| VOLUME 25 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | September 2, 2021 |
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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The 30th season of Summer Sounds brought exceptional performances "from away" with groups rarely heard here in Franklin County but the regular season came to an end last weekend. The series played at its new home, on the stage on the lawn at the Highgate Arena. SUCCESSFUL SUMMER SOUNDS
It was an unusual season. Mark Shelton returned as Elvis and more to open the series and wow the crowd. We let the Davis Boys out of the garage! Brothers Rick and Jeff Davis had formed the famed Davis Brothers Garage Band with a cousin and a brother from a different mother but Summer Sounds got the real other brother making them the Boys. Singer-songwriter John Bartus was to fly here straight from the Florida Keys but Allegiant canceled his flight and we couldn't get another. Andy Hoadley stepped in at the last minute and sang us a show. Longtime favorite Jenni Johnson and the Jazz Junketeers were due the next weekend but rain chased us indoors and the band wouldn't play inside. The always tasteless Oleo Romeos finally gave in to my offers of worldwide distribution (and tasty cookies and milk) and delighted us the following weekend. Anderson-Gram came out of the cornfield to play us an easy-going blend of folk, country, bluegrass, and originals.
Summer Sounds celebrated our 30th year of concerts at home in Highgate with a Blowout Bash. The weather chased us inside again but Highgate Elementary School principal Yeshua Pastina made it easy for use to come inside right "next door." We had continuous music from Jon Gailmor, the Carol Ann Jones Trio, Mark Shelton, and more. And I ceremonially "passed my hat" and the baton to Highgate Rec Director Lee Barrett to carry on the series for the next 30 years. And there was cake.
Summer Sounds has been a successful and influential series. With 250 free concerts in many of the Towns in Franklin County, music lovers have enjoyed a capella, barbershop, bluegrass, classical, country, dance, folk, Gospel, jazz, musical, opera, pop, reggae, rock, Swing, zydeco, and more. Even better, there is now a lot of music around Franklin County. A lot. On a personal note, it has been tremendously fun to produce these concerts and to know the hundreds and hundreds of talented stars. I am thankful for all of them and for our concert-goers for letting me do this and particularly grateful to Anne Harper for all her hard work keeping us straight.
The 2021 Summer Sounds concerts are a long-running, successful public-private partnership, sponsored by the Town of Highgate and the All Arts Council, and underwritten by Chevalier Drilling Co. Inc, Desorcie's Market, Drummac Septic Service, Hampton Inn of St. Albans, O. C. McCuin and Sons, and Ray's Extrusion Dies and Tubing.
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 a Town Park, and always free "but we do pay the bands!" Bookmark Summer.AllArtsCouncil.org for more about Summer Sounds.
Vermont reported 484 new COVID-19 cases last week. There are 29 active outbreaks in the state, up from 19 in the reporting period ending August 13. The seven-day average test positivity rate was about 2.7% on Friday. 86% of eligible Vermonters over 12 have received at least one shot giving us the highest vaccination rate in the nation; Franklin County lags as 76% of people here in the county have received one or more shots. Unvaccinated Vermonters are three to four times more likely than vaccinated Vermonters to contract COVID-19 according to the Vermont Department of Health. RESTART NEWS
Here's my own, still current, advice. Get the shot(s) and take precautions. The vaccines are extraordinarily effective but nothing is 100% foolproof. Wash your hands. Wear a mask where you can't control the airflow around you until we reach the same herd immunity we have for smallpox and once had but lost for measles. Bonus: it will also help protect you from pollen, summer colds, and the winter flu.
JEFFERSONVILLE--Two shows, Iconic Vermont and Made in Vermont, at the Bryan Memorial Gallery close on Monday. ART ON THE WALLS
The shows have displayed Vermont and its beauty through the eyes of our artists, including Nature and Man... Quechee Gorge by David Pound as well as Overshadowed by William Gotha. The Gallery is open daily 11 - 5 p.m. or click here for more info.
