Next Stage Arts’ Bandwagon Summer Series continues on Saturday, September 13 at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Road, Putney, VT with a high-energy, genre-blending double bill. Music starts at 5:00 pm (gates open at 4:00 pm), with The Gaslight Tinkers bringing their infectious fusion of African, Caribbean, funk, reggae, and Latin grooves with traditional fiddle music — a joyful mash-up that’s as danceable as it is unexpected.
Since forming in 2012, The Gaslight Tinkers have electrified audiences across the U.S. and the Caribbean, headlining clubs, dances, and major festivals. The Valley Advocate calls their sound “music that consistently fizzes and pops with unexpected textures and turns.” With members Peter Siegel, Garrett Sawyer, I-Shea, Eliezer Martinez, and Clara Constance-Stickney — veterans of stages alongside Pete Seeger, the Soca Monarchs of the Caribbean, Noel Paul Stookey, and The Alchemystics — the band delivers exuberant musicianship that lifts both feet and spirits.
Opening the evening is Sammy & Brothers, a family music group blending traditional African styles from the Democratic Republic of Congo and East Africa with acoustic arrangements and message-driven songwriting. Siblings Israel Mbombo, Samuel Divinda (Sammy), Gershom Mbombo, and Shekinah Pemba have made music together since childhood, sharing songs of peace and joy inspired by their faith.
The Bandwagon Summer Series is a family-friendly outdoor cultural performance series running May through September, bringing diverse music to ballfields, farms, and parks across southern Vermont. Kids under 12 get in free, and a dedicated play area will be available. Food from Smokin’ Bowls and drinks (including the popular Barr Hill cocktails) will be sold onsite — or bring your own picnic and blanket.
Tickets: $22 advance / $25 at the gate / Kids under 12 free.
More info and tickets: nextstagearts.org
