DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 22 * * All Arts News On the Web * * April 26, 2018

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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LIFE IS SWEET (WITH MAPLE)

      The 52nd edition of the Vermont Maple Festival this weekend brings a new schedule and a bucketful of events for the first (and sweetest) outdoor festival of the year. It happens in downtown St. Albans.
      It's worth noting that a friend here in the Keys commissions me to bring him a gallon or two of syrup every year. He's from New Hampshire.

HUGE PARADE
      The Maple Festival Parade -- the biggest in Vermont -- on Sunday, starts right at noon. The parade stretches for miles with the BFA Marching Band and over 100 marching bands, fancy floats, bag pipers, clowns, dancers, fire trucks horses and tractors new and old, musicians, neat cars, probably the odd politician or two, scouts, and the ever-popular pooper scooper. Remember that the route has changed. The parade will march up Stebbins Street, over Main Street, past the Main Street Stage and Judging Stand, and down Lower Newton Street.

MORE ARTS
      The Village Frame Shoppe hosts the annual Maple Festival Amateur Photo Contest in the window all weekend. The theme is maple sugaring. Judges check on a variety of criteria and pick a winner for each of the four categories (maple processing, people, scenery, and maple syrup being loved). "We will also have Vermont art and artisan items with new pottery just arrived from Blue Moon Pottery. Several pieces are maple themed," D.J. Pattullo said. They will be open Friday 10-5 and Saturday 10-3. Click here for the rules.
      Paint and Pint at 14th Star is led by Jon Young on Friday at 6 p.m. Instead of painting on a traditional canvas, this paint event will be to create a work of art on a decorative metal sap bucket or sap bucket lid. The session is limited to 30 participants. Click here to register and reserve your seat.
      The annual Crafts and Specialty Foods Show in BFA Auditorium has music this year, face painting, Pipsqueak, and more. The show offers artwork and fine photographs, glittery bling, classy clothing, wooden sculptures, traditional and nouveau crafts, and fine Vermont specialty foods. More than 60 vendors will have traditional as well as craft innovations. This Show is one of the Festival's three popular face-painting locations. Admission is free. Friday noon - 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
      A sampling of the exhibitors includes Vermont writers J. P. Choquette, Lori MacLaughlin, and Beth Kanell; Audrey Bowley with handmade greeting cards; Jason Brunault's wood frames and more; Sue Carey with felted sculptures; Gail Derner's copper wall art; and much more. Be sure to stop in for Vikki Machia's fudge.
      Mark LeClair will make and show the art of chainsaw carving in Taylor Park. The works he creates during the festival will be auctioned off after the parade at the Main Street stage
      St. Albans Museum has special free admission just for the Maple Festival with a Student Art Show in the Bliss Room and a special maple exhibit. Open Friday, 1 - 4 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
      Windows of downtown St. Albans shops are decorated with maple scenes, each trying to out do the other to capture the honor of being named the business with the best maple display.

INDOOR LOCATIONS
      St. Albans Free Library has Joe Howard and his Magic of America Show on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
      The doors of the First Congregational Church will be open for a Maple Festival Musical Open House on Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m. "Come and see our beautiful church, tour the clock tower, and enjoy some hymn-singing."
      The Kids' Center in BFA PAC has a line-up. It is Face Painting Central. No Strings Marionette Company with The Adventures of Sharp Ears, A Fox's Tale, Yo Joe, and free face painting, all at the Kids' Center on Saturday from 10-4.
      The Taylor Park Tent is also packed with events from Yo Joe to Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate, and Sunday Face Painting.
      The Crafts and Specialty Foods Show in BFA Auditorium is one of the Festival's three popular Face-Painting stops, and has music from Bob Young on Friday, Spider Roulette on Saturday, and Irish music by O'hAnleigh on Sunday.
      The Youth Talent Show returns to the BFA Performing Arts Center, tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. The Fiddlers Variety Show (fiddling is the Sound of Vermont) comes to the BFA PAC on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the information booth in Taylor Park and the festival office at the exhibit hall in the BFA Cafeteria.

MORE MUSIC
      "For 'Top 10' festival, we're fighting well above our weight-class in the entertainment department," Andre Maquera said. "On Friday we've got Pacific Records recording artist Chad Hollister who shared the stage with the likes of Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Tom Petty to name a few. Saturday has up and coming Nashville star Morgan Myles and Sunday, it's a post parade party with a Celtic Rock band."
      Only three of the indoor entertainment events (and the banquet) charge admission. Everything else is free.
      The Main Street Stage begins a weekend of free entertainment tomorrow at noon and runs through Sunday after the parade. Look for live Music and Dance from noon - 6 p.m.
      The Main Street Stage is free! Visit for more info about the shows.
      And YoJoe! What a Guy! will be around the entire festival with a puppet show, balloon art, circus musical show, and more.

Friday
      The Friday entertainment lineup on the free Main Street stage begins with and acoustic set by Aaron Flinn at 1 p.m. New England Music Awards' 2017 Female Performer of the Year Annie Band takes over at 3 p.m. Then the Dave Keller Blues Band puts Vermont on the map of roots rock. On the Main Street Stage. 6-8 p.m.
      Local favorite Bob Young brings the music of Classic Rock to the Friday Craft Show. 2-4 p.m.
      The Youth Talent Show will fill the BFA PAC on Friday evening at 7 p.m. This annual favorite brings together some of the most talented children in the County competing for scholarship prizes. Talent show admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students.

