| VOLUME 12 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | August 7, 2008 |
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
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 various restaurants around Franklin County throughout the week, 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.
Find links to these events and more in our Spotlight!
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.
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The Big Four Music Weeks of the summer enters its third week with a Summer Sounds concert, plus a Christian Music on the Parks concert, a Citizens Band concert, and the Lake Champlain Bluegrass Festival.
The Summer Sounds concert series continues in Highgate Municipal Park as Drummac Septic Service presents Meg Willey and The Low Bones on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. THE STRAIGHT POOP
Ms. Willey is a hometown girl who moved to the big city and got a pretty good gig. She has a sweet soprano voice, writes music influenced by everyone from Spinal Tap to Monty Python, and a recurring gig at Nectar's, on Wednesday evenings. She was a Solarfest songwriter showcase finalist this year.
The Low Bones includes Ms. Willey, vocals and piano; Jake Boudreau, guitar; Emily Cseh, vocals and kazoo; Kathy Willey - vocals and percussion; and Marty Cseh, Drums.
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, Pete Paquette Real Estate & Development, Ray's Extrusion Dies & Tubing, Scotty's Taxi, and Stewart Title Guaranty Company.
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 Highgate Municipal Park, and always free. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair as you settle in to enjoy outdoor family music and festivities. The rain site is the Highgate United Methodist Church. There will be no Summer Sounds concerts in St. Albans City in 2008.
HIGHGATE--Buy local! The Highgate Farm Market has fresh fruits and vegetables, some craft items, and even bakery sweets, all in the Municipal Park on Fridays, 3-6 p.m. and acts as the host on Sundays at Summer Sounds, 6-8 p.m.
ENOSBURG FALLS--The Artist In Residence Gallery features different artists each month. This month, the spotlight is on Beth McAdams, paintings; Melissa Haberman, paintings and hand pulled prints; Heidi Lague, paintings and hats; and David Gate, hand blown glass vessels. There is an Artist Reception with refreshments this evening, 5-8 p.m., at the Gallery. The exhibit continues through the month of August. ART ON THE WALLS
The Artist in Residence art cooperative features paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, sculpture, lamps, pottery, folk art boxes, scarves, hats and more by 45 Franklin County and surrounding area artists. It is owned and operated by the artists and sponsors. The Village Frame Shoppe is located within the coop as a resident framer. The Blue Crayon, a small private studio, is available there for individual or small group lessons. The gallery, located at 349 Main Street, is open Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ALBURGH--The Seventh annual Lake Champlain Bluegrass Festival kicks off with the Gibson Brothers with three #1 Albums, Banjo Dan & The Midnite Plowboys, and our own Big Spike Bluegrass, plus a major fiddler's contest, a craft fair, music workshops, a bonfire, barbeque, and jamming, all on a family farm in Alburg. The music starts tomorrow and continues through Sunday afternoon. (In our tribute to perfect planning and excellent weather, there will be just enough time at the end of this Festival to hustle back to Highgate for Summer Sounds.) ON STAGE LIVE
Tomorrow afternoon the stage opens at 3 p.m. The first Grass Routes performance begins at 4 p.m. followed by Big Spike at 5. There will be a bonfire and open pickin' from 12 midnight until Sunrise both Friday and Saturday nights.
The complete lineup includes Adam Dewey and Crazy Creek, the Atkinson Family, Banjo Dan and the Midnite Plowboys, Big Spike Bluegrass, the Del McCoury Band, the Dyer Switch Band, the Gibson Brothers, Grass Routes, IIIrd Tyme Out, and Yonder Hill.
The annual $3000 Fiddle & Banjo Contest starts off Saturday. It runs from 9 a.m-12 noon. The contest has six divisions. The Fiddle Champion Division and the Fiddle Open Division are open to any age. Contestants must play a waltz, tune of choice, and a hoedown. The Fiddle Senior Division is for those 60 years and older who like fiddling around. The Fiddle Junior Division is for 14 and under. The Fiddle Trick & Fancy and the Banjo Divisions are also open to any age. Fiddlers will play just one tune in old time fiddle style. Banjo players will play two authentic, non-jazz banjo songs.
The craft show covers all three days with juried, handmade crafts.
The 2008 Lake Champlain Bluegrass Festival begins tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. about two miles north of Alburg Village on Route 2. Admission is $60 for the weekend including camping. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available through the Flynn Regional Box Office. Call 802.482.8110 or click here for more info and the entire schedule.
RICHFORD--The Richford Farmers Market presents Singer/actor Tim Stetson and His Invisible Friends in concert in the Davis Park bandstand on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Mr. Stetson, the AAC Treasurer, is well known for his stage productions, performances as a magician, clown, and juggler, and as a drummer in country rock bands.
ENOSBURG FALLS--The New Life Christian Church of Enosburg and the First Baptist Church of Richford presents Falling Forward, called the best in contemporary Christian rock, in the summer Christian Music on the Parks Concert Series this Saturday at the Lincoln Park bandstand at 7 p.m.
The Derby, Vermont, band includes five teens: Jake Gosselin, lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and keyboard; Alyssa Gosselin, back-up vocals, acoustic guitar, and keyboard; Danielle Lawson, back-up vocals; Wesley O’Dell, bass guitar; Roger Gosselin, drums. Falling Forward has performed across Vermont at the Richford Town Theater, IROC, River of Life, the Concert for the Light Radio in Barre, and a recent fundraiser at the Haskell Opera House.
All concerts are on Saturday nights at 7 p.m., in Town parks around the county. Admission is free. A free will offering will be taken at each concert to support the ministries of each artist or group. The rain site is the Masonic Hall, Lower Level.
Call organizers Jaye O’Hara (802.933.4669) or Pastor Tim Stetson (802.933.2513) for more info about the concert series.
ST. ALBANS BAY--The Citizens Concert Band performs its final concert of their Town Park series on the bathhouse stage at St. Albans Bay Park on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Guest trombonist Chris Comstock will solo on Arthur Prior's, Annie Laurie.
The Citizens Concert Band, under the direction of Kevin Loomis, is a community band that has played a mixed schedule of free summer concerts in Swanton Village Park, Taylor Park, and St. Albans Bay. Click here for more info.
FAIRFAX and WESTFORD--The Fairfax Community Theater Company will hold auditions for the fall production of the Brothers Grimm Spectaculation beginning Wednesday, August 13. The rollicking ride has two narrators and a bunch of actors who combine all 209 tales ranging from classics like Snow White, to The Devil's Grandmother, and the Girl Without Hands.
Auditions will be held next week, August 13, 14, and 15, from 7-9 p.m. in the Westford Brick Meeting House. Roles are available for all actors ages 15 and up.
This is FCTC's 45th Show. Call 802.879.2867 or click here for more info.
The Art of Books. The Swanton Free Public Library serves "a community of lifelong learners" with its collection of books and periodicals in an online database. The summer book sale is Saturday at the library. The also site has ongoing programs, special events, online services, about the library, links, and the monthly newsletter. CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK
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. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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This article was originally published
in the St Albans Messenger and other traditional print media.
It is
Copyright © 2008 by Richard B. Harper. All rights reserved.
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