DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 18 * * All Arts News On the Web * * July 17, 2014

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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BIG MUSIC, BIG

      The Big Music Weeks of Summer with live music and more in and around Franklin County. This week, Highgate has another double header with two great concerts on Sunday.
      Sunday is also the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing.

DICK, MEET RICK

     Drummac Septic Service presents Dick Prescott opening for Rick Davis in the free Summer Sounds concert in Highgate Municipal Park on Sunday evening at 7 p.m.
      Back in the 60s as the Beatles conquered the world, Rick Davis, Lane Gibson, and some cousins formed the Davis Brothers Garage Band. The band started by playing covers of popular songs from Elton John, Steely Dan, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and Carlos Santana, but they ended up writing and performing their own songs. The Davis Brothers signed a recording contract with Charisma Records in England; they toured in the Rocky Mountain West and then all over New England. That very same Rick Davis returns with a five-piece rock band that is "reminiscent of the Davis Brothers," he said.
      The world-famous Dick Prescott and his exceptional five-piece country band which looks extraordinarily familiar as it plays "rockified country" will open for Mr. Davis. Or vice versa. Mr. Prescott is neither Forrest Gump nor an actual time traveler but he does wield a mean Photoshop lasso.
      Just before the concert, stop by for the Summer Sounds Social in the Park starting at 6 p.m. The social hour is a chance to visit with friends and eat some delicious desserts.
      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, Mylan Technologies, 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 Highgate Municipal Park, and always free. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair for the outdoor family music and festivities. The rain site is the Highgate United Methodist Church.
      Click here for more info.


ART ON THE WALLS

ALEXANDRIA, VA--Nationally renowned artist Corliss Blakely was accepted as a visiting artist at the Torpedo Factory Art Center to show her new series The Forgotten Seeds. She was in Studio 30 for the month of June and has moved to Studio 27 for the rest of July.
      "I've been working on three new paintings since I've arrived," she said.
      Ms. Blakely has built a body of work in still life and Vermont landscapes in a classically realist style. She has now gained fame for her iPad paintings and for "the Forgotten Seeds, a Look Within." She is internationally recognized artist for her work in several mediums, including watercolor, oil, and egg tempera with paintings in collections worldwide. She studied at the Vesper George Art School and The Museum School Of Fine Art. The seventh generation Vermonter lives in St. Albans.
      The TFAC is one of the largest and most celebrated visual arts centers in the United States. Located on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, "this is an amazing art center with more than 150 artists," she said. Her studio hours there are 10 - 6 and she closes on Tuesday and Wednesday.
      Call 802.782.9550, corlissblakely@mac.com or click here for more info.


ON STAGE LIVE

ST. ALBANS BAY--Musician/singer/songwriter Mark Abair & Friends return to the Bayside Pavilion tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Abair, acoustic guitar; Neil Brown, stand up bass; and Brian Fredette, percussion, will perform covers and original music.


ST. ALBANS--Twiggs presents Chameleon on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
      Chameleon builds music around local musicians Deana Paquette on vocals and Mike Trombly on guitar. They have played together for over 30 years. Her unique singing style and his polished leads and driving rhythms hold this duet on the stage with a repertoire that spans time and the alphabet, from Aretha to Zeppelin, all done with their own musical twist.
      Call 802.524.1405 or click here for more info or booking requests.


GRAND ISLE--Grand Isle State Park presents Fiddleheads on Saturday at 7 p.m.
      Fiddleheads enjoy listening to, playing, and participating in making traditional music. Most members play instruments with fiddlers as the majority of players, but cello, bass, guitar, banjo, mandolin, whistle, keyboard, percussion, and others are well represented. Some instrumentalists also sing and/or dance, which have been incorporated into Fiddleheads performances. The group invites all experience levels. Mark Sustic leads the group.
      Tommy and Jordan Belanger from Quebec may join in the concert.
      The 4,150 acre Grand Isle State Park is the most-visited campground in the state park system. Part of the land is being kept open by agricultural lease, and some of what was pasture thirty years ago has reverted to woodland.
      All events are free with paid park entry.


HIGHGATE FALLS--The St. Johns Summer Concert Series presents David Neiweem in an organ recital on the historic 1837 Henry Erben pipe organ on Sunday at 4 p.m.
      Mr. Neiweem has taught at the University of Vermont since 1982 where he is director of the choirs and teaches vocal studies and conducting/Music Education. He is the University Organist and Carillonneur. He is also music director of the Burlington Choral Society, the Pitten International Music Festival, and the First Congregational Church of Burlington.
      The 19th century brick St. John's Church was built by Joel Whitney of Enosburg and includes a three-stop organ built by Henry Erben. The building is conventional classic with gothic pointed windows. The historical church is now used for weddings, Evensong services, and concerts in the summer.
      Admission is by free will donation.
      Call 802.868.7185, or click here for more info.


GRAND ISLE--The Grand Isle Lake House presents the Vermont Jazz Ensemble in concert on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.


BAKERSFIELD--The Bakersfield Conservation Commission Concert in the Park series presents the Maple Creek Band this evening at 7 p.m.
      Featuring Dennis Lanpher, drums, percussion, and vocals; Alaria Lanpher, acoustic guitar, banjo, and vocals; Aaron Doane, lead guitar, saxophone, and vocals; Bruce Parker, rhythmn guitar and vocals, the Maple Creek Band has performed in Vermont for many years. They blend vocal harmony with acoustic and electric instruments in a variety of country and rock hits plus original written by Mr. Parker, Mr. Doane, and Ms. Lanpher.
      Next week, the Commission will do a survey walk of the Gravel Pit and the Fundraising Committee will meet to researching stabilizing the Barn in the Town Park
      Click here for more info.


ST. ALBANS BAY--Citizens Concert Band plays St. Albans Bay Park on Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m.
      A concert band or Town band has several of the same instrumental sections as an orchestra and plays much of the same repertoire, but the concert band does it without strings. The Citizens Concert Band under the direction of Kevin Loomis seats about 45 musicians in the woodwind (flutes, clarinets and bass clarinets, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones), brass (trumpets, horns, trombones, baritones, and tubas) and percussion sections. This New England town band encourages all good local musicians so their chairs can hold famed working professionals sitting next to high school soloists.
      Call 802.868.7185 or click here for more info.


STOWE--The Trapp Family Lodge hosts piano/bass duos with John Cassel and Will Patton on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
      "We resume our piano/bass discussions after a bit of jet lag re-entry," Mr. Patton said.


FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF

FAIRFAX--The Fairfax Community Library has several events this week.
      Fairfax resident Greg Carpenter reads from and discusses his new book, What Makes Vermont Special, this evening at 6:30 p.m.
      Friday is Movie and Pizza Night at 6:30 p.m. Viewers and readers will ponder "movie science" to compare how science fiction stacks up against real thing. Preregistration is requested. BYO folding chair.
      Saturday opens Squishy Circuits at 10 a.m. for kids ages 3 and up. They will make two batches of gooey, squishy clay, one conductive and the other insulating. Adults must accompany any kids under age 8.


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.


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      This article was originally published in the St Albans Messenger and other traditional print media. It is Copyright © 2014 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).
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