| VOLUME 28 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | July 18, 2024 |
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. STUFF YOU SHOULDN'T MISS
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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FRANKLIN COUNTY--The Big Music Weeks of Summer continue around the county this week as some of our friends play multiple gigs. Summer Sounds begins in Highgate and there are also live shows in Alburgh, Bakersfield, Colchester, Enosburg Falls, Essex, Georgia, Jericho, Milton, Morrisville, North Hero, St Albans City and Town, Sheldon, South Hero, and Stowe. BIG MUSIC WEEKS
HIGHGATE--Summer Sounds begins its 33rd season in Highgate Center with Kaiden Prim on the lawn at the Highgate Arena on Sunday at 6 p.m. MVU's own star guitarist studies with local rock star and Summer Sounds favorite Andre Maquera of 8084 and is already making a name for himself as a solo artist. SUMMER SOUNDS
The concerts are always on Sunday evenings, always at 6 p.m., always on the Highgate Arena Lawn, and always free. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair for the outdoor family music and festivities. The rain site is the Highgate Arena. Click here for more info.
FRANKLIN--Franklin Homestead hosts the Franklin Arts Fest with fine arts, music, and photography to celebrate Franklin artists at Franklin Town Hall on Sunday at 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. The festival will include a quilt raffle, 50-50 raffle, and silent auction and food. The fundraiser benefits the Franklin Homestead and Franklin Carriage House. ART ON THE WALLS
Admission is free (donations are always appreciated). Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence collection spotlight is on lifelong fine artist kristina Bolduc whose work includes paintings and printmaking. The art and fine craft cooperative features paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, sculpture, lamps, pottery, folk art boxes, scarves, hats and more by 38 Franklin County and surrounding area artists. It is owned and operated by the artists and sponsors. The gallery on South Main Street is open Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.
STOWE--The Vermont Watercolor Society Exhibit, a collection of works from the artist members of the society's Northern Chapter, opened at Bryan Memorial Gallery yesterday. The collection is artist-curated. There will be an Opening Reception on Saturday at 3 - 6 p.m.
The gallery has exhibits of the landscape painters of New England. The main showcase in Jeffersonville is open Wednesday-Sunday 11 - 4 and the Stowe Gallery is open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11 - 5, and Friday and Saturday, 11 - 6. Appointments are available. Call ahead (802.644.5100) to schedule or click here for more info.
SWANTON--The Vermont Abenaki Artists Association features certified fine, decorative, and performing artists officially labeled as "American Indian" under Federal law. Native interpreter Norm M'Sadoques reproduces 18th Century material culture and is a Wabanaki singer and drummer. Click here for his story and a look at his work.
SWANTON--The Christmas in July workshop returns to Swanton Free Public Library with Barb and Mel to create a Christmas cards and an ornament in the Maker Space on Friday at 5 p.m. This is a free art project thanks to a generous anonymous grant to the Swanton Arts Council. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Call Barb Switzer (802.752.7917) or email her or the Swanton Library , to register or for more info. ART YOU CREATE
SWANEE 5--Can you top Swanee 4--What the Flock? last year's Swanton Arts Council entry for Northwest Nightmares? Actors and videographers are needed for the making of Swanee 5, the 2024 horror short. Filming begins Saturday. DM Judy P or email her to join. All ages and abilities welcome. CALL FOR ACTORS AND VIDEOGRAPHERS
NORTH HERO--Island Arts opens the barn doors to the joy of community dancing to lively music for Community Folk Dancing with instructor Leslie Alpert in the Island Arts Center on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. DANCE
All dances are taught. No partner required. No experience required, and new students are always welcome. Bring your water bottle. Classes will continue every Tuesday through July 30. Admission is free, but donations to Island Arts are appreciated. Call 802.372.3418 to register (drop-ins are also encouraged) or click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Saint Albans Museum remembers the Murder of Marietta Ball 150 Years Later with Sarah Allard and writer Avree Clark on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Schoolteacher Marietta Ball entered the woods towards Fairfield Road. She wouldn't be seen again until her lifeless body was discovered. The presentation will recount the crime, its impact on the community, and the search for her killer that named nearly everyone in St. Albans as a suspect. HUMANITIES
The event is free and open to the public but space is limited. Click here to RSVP and for more info.
