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. STUFF YOU SHOULDN'T MISS
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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A SLAM DUNK
The award winning poets are a youth slam poetry group created by Kiran Wagar, Hawa Adam, Lena Ginawi and Balkisa Abdikadir, dedicated to social justice through poetry. They have competed at international events, won awards, performed widely, and help lead several local and national initiatives. The teens also participated in the international youth poetry festival Brave New Voices.
Admission is free. Email for event details and click here for more info about the group.
PUT IT IN WORDS
The Vermont Folklife Center will lead the workshop to help teachers put technology in the hands of students in a way that engages them and forges connections with their communities. Teachers will learn about ethnography, working with artifacts, interviewing community members, and practices for digital techniques.
The fee is $20. Click here for more info.
DIY ART
Each lesson will be adjusted for any age group and skill level. The class will host an art show during week 6. This week's topic is Personality swirls/Op art. Future lessons will cover scaly animals/dragons, cartoons, portraits, comics and an artist study of Georgia O’Keefe
The cost is $10 per week or $55 for all six lessons which includes supplies. Find them on to reserve a spot.
IN THE ARTS COUNCILS
The National Dance Project will expand thanks to a $3.9 million three-year grant Mellon Grant. Now in its third decade, the NDP will offer new grantmaking and field-building on top of the $36 million in funding already made to 359 artists and companies and 787 cultural organizations to strengthen partnerships and bring dance into communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. The first deadline is tomorrow.
Expeditions grants support New England nonprofits to create tours of high-quality arts projects involving New England, national, and international artists. Expeditions has two grant programs with a deadline of February 20.
Grant deadlines are February 9 for New England Dance Fund, February 20 for Expeditions Grant, March 1 for a National Dance Project Production Grant, and March 12 for a National Theater Project Creation and Touring Grant. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--St. Albans Community Arts hosts its monthly Community Arts Meeting in City Hall on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The gathering will discuss new and ongoing business, meet new people, and discuss any creative ideas that crop up.
DANCE
Admission is $15/adult for the lesson and dancing, $10/student (high school or college) for the lesson and dancing, or $10/person at 8 p.m. just for the dancing.
ON STAGE LIVE
MORRISVILLE--River Arts presents Plays & Pints, a series of one act comedies on love, on Friday at 6 p.m.
Whether you're ready for Valentine's Day or not, this is a good starter evening about love. Treat yourself to local beer, pizza and comedy as the staged reading of one acts returns. Read Between the Lines is a collaboration of area actors from local theaters.
Admission is $5 at the door or online at . Beer and pizza will be available for purchase for the ultimate romantic evening.
ROUSES POINT, NY--Our own Nobby Reed joins the Houserockers at the American Legion on Friday at 7 p.m.
Friday-Saturday
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs presents old school blues player Blue Fox on Friday and Cooie & Skip on Saturday.. Shows begin at 7 p.m.
Call 802.524.1405 or click here for more info.
Saturday
BURLINGTON--Fiddleheads host a rehearsal, open house and performance with Pascal Gemme at the Burlington Violin Shop on Saturday and has played with (and learned from), most of today's great Quebecois fiddlers and singers. The open house with snacks starts at 12 noon and the concert featuring tunes taught during the residency begins at 1 p.m.
M. Gemme is one of Quebec’s national treasures and a popular traditional musician. He searches for and interprets seldom-heard songs and melodies. The event marks the final session of 4-month residency that started in September. Admission is by $5 donation.
BERLIN--14th Star Brewing Company, Easter Seals, Veterans Count Vermont, and the Vermont Flannel Company host Hearts for Heros featuring LC Jazz in the Capital City Grange Hall on Saturday at 6 p.m.
LC Jazz of Vergennes is a 21-piece jazz band that spans decades. The musicians come from all walks of life: human services, teaching, engineering, medicine, electrician, small business owners, retirees, students, and many others.
Admission is $40/person. The evening supports local veterans and service members and benefits Veterans Count Vermont. click here for more info and tickets.
SHELDON--The Abbey presents the smooth tunes of the Buckhollers in the New Pub on Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m.
The high-energy Fairfax foursome of Matt Parisi, Steve White, Dave Vallett, and Tim Wills kick off Valentine's weekend with classic country, country rock, folk, Americana, rockabilly, and bluegrass. No cover.
ST. ALBANS--Durty Nelly's Irish Pub hosts Summer Sounds favorites IncaHoots live in the Pub on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
The mix of country, rock, jazz, and pop will have a $5 cover.
Sunday
GLEN, NH--The Nobby Reed Project plays Blue Sunday at the Red Parka Steakhouse and Pub on Sunday at 5 p.m.
The Parka is celebrating 44 years of "good food and good times" with the original family with the best bands in New England every Friday and Saturday and no cover.
Fat Tuesday
BURLINGTON--Young Tradition Vermont hosts a benefit Mardi Gras party featuring Yankee Chank and Ponyhustle at the Hotel Vermont on Tuesday at 7 p.m. It's an evening of live music for dancing and listening.
Burlington does Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday. Yankee Chank is Vermont's senior Cajun music band. Ponyhustle is best known for their popular Honky Tonk Tuesdays at Radio Bean (starting at 10pm the same night). Guest musicians will include Alexander Allison, young Cajun music fiddler from Central Vermont who performs with the Young Tradition Touring Group and others.
Admission is $10. The event benefits the Tom Sustic
Fund which provides on-going support at UVM Medical Center and Dartmouth Hitchcock
Medical Center for families with children with life-altering conditions. The
Fund is managed and distributed by the Vermont Family Network. email for
more info about the event and click here for
tickets.
PASSAGES
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Matthew's, P.O. Box 276, Enosburg Falls VT 05450 or to the Bermuda National Trust, Waterville, 2 Pomander Road, Paget PG05 Bermuda. Condolences, photos, and favorite memories may be shared through .
