DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 24 * * All Arts News On the Web * * May 7, 2020

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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WITH A LITTLE BIT OF WORK...

      On Monday, the number of people allowed to work together increased from five to 10 at Vermont's manufacturing, distribution, and construction companies. Next Monday, those companies "may restart with as few employees as necessary to permit full operations while continuing to maintain health and safety," Gov. Phil Scott said. Businesses that reopen are required to take employees' temperatures and must have completed a safety training program.
      On March 17, Gov. Scott ordered all restaurants and other dining and drinking establishments to close for in-person service. Takeout and delivery are permitted. The statewide order has been extended until at least May 15.


ART TO VIEW

     The Artist In Residence Gallery has added artists to their online album on Find them on Facebook. The spotlight is on fiber and pebble artist Donna Blatchly and quilter Anne Standish.
      The Artist in Residence art cooperative features paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, sculpture, lamps, pottery, folk art boxes, scarves, hats and more by 40 Franklin County and surrounding area artists. It is owned and operated by the artists and sponsors. Click here for more info.


ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE

     With all venues shut down, we have to rely on ourselves for entertainment so sing from a soupcan with a string. Record yourself in the kitchen. Paint your stuffed platypus orange and chartreuse with a forest green tail. OK, maybe not that.
      You're housebound? Your show is cancelled or postponed? You're bored? How about putting on a show?
      Get the band together and video or livestream a rehearsal every day. Or set up your easel and video a painting coming together. Read a few pages from your novel or a short story or a poem. Get in costume and video that play or the dance. Do some improv in your living room.
      We're locked down, too, and missing you. You'll get in a session and we'll like seeing you. Please share your efforts with your local arts council, too. And if the artist has a donation button, the audience can express appreciation through PayPal, Venmo, or other services.
      Here's a roundup for this week.


Friday
      Andrew Lloyd Webber will stream his musicals in the free YouTube series, The Shows Must Go On, every Friday at 7 p.m. for 48 hours. A new show begins tomorrow. Clips of famous performances and behind-the-scenes footage also appear on the channel beside the full shows.
      Click here for Mr. Webber's YouTube channel for all the details and to subscribe.


      The Katie McNally Trio will host a concert and "CD Pre-Release" live on Facebook on Friday at 8 p.m. Find them on Facebook
      Originally scheduled for the Burlington Violin Shop, this is Young Tradition Vermont's first online alternative for a scheduled in-person concert. Katie and Neil will be in Portland, Maine and Chauncey will be in Wisconsin while the rest of us watch from wherever we choose. YTV has several more events this summer that they plan to present this way; this first concert is the dry run.
      You don't have pay to watch, but YTV suggests a $10 to $20 donation to make it somewhat comparable to an in-person experience at PayPal. All proceeds for this concert benefit the musicians. Click here or email for more info.


      Summer Sounds favorite John Bartus will perform a new Social Distancing Concert Live from the Florida Keys from his studio in Marathon, Florida, thanks to Facebook Live every Friday at 7:30 p.m. Last week's concert, with special guests, is on Facebook.
      Find the link on Facebook for Friday night's concert.


Sunday
      Carol Ann Jones should be live on Sunday with another kitchen concert. Find her Facebook feed for other events and for this Sunday's kitchen concert.


Tuesday
      Taylor LaValley and Troy Millette present: Cinco De Quarantine as a live-stream music festival on Facebook on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. (rescheduled from May 5).
      They "curated [the festival] with the hope of generating new creative outlets for local performers and venues while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. To be frank, we wanted to share good music with good people who don't have a whole lot of access to it right now." The line-up includes Jesse Agan, Evan Allis, Garrett Brown and Julien Vandal, Giovanina Bucci, Chris & Erica, Zack DuPont, Isaac French, Steve Hartmann, Josiah Johnson, Taylor LaValley, Liam Manion, Troy Millette, Amanda Martin, Lee Moretti, the Owl Stars, Ryan Sweezey, Jamie Lee Thurston, Scott Tournet, and Roan Yellowthorn.


Ongoing
      The Doobie Brothers perform Black Water (Live in Isolation). They recorded the song on their 1974 album What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits and it was the B-side for the lead single from the album; the A-side was Another Park, Another Sunday. Click here to watch


      Sean Ashby plays Sultans of Swing note for note, acoustic guitar. Click here to watch.


      Storytelling singer-songwriter Natalie Gelman was live for some "Happy Hour (or two) Tunes" on Find them on Facebook.
      She's a troubadour, touring this country endlessly and, recently, a 10 week European tour. She plays the House of Blues, Webster Hall, and festivals across the country and calls the subway her "favorite stage." And she has virtual tip jars.


      Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton was live on Find them on Facebook with an Elvis by Request tribute concert.
      Mr. Shelton asked his fans to "hold off on any 'Watch Parties" until after the live performance." He did post it later and it is now later.


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

Music!

Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County
Summer Sounds
Summer Music at Grace
Downtown Summer Concert Series
Summer Evenings with
Vermont Treasures
Citizens Band
Wednesday Night Live
Enosburg Town Band


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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