DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 16 * * All Arts News On the Web * * December 6, 2012

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 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.
     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.

      Find links to these events and more in our Spotlight!

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TRIMMING OUT THE WEEKEND

      The Festival of Trees celebration in City Hall will be supercharged with more than Carol Ann Jones and the Superchargers taking over the stage on Saturday; the entire week-long, family event has music and entertainment for everyone.
      The fourth annual St. Albans Festival offers a Gala, auction, parade, tea party, raffles, Santa's Village, craft show and more, all continuing through Sunday.
      The Running of the Bells 1-mile loop through downtown St. Albans is the place to strut your holiday and seasonal costumes (or Santa Shorts) this evening, starting at 6 p.m. Santa will visit. The proceeds benefit Operation Happiness.
      The Festival Gala and Tree Auction takes place in City Hall tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. The cocktail party includes a cash bar, hors d'oeuvres, dancing, and prizes for best trees. Red Hot Juba will play "blisterin' hot countrified jazz and Green Mountain swing" with D. Davis, guitar; frontman Eric Krull, guitar and vocals; Bryan Aubin, traps, brass, vocals, guitar, and banjo; and Steve Goldman, bass and vocals through the evening.
      Admission to the gala is $25 per person.
      The Supercharged Open House at City Hall is the centerpiece of the event. City Hall will open for viewing of trees, silent auction, voting for People's Choice Award, and entertainment at 10 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Live music starts at 11 a.m. with the Northern Bronze Hand Bell Ensemble; the Calloway Taxi a capella group; an open mic with Troy Millette, Alanna Freeman, Mike McCarthy and Lisa Judge Ackel and Robin Ackel; the Urban Dance Complex North; and the Contois Music student band, Listen Up!
      Headliners Carol Ann Jones and the Superchargers wind up the afternoon
      "We have an opening set by the great teen band Listen Up," Ms. Jones said.
      The Open House at City Hall music continues Sunday with Michelle and Fabe Choiniere at 11 a.m. followed by the Electric Youth Dance Company.
      The Open House is free.
      New this year is the Saturday Family Variety Show, an evening showcase of local theater groups in City Hall Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. Admission to the Variety Show is $7 per person, $15 per family and $5 for seniors or children under 12.
      Tickets will be available at The Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce, As The Crow Flies and The Franklin-Grand Isle United Way (802.527.7418) and online. Proceeds from the auction and other festival events will benefit the Franklin-Grand Isle United Way and the St. Albans Recreation Department.
      Click here for more info.


ON STAGE LIVE

ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap at the Lincoln Inn offers Blues Night with the Nobby Reed Project tonight at 7 p.m. and the Phil Abair Band tomorrow at 9. On Tap offers music every Wednesday through Saturday evening with an open mic each Monday, Trivia Tuesdays, and Brunch with Zack Dupont most Sundays.
      Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info.


ESSEX JUNCTION--Park Place Tavern presents Justice with Scott Belisle on bass and backup vocals; Todd Dunn, lead and rhythm guitar; Gary Greeno, lead vocals; Mike Stella, drums; and Scott Guptill, rhythm guitar and backup vocals all on Friday at 9:30 p.m.


MORRISVILLE--River Arts presents Lewis Franco and the Missing Cats (with The Brown Eyed Girls!) on Friday at 7 p.m. The acoustic jazz combo has Will Patton, mandolin; Dono Schabner, guitar; and Clyde Stats, upright bass.
      Admission is by $10 suggested donation. Tickets will be available at the door. Click here for more info about the concert and here for more info about the band.


ENOSBURG--The Opera House at Enosburg Falls presents a Community Christmas Concert at the Opera House on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Community Chorus and the Enosburg Town Band family event celebrates traditional music in Franklin County's historic (and heated) theater. The concert will feature traditional hymns and seasonal songs and a silent auction for a decorated, tabletop tree.
      Admission is free but donations to support the Opera House will be gratefully accepted. Call 802.933.6171 for more info.


ST. ALBANS--Chow Bella presents The Anatomy of Frank on Saturday evening at 8:30 p.m. The band includes Jimmy on guitar, saxophone, and keyboards; drummer Chris; enigma Erik; a bassist no longer named George; songwriter Kyle; and special guest Myrra Ros from Iceland.
      Chow Live has also changed Open Mic Night programming this month. The next event will be held this coming Wednesday, December 12. Sign-ups start at 6:30 p.m. with a 7 p.m. start time for music.
      "Let's have a great night on the new night," host John Grimmer said. "Practice up on your Christmas songs. I think we have to sing some together as a group that night!"
      The Chow Open Mic is a comfortable place where area artists can share their love for music with fellow musicians. People have shared cover songs, originals, and poetry during the open mic.
      "If you don't play an instrument, no worries," Mr. Grimmer said. "Just bring in your MP3 player with your accompaniment along with you and we'll play it so that you can sing your heart out." If you are unsure about how make the connection, the Chow crew will help.
      Call 802.524.1405, email, or click here for more info.


SUTTON, QC--Salle Alec et Gerard Pelletier presents Michele Choiniere with "magical maestro musicians" Will Patton and Dono Schabner on Monday at 8 p.m.
      Click here for more info.


BURLINGTON--Leunigs Bistro presents Will Patton with Lila and the Cartwheels playing folk and Americana on Tuesday 7 - 9:30 p.m.

 


FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF

FAIRFIELD--The Bent Northrop Memorial Library Holiday Stocking Project is collecting gifts of "toys, clothing, and other necessities" for area kids. The library has children's wish lists on the fireplace mantel. Wrapped gifts should be returned to this library no later than Friday, December 14.


ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans Free Library hosts a Holiday Open House for the whole family this evening at 5 p.m. They have books, crafts and snacks plus sleigh rides leaving from the Library to circumnavigate Taylor Park. Santa will also visit in the youth room. Free.
      The holiday movie, Arthur Christmas, on Saturday at 1 p.m. is a newly released film that tells the real truth behind what goes on in the North Pole! All films are shown on the 4' by 6' screen in the upstairs conference room "cinema." Admission is free, along with popcorn and a beverage.
      The library has two schedule changes this week: the library will be closed all day today until 4 p.m. to prepare for the Open House. The home schoolers' book group will meet next Thursday, December 13.


ART ON THE WALLS

BURLINGTON--41 venues staying open late for December’s First Friday Art Walk tomorrow evening beginning at 5 p.m. Eighteen have events, but all of the venues have art worth checking out.
      The First Friday Art Walk is a free, community event that takes place the first Friday of each month throughout the city. They have over 40 venues that stay open from 5 - 8 p.m. for the Art Walk. Some have openings, talks, music, or other special activities. Click here for more info.


CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK

     Jim and Jodi Ballinger Bray of Highgate have a new Facebook page for Bray Artworks with several galleries including scenic (faux finish) art, prop fabrication for stage/theatrical or film productions, custom maquettes, sculpture, set design, special effects make up, mask restoration/creation and model building.
      I was surprised to find about 1,470,000 results, ranging from David Bray Artworks to Malcolm to Luca to David to Alan Bray and more, when I searched for "Bray Artworks" online which points out the need for other methods in our online artistic marketing.


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 © 2012 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.