ST. ALBANS--St. Albans Community Arts has several ongoing workshops, classes, or arts groups in the Ralston Building each week. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
Creative Connections continues with workshops on Friday and Wednesday at 4 - 7 p.m. Working on a creative project? Want to try something new but need special tools, an extra set of hands or a material swap? Have donations? SACA co-director Jennifer Kostuck has creative pointers and equipment. The open studio class is held every Wednesday and Friday. All ages and backgrounds are welcome. In an effort to maintain supplies for class growth, the second Wednesday each month will remain a free class all other workshops will be by donation. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Explore the Story Wilds, the SACA writing group, meets on Saturday at 11 a.m. The generative writing session and writer support group meets the first Saturday of every month for a tarot-based writing prompt with 45 minutes of writing, a discussion of how the prompt went, and 30 minutes of group coaching to discuss writing questions, including writers block, story idea brainstorming, and publishing questions, and more. Find them on Facebook for more info.
An evening of Blacklight Reactive Painting with Jennifer of Lions & Yellowcake on Saturday at 9 p.m. Materials are included but the cost varies. For $25, start with a blank canvas and materials or for $40 start with pre-drawn linework of your choice on canvas and materials. Find them on Facebook for more info.
The Blackout Poetry series continues on Tuesday at 1 - 2 p.m. Also called "redacted poetry" and "erasure poetry," it works like this: participants receive a page from an old book and a sharpie to black out sections of the page to create new artwork in the "found poetry." Many decorate the redacted areas to enhance the new pieces. The group will meet every Tuesday through August 27. This is an all ages, free event. Donations help SACA continue to keep the doors open and are always appreciated. Find them on Facebook for more info.
The Open Studio Music Group meets on Wednesday at 2 - 4 p.m. This is a time to bring an instrument you are learning, want to learn, or already know. "Hang out and make music with other community members and maybe meet your future band members." Find them on Facebook for more info.
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild has two workshops this week.
Social Sundays continue at the Milton Artists' Guild Art Center with free weekly art classes for families at MAG on Sunday at 1 p.m. Each week offers a different project. Stay for 30 minutes or the whole two hours. Click here for more info.
The six-week Workshop for those with Dementia and their Caregivers with Tina Lesperance returns to MAG beginning Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. They will work on a different art/craft design each week through August 20. This workshop is free for participants thanks to a Vermont Arts Council grant for Creative Aging. Click here for more info.
A second Vermont resident has a confirmed a case of measles. The Vermont Department of Health said there is no ongoing risk of measles from this case in Vermont. It is unrelated to the one reported in April. The Health Department encourages people to make sure they are up to date on their vaccinations. Individuals refusing vaccines drives the spread of infectious diseases from measles to polio to COVID to RSV. COVID NEWS
COVID-19 is still here even if data reporting has taken the summer off. KP.3, the now dominant variant, is as transmissible and perhaps more so than previous variants. For the two weeks ending on July 6, KP.3 accounted for 36.9% of positive infections followed by KP.2 at 24.4%. The FliRT variants together account for more than two-thirds of all cases. Franklin County has less than 8% of the state population and has had more than one-third of statewide hospitalizations.
Updated 2024-2025 vaccines are available for COVID and RSV. COVID vaccines are 100% free to everyone 6 months and older living in the United States. Click here for more info.
My own plan remains unchanged, especially since our precautions have waned and the current JN.1 variant dodges all but the most up-to-date immunity. I got the COVID and Flu shots, and the boosters, and I still take precautions because neither vaccine nor "natural immunity" is 100% foolproof. I wash my hands. I double mask with a genuine N95 mask (not a bandana and not a "chin strap") plus a surgical mask everywhere I can't control the airflow. It isn't much of a burden and it mostly protects me from all the people without masks I see in stores and concerts.
Thursday, July 18 ON STAGE LIVE
ST ALBANS TOWN--The weekly St. Albans Bay Farmer's Market and Concert Series continues with the Barn Rats today from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. They have live music every Thursday evening into September. "The rain date will always fall on the following Friday." Find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle Bistro presents Cooie's Trio with Cooie DeFrancesco, Adlai Waxman, and Patti Shannon for traditional tunes, popular songs, and originals on Acoustic Thursday this evening at 5 - 7 p.m. Click here for more info.
