DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 22 * * All Arts News On the Web * * August 30, 2018

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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SUCCESSFUL SUMMER SOUNDS

      The 28th season of Summer Sounds brought exceptional performances "from away" with groups rarely heard here in Franklin County but the regular season came to an end last weekend. The series was outside in the park through some of the hottest Sundays of the summer.
      Mark Shelton returned as Elvis and more to open the series and wow the crowd. Northern Flyer showed us how bluegrass is done. Anderson Gram played their easy-going blend of folk, country, bluegrass, and better jokes. Dr. Jazz and the Dixie Six cooked up a whole lot of Dixieland jazz. Neither chainsaws nor harmonicas were harmed by the Hokum Brothers. Our Summer Sounds Surprise was a going away party for Clare Byrne Song and Dance. Jimmy T and the Cobras did shelter under the BBQ roof and we did have to pause the concert for a brief downpour but we finished the season with a solid hour-and-a-half of outlaw music from Vermont's "grandfather of rawk."
      Just before and during each concert, we enjoyed a Summer Sounds Social in the Park. The social hour is a chance to visit with friends and eat hearty.
      The Summer Sounds concerts are a long-running, successful public-private partnership, sponsored by the Town of Highgate and the All Arts Council, and underwritten by Chevalier Drilling Co. Inc, Desorcie's Market, Drummac Septic Service, La Quinta Inn and Suites of St Albans, 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 a Town Park, and always free "but we do pay the bands!" The rain site is the Highgate United Methodist Church. Bookmark Summer.AllArtsCouncil.org for more about Summer Sounds.


ART FOR THE WALLS

ST. ALBANS--Twiggs hosts Paint Nite: Dragonflies at Dusk on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
      Artist Diane Kingston introduces "art to many that have never painted, and witnessing the thrill and confidence that comes from the creative process." Paint Nite will provide all the materials to create your own painting and provides "the refreshments you need!" Click here for tickets. Use code PNfbVT for 40% off.


ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans merchants group has offered about 15 milk cans to local artists to paint with an agricultural theme to honor the St. Albans Co-Op 100th anniversary. The cans will be displayed downtown, then sold with the Mayor's Photo contest winners.


ART ON THE WALLS

SHELBURNE--Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery hosts Fairfield artist Gail Salzman in solo exhibit of New Paintings: Unknown Time & Place with an opening reception on Friday at 6 - 8 p.m. Ms. Salzman will give a brief talk at 7.
      "My studio has been humming," she said. "On view is a series of small paintings that I began at a Virginia Center for Creative Arts residency; the work explores the dynamic principle of change."
      The show continues through September. Gallery hours are 9:30 - 5:30 Tuesday through Friday and 10 - 5 on Saturday. Call 802.985.3848 or click here for more info.


ST ALBANS--The Northwestern Medical Center Gallery hosts watercolor artist Barbara Pafume of Four Seasons Studios in a solo show opening tomorrow. A Milton Artists' Guild artist and signature member of the Vermont Watercolor Society, Ms. Pafume is exhibiting her vision of this beautiful, peaceful, powerful and mysterious world. She has painted, conducted workshops, and taught classes in her own studio and for art organizations in Vermont, Illinois, Connecticut, Georgia and Maine for over 40 years.
      The show continues through the end of September. Click here for more info.


IN THE SAC

SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council will hold its monthly board meeting and update at Marble Mill on Monday at 6 p.m. The rain location is the Swanton Village Complex. Click here for the agenda. All are welcome.


ON STAGE LIVE

     Carol Ann Jones is extra busy this week with three very special shows.


Thursday
FAIRFIELD--The Sugartree Farm welcomes Carol Ann Jones and Will Patton for Music on the Lawn this evening at 6 p.m.
      Sugartree Vermont at the Soule House is a vacation rental, and wedding and event venue an an historic estate at 123 North Road in Fairfield. KC's Red Hots will sell American food classics from their food truck.