Saturday
      After breakfast, the Electric Youth Dance Company takes over Main Street again. This talented group of dancers in several age groups learn the fun and discipline of dance in St. Albans. 10 a.m.
      Next up, Rocking' Ron The Friendly Pirate leads a pirate music sing-along for kids and kids at heart. 11:45 on the Main Street Stage. He'll be back in the Taylor Park Tent at 3:15.
      Winners from the Youth Talent Show will perform on the Main Street stage at noon.
      Spider Roulette plays the music of blues, roots and Americana tunes at the Craft Show. 12:30 p.m.
      Shake the Band will pop on the Main Street Stage. 1:30 p.m.
      Andre Maquera gets air as the big guns, 8084, heat up Main Street. 8084 rocks. 4-6 p.m.
      The Fiddlers' Variety Show, an annual sellout at BFA PAC, has hours and hours and hours (and hours) of Canadian and American singers, dancers, pickers, comedy, and clogging all starting at 7 p.m. Fiddlers' show admission is $7 (or less than two pennies per minute of music). Get your tickets in advance at the information booth on Main Street, at the festival office, and online.

Sunday
      After the Pancake breakfast, O'hAnleigh plays the music of Irish America at the Craft show. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
      The CopOuts bring Celtic Rock to keep you on Main Street long after the snow melts. 2-4 p.m.
      Click here for more info.


CALL FOR ARTISTS

ST. ALBANS--St. Albans Rec and Paule Gingras Gallery begin a series of Intermediate Watercolor Classes at the Barlow Street Community Center on Wednesday at 10 a.m. They will hold classes every Wednesday for six weeks at 10-12:30.
      Learn to control watercolor by being loose and taking risks. The class will teach not to be afraid of letting the paint tell its own story and still stay true to the subject matter, to paint the essence more than a copy.
      The cost is $200 per student.


FILM

ST. ALBANS-You don't need Willy's golden ticket to get into The Room at 14th Star Brewing Company for the Chocolate Factory tour of pure imagination this evening at 6:30 p.m. If you don't stop by for the free movie, you could miss it.
      There will be plenty of seating, or feel free to bring a blanket and pillow and get cozy on the floor. Free popcorn and hot cocoa for all who attend.


ON STAGE LIVE

Thursday
MORRISVILLE--AMP Night continues at River Arts with stone carver Sean Williams; musicians Nomad's Land; and poet Tina Escaja this evening starting at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
      River Arts and Sundog Poetry Center bring the second annual AMP night series for three evenings to northwest Vermont. During each of these Thursday evenings in March, April, and May, an artist, a musician, and a poet will share their work through a short series of back to back presentations and performances. Informal discussion with audience and artist afterward. Light fare and drinks is available.
      Admission is by a suggested donation of $10 per person at the door.


Thursday-Sunday
SCOTLAND--The Young Tradition Touring Group has been performing in Scotland since last week. The tour continues through Sunday.
      The Touring Group consists of 24 auditioned teen players, singers, and dancers who focus on learning and performing traditional music and dance repertoire, starting in September and ending in early May at Young Tradition Weekend. The group ranges in age from 12 to 20. Though most members are from throughout Vermont, the group also includes members from Western Massachusetts and the Adirondacks in New York State. They are supported by artist leaders Pete Sutherland, Dominque Dodge, and Andrea Beaton, youth leaders Rose Jackson and Oliver Scanlon, and manager Mark Sustic.


Friday
ST. ALBANS--The Grind Cafe hosts the BFA Drama Improv Team with new material on Friday at 6 p.m.


ST. ALBANS--BBP is back at 14th Star Brewing Company on Friday at 6 p.m. Bruce Patenaude, Bill Jock, and Pat Maddix come together to play familiar favorites from over four decades.


Friday-Saturday
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs presents the acoustic rock, country, and pop duet Chris and Erica on Friday and John Geno and Kevin Connelly's The Duel on Saturday. Shows begin at 7 p.m.
      Call 802.524.1405 or click here for more info.


Sunday
WESTFORD--Carol Ann Jones and Will Patton perform at the Westford Music Series in the UCW white church on Sunday at 4 p.m.
      Admission is by free will donation. There will be refreshments. Call 802.879.4028 for more info.


MONTGOMERY--The monthly Celebration of Expressive Arts opens for this year, taking over the INN on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. The event officially includes everything but dancing, but there is always hope. Come early for dinner; service begins at 5 p.m
      This month, the featured musician is Jeanne Segretto Miller, the featured artist is Susan Jones, and the featured writers are Robert Gilmore and Eileen Oktavec. The local artists, writers and musicians gather to share original and thought provoking work, curated and hosted by Bob and Becca Cummins.


Wednesday
ST. ALBANS--Sean Jarvis hosts Open Mic Night at Durty Nelly's Irish Pub on Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m. Show off your talent; everyone is welcome to grab the mic and perform any Wednesday evening on the Tavern side.


FRANKLIN COUNTY 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.


Good News!

There are so many events around the region that we miss some of them.
Be sure to check these calendars for what's happening near you ...
All Arts Council of Franklin County
Cambridge Arts Council
Franklin County Regional
Chamber of Commerce
Island Arts
St Albans Community Arts
Swanton Arts Council
Young Tradition Vermont


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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