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.

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      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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ART ON THE WALLS

ST ALBANS--The Northwestern Medical Center Gallery hosts Janet Bonneau this month. Ms. Bonneau is exhibiting plein air landscapes and familiar images of this community in oil as well as photography.
      The show continues through the end of April.
      The art wall is in a "safe zone" and will continue right through the upcoming hospital construction project.

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IN THE ARTS COUNCILS

ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans Community Arts Ballroom Dance Lessons and Community Dance series begins Part II in the Bliss Room at the St. Albans Historical Museum on Monday. The Lessons will begin at 6 p.m. and the Community Dances from 7 - 9 p.m. each Monday evening.
      Kevin Laddison of First Step Dance will teach. There is no need to bring a partner, he notes, but ask a friend. The groups will trade partners throughout each lesson.
      This is the second and final 4-week session, April 4-25. Admission is $15 per person per lesson or $50 for the 4-week session which includes dance admission. The Community Dance costs $5 per person or $8 per couple. Call (802.578.4716) or email to register.

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SWANTON--Saturday is the deadline for Art Submissions to the Swanton Arts Council Youth Art Show. The show will showcase all artists from kindergarten to age 20
      Submit work to the Swanton Public Library, Highgate Public Library, Franklin School, Sheldon School Art Department, or Alburgh School Art Department. The show will begin with an opening reception at the Swanton Village Complex on April 29.
      The SAC is also calling all artists and crafters to gather and create every Wednesday in April and May at the Swanton Free Public Library at 6-8 p.m. Drop ins are welcome.
      The All State Music Festival will be held at MVU on May 4-7 this year. Housing is urgently needed for the participants. Call 802.933.5111 or email for more info on how you can help.
      Call 802.752.0589, email, or click here for more info.

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ON STAGE LIVE

Thursday
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap offers Blues Night with the Nobby Reed Project tonight at 7 p.m. Vermont's own blues trio includes Eric Belrose, percussion, Ray Bushey, bass, and Mr. Reed on lead guitar and vocals.
      Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info.

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Friday and Saturday
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs presents guitarist James Shelley flying solo on Friday and original Vermont rock & roll band Shellhouse on Saturday. Both shows start at 7pm.
      Shellhouse gets its name from the mountain in Addison County south of Mount Philo. The group includes Bob Teer, singer/songwriter, guitar; Jim Fox, guitar; Andrea Teer, vocals, percussion, mando; Marshall Breakstone-vocals, bass; and Bob DeFeo, drums. They play original songs by Mr. Teer and a blend of rock, roots, and blues covers by John Hiatt, Tom Petty, Van Morrison, Warren Zevon, Mark Knopfler, John Fogerty and more.
      Call 802.524.1405 or click here for more info.

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Saturday
JEFFERSONVILLE--The Varnum Memorial Library hosts a Professor Fairbanks in a Concert for the Community, a National Poetry Month event, on Saturday at 8 p.m.
      Performing artist and author Peter Fairbanks Miller will perform his newest songs and poetry plus some selections from his recording, Normally Demented, sung and played on guitar and fiddle. The Cambridge-based private music instructor has performed in Vermont schools, libraries, clubs, ski resorts, inns, restaurants, in concerts, and for couples getting married. He performed with guitarist Les Paul in Times Square, with celebrity fiddler Vassar Clements, and entertained for Julia Child. He is known for his colorful attire and indelible spirit.
      Following the event Professor Fairbanks will answer questions; light refreshments will be served. Admission is free and donations by way of a "tip jar" will be accepted and appreciated.

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HYDE PARK--Lamoille Valley Players present the Carol Ann Jones Quartet in the Save the Steeple Concert at the Hyde Park Opera House on Saturday at 7 p.m. The concert is a benefit for the Second Congregational Church's steeple renovation project.
      The Quartet is Ms. Jones on acoustic guitar and lead vocal; Will Patton, bass, mandolin, and steel guitar; Dono Schabner, guitars; and Gary Spaulding, percussion.
      Admission is $12 or $5 for children under 12. Tickets are available at the door. The Opera House is south one half mile off Route 15 between Johnson and Morrisville.

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ST. ALBANS--Justice returns for a Spring Fling at Club Karib on Saturday evening at 9:30 p.m. With Gary Greeno, lead vocals; Scott Belisle on bass and backup vocals; Rod Bushey, lead guitar; Mike Stella, drums; and Scott Guptill, rhythm guitar and backup vocals; Justice returns to Franklin County for the first time since October.
      "Spring is in the air, so let's get the party going!" Mr. Guptill said.

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Tuesday
BURLINGTON--Leunig's Bistro on Church Street presents the Will Patton Quartet in the
Live Jazz With Dinner series on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
      The quartet features David Gusakov, fiddle; Dono Schabner, guitar; Clyde Stats, bass; and Mr. Patton, mandolin.
      Live Jazz can be heard most Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Click here for more info.

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CALL FOR KIDS

     The Fairfield Community Center April Vacation Camp registration is open. Rachel Huff and other guest instructors have a week full of outside scientific exploration, gardening, sewing, cooking and other life skills, as well as art, music and drama planned. Camp will be held at the Community Center on April 18-22.

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CREATIVE

     The CreativeGround Winter/Spring Webinar schedule continues with an online workshop on Optimizing Your Profile's Chances of Coming up in Search Results, all on Tuesday at 1-1:45 p.m.
      NEFA's CreativeGround helps New England artists as well as organizations promote their activities and services, and locate collaborators for program development, cross promotion, and other projects. It helps visitors find public artists, touring artists, teachers, and more in the community. This webinar will demonstrate "how to get it right" when completing a profile with an emphasis on the tricks to have your info show in online search results. Attendees will learn how to get the right keywords into profile descriptions, to select the right fields that describe what you do, and will perform sample searches to show how the search function works.
      CreativeGround holds live, online webinars from 1-1:45 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. These 45-minute sessions explore a new topic each month to show users how to make the most of New England's creative economy directory and the many features that help promote a creative enterprise and connect with the creative community.
      Click here to register. All earlier webinars are available to stream. Click here for more info about CreativeGround.

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ON THE 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!

All Arts Council of Franklin County

Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
email us