SOUTH HERO--Barbie-n-Bones play the Summer Concert Series "for a booty shakin' good time" at Snow Farm Vineyard this evening at 6:30 p.m. Food will be catered, call Kristen (802.922.8074) for all pre-order food requests. Click here for more info.
Thursday-Saturday, July 18-20
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap starts a weekend of music jerborning with Jerborn tonight at 6 p.m. two shows Friday night, Ray's Used Cars at 5 p.m., and then Summer Sounds favorites IncaHoots return for late night music starting at 9 p.m., plus two more shows live on Saturday night with Jesse Agan at 5 p.m., and Sanctuary at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
ST. ALBANS--Irons & Ale has a weekend of music at Champlain Country Club with Carol Ann Jones and Will Patton tonight at 6 p.m. then Jerborn jerborning on Friday night at 7 p.m., plus Ryan Sweezy live on Saturday night at 6 p.m.
The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to close every day with pub fare from nachos and chicken wings to salads, burgers, salmon, and chicken to dinner options and libations.
Friday, July 19
MILTON--The Friday Night Live Music and Buffet at Arrowhead Golf Course presents She Was Right (the former Hubcats) on the deck on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The BBQ chicken buffet starts around 7 p.m. Both run until 9 p.m. The buffet costs $14 per person ($7 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. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents Travis Cyr for a "rootsy mix of spacey folk and Americana" live in The Room on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS BAY--Friday Night Live at the Lake takes over St. Albans Bay Park with Jamie Lee Thurston for a special evening on Friday at 6 p.m. Straight from Nashville, our own Mr. Thurston writes, sings, produces and plays lead guitar. He lives his music, "every word, note and riff." He has enthralled audiences since he first went on the stage with his Dad, the renowned Jimmy T, at the age of 3. He has opened for the superstar country acts Dixie Chicks, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Billy Currington, Travis Tritt and Charlie Daniels.
Mill River will host the beer garden and food trucks will be available. Admission is free. Bags and coolers will be checked. Find them on Facebook for more info
SHELDON--The Abbey Friday Night Music Series often has live performances on Friday about 6:30 p.m. The series continues in the Pub this week. Reservations are suggested. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday-Sunday, July 19-21
STOWE--The Von Trapp Brewing Bierhall Summer Concert Series fills the weekend with the Rustics for folk and blues on Friday and the Fabulous Wrecks with rock and blues on Saturday night, Music starts at 5:30. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Taphouse at Mill River has shows on Fridays and Saturdays in July. Jacob Green plays Friday at 6 p.m. and Dan and Sean Jarvis return live on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
COLCHESTER--The Outdoor Summer Music Series fills the Spanked Puppy with music all weekend. Rustie Bus kicks it off on Friday at 6 p.m. followed by Staircase 24 on Saturday at 6 p.m. and busy Jerborn on Sunday afternoon at 2 - 5 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
JERICHO--The Jericho Cafe and Tavern fills the weekend with Live Music in July. Jim Branca plays Friday. Unruly Allies perform live on Saturday night. Music starts at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. This week they host Blue Heron with Ethan Sawyer and Martin Fredrick on Friday and guitarist Philip Graziano live on Saturday night. Music starts about 6:30 p.m.
Call 802.524.1405 or find them on Facebook for more info. Click here to book a reservation or to visit the art on the walls.
Saturday, July 20
ST. ALBANS--Northwest Farmers Market fills Taylor Park with live music, handmade crafts, locally grown food, prepared foods, free kids activities on Saturday from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. The market and the music continue every Saturday through October. Find them on Facebook for more info.
MORRISVILLE--Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton plays a benefit concert at Lamphere Farm on Saturday at 1 p.m.
ALBURGH--The Alburgh Oasis Outdoor Music Venue presents Dave Miller with easy listening music from the 60s, 70s and 80s on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. BYOB. Admission is $10 at the door or $15 for limited, reserved, premium table seating. They have live music every Saturday night, weather permitting. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Sunday, July 21
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle Bistro hosts Donna Thunder on Sunday at 5:30 - 8 p.m. Click here for more info.
