, Fair Haven, Highgate, Middlebury, Newport, St. Albans, South Hero, Swanton, and more.


ROCKIN' OUT IN HIGHGATE

HIGHGATE--The All Arts Council and the Town of Highgate begin the 26th year of Summer Sounds concerts at home in Highgate on Sunday evening. The concerts are always on Sunday evenings at 7 p.m., always in a town park, and always free.
      Ray's Extrusion Dies presents the noted law offices of Sullivan, Davis, and Hanscom in Highgate Municipal Park on Sunday at 7 p.m.
      They practice music because it's a law.
      One of the hottest trios in New England, the Sullivan Davis Hanscom Rock Band will reintroduce you to four veteran musicians you know well. John Sullivan takes on lead vocals and lead and rhythm guitars; the Davis Brothers Garage Band's Jeff Davis is on Bass/Congas and backing vocals; Andrew Hanscom does drums and percussion; and another Davis Brother, Summer Sounds. favorite Rick Davis, promises to "sit in when things settle down a little."
      The band writes, records, and play original songs written by John Sullivan and a long catalog of classic covers from 60s,70s, and 80s. Bare Witness, their first studio CD, has had a very successful release and they are already working on their next CD of all originals.
      The St Paul's Methodist Church Scholarship Committee will offer real food, a groaning board of desserts, and other fine sweets in the Summer Sounds Social.
      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 & Sons, and Ray's Extrusion Dies Tubing.
      The community based All Arts Council brings the performing arts to northwestern Vermont. The concerts are always on Sunday evenings at 7 p.m., always in a town park, and always free. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair as you settle in to enjoy outdoor family music and festivities. Click here for the schedule. The rain site is the Highgate United Methodist Church.


ART ON THE WALLS

ST. ALBANS--The Saint Albans Community Arts Art in the Park festival takes over Taylor Park on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
      Exhibitors include Vermont artist Corliss Blakely. "I'll be iPad painting, using watercolors and talking about my Nature Scarves," she said. Artists will create and show paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, weavings, fabric arts, dance, and more. There will be actors and music.
      The forecast is a bit iffy. The rain date is Saturday, July 23. Click here and on our Facebook pages.


IN THE ARTS COUNCILS

CAMBRIDGE--The Cambridge Arts Council celebrates its 20th anniversary with an Online Art Auction. Over 40 artists and organizations have contributed items valued together at over $5,000. The event will raise funds to help support the Silo Project, an innovative public art initiative that is transforming the two silos in Jeffersonville.
      The auction began July 1 and will continue through Sun, Aug 14. Click here to see the items. Keep the bids coming!


ON STAGE LIVE

40th Army Band
      "Vermont's Own" 40th Army Band finishes out its Independence week tour tonight and tomorrow. They have already appeared in Worcester, Jeffersonsville, Enosburg, Milton, and Burlington. Their programs 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.
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.


Thursday
SOUTH HERO--The Snow Farm Vineyard is Supercharged tonight as the summer concert series Music in the Vineyard continues with Carol Ann Jones & The Superchargers at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Jones, Andre Maquera, Gary Spaulding, Will Patton, and Thom Carvey play country rock, rockabilly, bluegrass, pop, and Ms. Jones' originals. Picnicking begins at 5 p.m.
      "Bring a picnic, but buy their libations. There are food trucks too."


ST. ALBANS--The One Fed Summer Concert Series kicks off the 2016 season with Rushmore at One Federal Restaurant this evening at 7 p.m. Bob Chevalier, lead vocals, piano, and keyboards; Timmy Comings, bass and vocals; Dave Hevrin, drums; and Mike Trombly, guitar and vocals play classic rock.
      The summer concert series has performers under the tents and draft specials every Thursday, rain or shine.


ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap offers Blues Night with the Nobby Reed Project tonight at 7 p.m. Vermont's own blues trio includes Eric Belrose, percussion, Ray Bushey, bass, and Mr. Reed on lead guitar and vocals.
      On Tap has music on Tuesday through Saturday nights. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info.


Thursday-Sunday
FAIRFAX--The Fairfax Community Theater Company presents Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet at BFA-Fairfax starting tonight and running through Sunday with evening performances on July 7, 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. a matines on July 10 at 2 p.m.
      Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors/students. Call 802.879.2867 or click here for more info.


Thursday-Wednesday
BURLINGTON--Justice does the Breakwater Blitz at the Cafe & Grill on Saturday, at 6 p.m.
      Breakwater's Summer lineup continues with the House Rockers this evening, Summer Sounds favorites Mr. French on Friday, Island Time Steel Drums on Sunday, and Whirlwind next Wednesday. 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.


Friday
BURLINGTON--The Nobby Reed Project has a busy time in Chittenden County as they return tonight to play the Moose Lodge at 7 p.m.
      Click here for more info.


Friday-Sunday
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs presents songsmith Kelly Ravin from Brooks, Maine, on Thursday, loving and rocking duo A&M Live on Friday, and The Duo (an incaHOOTS spinoff) on Saturday. Shows start at 7 p.m.
      Call 802.524.1405 or click here for more info.


ST. ALBANS BAY--The Hubcats bring a hip show to the Bayside Pavilion on Friday, then Donna Thunder rocks the place on Sunday. Shows run from 6 - 9 p.m.


Saturday
EAST FAIRFIELD--Summer Evenings with Vermont Treasures continues in "the sweet spot of summer" with soulful singer-songwriter Christine Malcolm at the Meeting House on the Green on Saturday at 7 p.m. She will be joined by Jess Zehngut, Rudy Dauth, Wiley Shipman, and Peter Riley. It will be an evening of modern folk, country, rock, and blues.
      Ms. Malcolm won the 2015 Tammy Award for Best Country Record. The Elmore writer's straight ahead songwriting style was influenced by Hank Williams, Chris Stapleton, Lori McKenna, Lucinda Williams and Joni Mitchell.
Crickets, Coyotes and the Big Yellow Moon,
her debut album, is a collection of songs about small towns, big hearts, broken dreams, and the endurance of hope and love (and you'll hear our own Patrick Murphy on the album). She is also a mom and a family midwife.
      Admission is by $10 suggested donation and kids under 12 are free. Refreshments will be for sale at intermission. Call 802.827.6626 to reserve tickets and pay at the door.
      The concert series helps fund restoration efforts of the circa 1876 Meeting House on the Green in East Fairfield. Click here for more info.


Sunday-Saturday
MIDDLEBURY--The Middlebury Summer Festival on the Green celebrates its 38th anniversary season starting Sunday. This Top 10 Summer Event features a number of Summer Sounds and Franklin County favorites including Jon Gailmor, No Strings Marionette Company, Padulabaum, Rik Palieri, Vermont Jazz Ensemble, and more.
      Festival events are held rain or shine. Free admission but donations are welcome. Click here for more info.


Wednesday
ST. ALBANS--Pabst Blue Rhythm continues 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.


All Week
ENOSBURG--The Opera House Rock Camp takes over the House next week, July 11 - 15 and 4-7 p.m. each day.
      This week-long camp will cover music basics, improve, playing as a band, and jamming, and it will culminate in a performance next Friday. It is open to grades 4-8. Students should bring their own instruments if possible. The cost is $75/student, $50/additional students.
      Call 802.933.6171 or click here for more info.


ON THE BOOKSHELF

      ArtBits features a quick weekly peek at library events in and around Franklin County. That popular feature has a page of its own at the Franklin County Bookshelf here on the AAC site at AllArtsCouncil.org/books. We also take an occasional peek at the bookshelf or night stand of the folks you know in and around Franklin County. Those reviews can be found on the ArtBits Bookshelf.


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