MONTGOMERY--ART is ALIVE@the MCA continues the Montgomery Art Center's first show and sale in over a year with a viewing of the DrewVid 19 works of Montgomery VT artist Drew Lalonde. MCA hours this week are Saturday and Sunday at 12 - 3 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence Gallery features different artists each month. This month, the spotlight is on eclectic painter El Towle, the architectural watercolors of Trish Vaillancourt, and fiber artist Pam Krout-Voss.
The art and fine craft 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 on South Main Street is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.
PORTSMOUTH, NH--The New Hampshire Film Festival has been postponed to 2022, caused by the ongoing COVID-19 situation. As arts venues and community events begin to implement new protocols across the country, the festival found it cannot maintain those safety measures given the size of the multi-venue event. FILM
The four-day annual fall festival brings together professional filmmakers, screenwriters, and film industry experts with over 10,000 film lovers for screenings, panel discussions, and other events. Click here for more info.
Here's my own, still current, advice. Get the shot(s) and take precautions. The vaccines are extraordinarily effective but nothing is 100% foolproof. Wash your hands. Wear a mask where you can't control the airflow around you until we reach the same herd immunity we have for smallpox and once had but lost for measles. Bonus: it will also help protect you from pollen, summer colds, and the winter flu. ON STAGE LIVE
Thursday, September 2
SOUTH HERO--The Snow Farm Summer Concert Series has the Phil Abair Band featuring our own Keeghan Nolan at the Snow Farm Vineyard & Winery this evening at 6 p.m.
The live summer series offers a variety of music, from classical to jazz to swing to bluegrass to classic rock. Concerts are held every Thursday evening into September, weather permitting. Picnicking begins at 5 p.m. Wine and a local craft beer are available for purchase. Bring your own chairs and blankets. Click here for more info.
Thursday-Sunday, September 2-5
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle on the Bay continues a summer of live music nights live music nights with Tim Comings on the Bay this evening, Cooie singing at the Bistro and Dave Miller on the Bay on Friday, Cooper and Corn live on Saturday on the Bay, and Blue Blazes on Sunday in the Bistro. Music begins at 6 p.m. each evening except Sunday when they start the fire at 5:30. Call 802.372.4814 for reservations or find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday, September 3
NORTH HERO--The Duo play live in the Steamship Bar and Grill for an evening of rock, country, and jazz at North Hero House on Friday at 5:30 p.m. NHH has live music on Wednesday and Friday or Saturday evenings. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday-Saturday, September 3-4
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs hosts Chris & Erica on Friday and Dave Miller live on Saturday night. Music starts about 6:30 p.m. Call 802.524.1405, find them on Facebook, or click here for more info.
Saturday, September 4
COLCHESTER--The Spanked Puppy Summer Music Series presents the Nobby Reed Trio on Saturday at 6 p.m.
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents Jerborn for a night of jerborning in The Room on Saturday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
NORTH HERO--Island Arts presents Summer Sounds favorites the Dixie Six in the Island Arts Center at the Homer Knight Barn on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Gates at 5:30 for Silent Auction bids, book sale by donation, and the bring-it-yourself picnic.
The Vermont musicians bring the repertoire of Louis Armstrong's All Stars of the 50s and 60s. They have a traditional Dixie feel with an updated rhythm section to drive the New Orleans classics and mid-century standards.
Admission is $10. Click here for tickets and more info.
Saturday-Sunday September 4-5
ST. ALBANS--Music in the Biergarten at Mill River Brewing presents Cozy O'Donnell on Saturday at 5 p.m. and Cooie DeFrancesco on Sunday at 2 p.m. Call to make a reservation (802.582.4182) or find them on Facebook for more info.
Wednesday, September 8
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs presents Summer Sounds favorite Jamie Lee Thurston in a special free acoustic show on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Nashville singer-songwriter who is "more comfortable on stage than off" released his ninth album, The Window, in 2018. Call 802.524.1405 or find them on Facebook for more info.
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. ON THE 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 ... |
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Music!Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County |
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Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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