HIGHGATE--The Town of Highgate begins the 33rd year of Summer Sounds concerts at home in Highgate with Kaiden Prim live on the Highgate Arena lawn on Sunday at 6 p.m.
ESSEX--Summer Music at the Double E continues with Back to the Garden 1969: the Woodstock Experience live at the Double E on Sunday at 8 p.m. The band recreates the classic sounds associated with Woodstock with a tribute to the artists in a full multimedia theatrical event. The space offers a 180 degree stage view, elevated standing area, and the "new chill lounge area." Admission is $18-20. Find them on Facebook for tickets and more info.
Monday, July 22
NORTH HERO--The Dimmer Triplets, Charlie Frazier, Al Lemery, and Gary Wade, play "Grateful Americana, Beatles, Stones and more from the 60s to the 80s" on the Pier Bar at the North Hero House on Monday at 5:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Tuesday, July 23
ENOSBURG FALLS--Summer Concerts in Lincoln Park continue as the Enosburg Town Band continues on the Bandstand on Tuesday at 7 p.m. There will be a variety of music, arts and crafts for the kids, popcorn and drinks, and even ice cream sundaes (when available) every Tuesday evening. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Wednesday, July 24
ESSEX--Grill & Chill Wednesdays continue with Laura Cwass live on the Green on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Bring your own blanket, chair, umbrella, factory sealed water bottles, empty refillable bottles, picnic food, and good attitude. Food from the Double E grill and EE restaurants will be available. Find them on Facebook for more info.
NORTH HERO--She Was Right covers from many decades at the Pier Bar at the North Hero House on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
GEORGIA--The Georgia Gathering on the Green presents High Breaks in concert in front of the Town Clerk's Office on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Todd Gevry, Kevin Lynam, and Matt Hagen tell surfing stories through vintage tone for a universal escape.
ST. ALBANS--The Summer Concert Series continues with Mad Mojo playing high energy blues, rock, and funk in Taylor Park on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Concerts are free for all every Wednesday evening through August 28. 14th Star Brewing Company, Pickle's Snack Shack, and Mama Llama Bakeshop will be on hand for food and drink. If the weather turns squishy, the concerts will move to 14th Star. Click here for more info.
JERICHO--The Mills Riverside Park Concert Series presents the Mama Tried on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Click here for more info.
BAKERSFIELD--The Citizens Concert Band continues its summer series at the Town Green on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Concerts take place outdoors and will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.
Under the direction of Jeremy Berger, the community band plays a series of free, outdoor summer concerts in towns around Franklin County. Their rich history dates back to 1947. Click here for more info.
Plan Ahead
EAST FAIRFIELD--The 32nd annual Jig in the Valley takes over the Meeting House green for eight hours of music on Sunday, July 28, starting at noon. Look for Rusty Bucket, the Dale and Darcy Band, Ryan Sweezey and the Midnight Walkers, Duke Aeroplane with his Delta Dirty Crocogators, the Nobby Reed Project, and the world famous Oleo Romeos. There will be flea market vendors, a silent auction, the world famous pie table, and free ice cream. Admission is $10 per person or $25 per family. All proceeds support Fairfield Community Center programs. Call 802.827.6626 or find them on Facebook for more info.
STATEWIDE--A new law allows all people ages 12-17 to have complete privacy regarding what they check out from the library. Act 150 took effect on July 1 and will impact library services to all teens and tweens. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
Further, all public libraries and school libraries must ensure that the way they select materials complies with the First Amendment, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and state laws prohibiting discrimination. The Act also increases penalties for criminal threatening in public libraries. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Explore the Story Wilds, the SACA writing group, meets in the Saint Albans Community Arts Space on Saturday at 11 a.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans Free Library hosts Mornings, Muffins, and Mysteries this morning at 10:30 a.m. The group reads a variety of mystery genres and meets the third Thursday of each month. Click here for more info.
SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council Writers' Group meets in person at the Swanton Free Public Library this evening at 6 p.m. They meet the third Thursday of each month to share progress and join in the discussion about longer projects and anything else about writing, reading, publishing, and more. Email Becky Rupp or the Swanton Library for more info.
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 ... |
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Music!Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County |
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Dick Harper, Chair
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Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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