PUTNEY, VT — On Saturday, May 2, Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present a special evening of contemporary folk in an intimate “in-the-round” format, featuring four acclaimed singer/songwriters: Alice Howe, Freebo, Sam Robbins, and Halley Neal. The concert begins at 7:30 pm, with doors opening at 6:45 pm, at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill. Tickets are $24 in advance, $28 at the door, and $10 for a livestream option, available at nextstagearts.org.
This unique shared-concert experience brings the artists together onstage throughout the evening, blending solo performances with spontaneous collaborations, storytelling, and musical interplay. The “in-the-round” format invites audiences into a more personal and conversational style of performance, where songs and stories unfold in a dynamic, communal setting.
Freebo, a folk, rock, and blues icon, anchors the lineup with decades of experience as both a performer and collaborator. Best known for his ten-year tenure as bassist with Bonnie Raitt, Freebo’s distinctive fretless bass has also been featured on recordings by John Mayall, Ringo Starr, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Maria Muldaur, Joe Walsh, and Dr. John. A multi-award-winning songwriter, he has appeared on Saturday Night Live, The Muppet Show, The Midnight Special, and even alongside the satirical rock legends Spinal Tap.
Joining him is Alice Howe, whose luminous voice and finely crafted songs have earned her widespread recognition, including Best Female Artist honors at the International Acoustic Music Awards. Her latest album, Circumstance, produced by Freebo and recorded at the famed FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, highlights her gift for blending poetic lyricism with timeless melodic sensibility.
Sam Robbins brings the perspective of a modern troubadour, combining classic songwriting influences with a contemporary edge. Touring nationally behind his 2025 release So Much I Still Don’t See, Robbins has been named one of Atwood Magazine’s “Artists to Watch,” appeared on The Voice, and shared stages with artists including Jason Mraz and Liz Longley. His festival appearances include Kerrville, Falcon Ridge, and Wheatland.
Rounding out the lineup is Halley Neal, a Boston-based singer/songwriter whose roots in Nashville inform her warm, expressive style. Known for her award-winning vocals and uplifting, peace-centered themes, Neal has performed at major festivals such as Kerrville Folk Festival, Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
Together, these four artists promise an evening of heartfelt songs, rich harmonies, and the kind of musical connection that can only happen when performers share the stage in real time.
For more information and tickets, visit nextstagearts.org.
