DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 10 * * All Arts News On the Web * * June 15, 2006

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.


      Stop in for live music and more at the Fairfax Music Sessions at the Foothills Bakery in Fairfax most Saturday afternoons at 1 p.m., at ChowBella or at the Overtime Saloon in St Albans 8-10 p.m. most Wednesday evenings, at the Bayside in St Albans Town most Sunday afternoons, and the Cambridge CoffeeHouses at 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of every month.
     These gatherings bring new opportunities, gossip, "show-and-tell" and occasional workshops. The booked performances and acoustic Open Mike Nights feature music, readings, and more from the best new artists in Vermont.


PALETTE-PALOOZA

      Franklin County's fifth World's Record will travel Vermont this summer. The Palette-Palooza is tomorrow in Montpelier. This celebration honors the individuals and communities taking part in the statewide project. All 37,000 participants are invited to this gathering of people and palettes on the State House Lawn in Montpelier from 3-6 p.m.
      The World's Largest Palette, created by the All Arts Council, St. Albans for the Future, and professional and community artists from Franklin County, will be on display, front and center on Main Street in Montpelier. In addition to the display of thousands unique palettes, there will be live music and palette making activities.
      The World's Largest Palette is sponsored by the Peoples Trust Company, R. L. Fournier, Sticks and Stuff, and Union Bank. It is a project of the All Arts Council and St Albans for the Future with artwork designed and executed by Natalie LaRocque-Bouchard and Alisha LaRocque.


SUMMER SOUNDS

     The longest running, free, outdoor concert series begins June 25 in Highgate. The schedule and more information will appear in this column next week.
      The community based All Arts Council brings the performing arts to northwestern Vermont. This series presents renowned national and regional artists, always on a Sunday night, always at 7 p.m., always in a Town park and always free. The concerts are sponsored by the Town of Highgate, the City and Town of St. Albans, and the All Arts Council, and underwritten by area businesses. The complete concert schedule is online here


HOLDING UP HIS END

     Engineer/producer and "really good sound guy" Lyle Glidden wanders around reviewing new CDs and new venues. Here is his report on the new Nobby Reed Project album, Hold The Truth.
      The Nobby Reed Project, Vermont's premiere blues trio, released its sixth studio CD recently. It features a generous 16 songs and is the first to be totally recorded at Nobby's new Beneath The Living Room Studio.
      The CD opens with the rousing and extremely positive title track, Hold The Truth. It affirms the fact that each of us holding on to our faith holds on to the truth.
      Track 2, It's Myself is a personal favorite. It is a strong message to face the fact that we are our own worst enemy. Bravo Nobby for having the courage to state this fact. Sliding is a tour de force of Nobby's bottle neck guitar prowess. The slow blues Mr. Sun is a powerhouse lament, strong on guitar solos and plaintiff vocals.
      Let Go is very biographical. It expresses Nobby's feelings about what his music means to him and what he hopes it does for his listeners. Winterland, a second instrumental, is awash with icy processed drums and liquid guitar tones. This CD once again incorporates keyboards with Nobby himself playing synthesizers.
      Black Raven takes the project down a new and very adventurous path. Featuring heavily processed vocals, guitar textures and synth one sees Nobby stretch forward yet become very retro to the psychedelic blues of 1967-68. Another up tempo number, Blues Is Raining, once again features Nobby playing some mean slide guitar. Hot Licks abound on this fun tune.
      Save My Soul shows off just how tight the current line-up of the project is.
      This disc concludes with the haunting instrumental Last Winter. It's another of my favorites.
      All in all, "Hold The Truth" is a very interesting journey through sonic complexities and masterful playing on the part of every Project member. Augmented by Raymond Bushey on bass and long standing member Eric Belrose on drums, Nobby Reed Project is a force to be reckoned with ... witnessed at the projects recent opening for April Wine where Miles Goodwin acknowledged the trios opening set.
      Nobby, Ray and Eric can be proud of their efforts. It is no wonder that NRP has fans world wide thanks to distribution of their CDs over the Internet. They are truly Vermont's Premier Blues Band.
      Look for the Project at many summer festivals and events throughout the Northeast. You won't be sorry to make the trip and experience Hold The Truth live in concert.
--Lyle Glidden


JUNE-JULY ART DEADLINES

DIRTY FINGERNAILS SAY A LOT (June 16)--The Foundry Art Center celebrates the skill and patience of artists who work up a sweat and get their hands dirty. Printmakers may submit up to three representational, abstract, or non-objective images. Cash awards. Non-refundable entry fee. It may not be the greatest contest but it does have the best name. Email or click here for more info.


2006 NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION (June 20)--The juried Camera Club of New York competition is open to US residents 18 years or older. Each entry may have either 6 digital entries on CD or 6 slides. Entry fee. Click here for an entry form and the complete rules.


ORTHOPEDIC-RELATED ART COMPETITION (July 1)--Anyone who has or has had an orthopaedic condition including arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoporosis, amputation, broken bones, joint replacement and much more is eligible to submit work to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Submitted artwork may be featured in the AAOS' 75th Anniversary exhibits. Call 800.346.AAOS or email or click here for more info.


INTERNATIONAL JURIED FINE ARTS & CRAFTS EXHIBITION (July 10)--Seeks entries in all media from artists with physical, cognitive due to brain injury, visual and hearing disabilities. Over $5,000 in prizes. No entry fee. Email for a prospectus and submission form.


DJAM

     Smith College hosts a Django in June Festival, tomorrow through Sunday, in Northampton, Ma. Will Patton of will lead the mandolin workshops to play Gypsy Jazz. This is a great, intimate festival of Gypsy jazz music with many renowned teachers, performances every night and non-stop Djamming.
      Special guests include Tim Kliphius and Lollo Meier. Click here for more info


CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK

     ASingularCreation.com wants artists to join a free email list with new gallery art, places to show or sell art, art contests and events, art deals and discounts, and more. They also have a series of new community art forums. The AAC does not recommend joining this particular site but it is an interesting look at another marketing tool.


FRANKLIN COUNTY 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.


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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      This article was originally published in the St Albans Messenger and other traditional print media. It is Copyright © 2006 by Richard B. Harper. All rights reserved. Archival material is provided as-is. Links are not necessarily maintained (if a link in this article fails, try Google.com or your favorite search engine).
      Thanks to recent misuse of copyright material on the Internet by individuals and archival firms alike, we emphasize that your rights to this article are limited to viewing it and printing it for personal use only. You must receive explicit permission from the All Arts Council and the author before reprinting or redistributing this article in any medium.