Thursday-Monday
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs presents performing songwriter and Summer Sounds favorite Mark LeGrand on Thursday, non-traditional string band Leadfoot Louise on Friday, the folk, country, rock, blues, Americana duo, the Lloyd Tyler Band on Saturday, and a special performance of blues and vintage R&B by the Jeff Salisbury Band on Monday. Shows begin at 7 p.m.
      Call 802.524.1405 or click here for more info.


Friday
MILTON--Arrowhead Golf Course hosts Carol Ann Jones on the deck for the Friday Night Live Music and Buffet on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The coconut chicken buffet starts around 7 p.m. Both run until 9 p.m.
      The buffet costs $11 per person ($5 for each child). You don't have to be a member; the public is welcome. Be sure to come early, usually around 6, to get a good seat.


SHELDON--The Old Man Garage Band concludes the Summer Live Music Fridays at the Abbey on Friday at 7 p.m.
      The eight-or-more piece group -- Alan Grandshaw, Gary Jacobs, Todd LaForce, Lenny Larose, Phil Lovelette, and Jim Weed -- hail from Franklin and Enosburg. It's the final show of this season.


SOUTH BURLINGTON--Higher Ground presents Elektro Vibes with Reign One, DJVU, DJ SPAGs and more in the Showcase Lounge on Friday at 8 p.m. Doors at 8.
      This is the 5th installment of the series that hosts local artists in Vermont's electronic dance music scene. Elektro Vibes is an environment full of sounds ranging from techno to trance, and colors projected from blacklights and neon lamps spread across the stage and venue.
      Admission is $13 advance or $15 day of show. Click here for tickets and more info.


Saturday
ST. ALBANS--14th Star Brewing Company presents Gypsy Wind on the taproom stage on Saturday at 1 p.m.
      The St. Albans duo of Jesse John Potts and Andy Hoadley plays an eclectic repertoire of freshly interpreted covers and originals spanning several decades and genres on the first Saturday of the month.


ST. ALBANS--Music, Brews & BBQ presents the Starline Rhythm Boys in the Biergarten at Mill River Brewing on Saturday at 7 p.m.
      "Vermont's house band," the Boys are a "drummer-less" Tennessee Trio with Danny Coane on acoustic rhythm guitar, Al Lemery on electric lead guitar, and Billy Bratcher on acoustic upright slap bass. They perform vintage country, honky-tonk, and rockabilly music.


JEFFERSONVILLE--Martell's at the Red Fox presents the Nobby Reed Project in the Summer Concert Series on Saturday at 7 p.m.
      The pub and sports bar has pub favorites, local draft beers, and an open stage for local bands and other live entertainment on weekends.


Tuesday
SOUTH HERO--Carol Ann Jones hosts Music in the Meadow at the Blue Paddle Bistro on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Jones will perform and then hold an Open Mic ever Tuesday, weather permitting, through the summer.
      There are tables and chairs outside but it can get pretty busy, so bring your own chair or blanket or come early to get a table or chairs. Email to sign up.


Wednesday
ST. ALBANS--Sean Jarvis hosts Open Mic Night at Durty Nelly's Irish Pub on Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m. Show off your talent; everyone is welcome to grab the mic and perform any Wednesday evening on the Tavern side.


ON THE BOOKSHELF

      ArtBits features a quick weekly peek at library events in and around Franklin County. That popular feature has a page of its own at the Franklin County Bookshelf here on the AAC site at AllArtsCouncil.org/books. We also take an occasional peek at the bookshelf or night stand of the folks you know in and around Franklin County. Those reviews can be found on the ArtBits Bookshelf.


Good News!

There are so many events around the region that we miss some of them.
Be sure to check these calendars for what's happening near you ...
All Arts Council of Franklin County
Cambridge Arts Council
Franklin County Regional
Chamber of Commerce
Island Arts
St Albans Community Arts
Swanton Arts Council
Young Tradition Vermont


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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