Weekend Creativity Series: Donald Fagan

We’re going to spend some time with this series looking at how other people create things. Last week we watched an animator work out a scene. This week we’ll look at how a musician thinks about a pop song.

Here, Donald Fagan of Steely Dan discusses and demonstrates aspects of his song “Peg” with Warren Bernhardt. He explains why the song is the way it is, and where he got ideas for creating it.

Music theory is one of those mystical subjects to me. I understand it when it is being explained, and can hear it, but the language and use of it escapes me personally. I find people who can do this sort of thing to be rather amazing, but I know it isn’t really that amazing — it’s what they do, and very possible if one applies oneself.


Elayne Clift Reads From Award-Winning Story Collection

Vermont author and journalist Elayne Clift will read from her latest book, Children of the Chalet: New and Selected Stories, Grand Prize Winner for Fiction in the Greyden Press 2014 Book Competition, on Saturday, October 10th at Brooks Memorial Library at 2.30 p.m. in the library’s meeting room on the 2nd floor. Clift will also read excerpts from her novel Hester’s Daughters (based on The Scarlet Letter) and will invite the audience to join in a discussion about the challenges of fiction writing and getting published in a 21st century literary world.

Clift’s latest short story collection has two parts. The first, Children of the Chalet, from which the title is drawn, is a set of connected stories based on a year she spent in the 1960s as a residential counselor in a halfway house for troubled teens. The second part shares a number of short stories not published until now.“I had ruminated for years about the girls I worked with and what brought them to residential living and care,” Clift says. “Their stories, which I’ve fictionalized, were compelling and I often wondered what had become of them as adults. 


Artist Talk – Christine Triebert: Through a Glass Dimly

On Thursday, October 15, from 5 – 7pm at Mitchell • Giddings Fine Arts, 183 Main Street, Brattleboro, the public is invited to an artist talk by Christine Triebert about her new photography series,”Through a Glass Dimly”.

“As a whole body of work, they suggest a view of seeing ourselves as ‘spiritual beings having a human experience’.” says Triebert of the twenty-one intimate images of individuals, many of whom will be familiar to area residents. The faces may be recognizable, but the subjects are shown in a novel way; simply, unadorned, and draped only with a crisp white sheet.

According to photographer, Christine Triebert, “The white sheet symbolizes the commonality of our human experience. It is reminiscent of the blanket we’re swaddled in at birth and the burial cloth we’re wrapped in at death.” Using the white sheet also brings us all to an equal place, “By donning the same covering, the portrait subjects are presented in a visually unified way, yet each person’s unique manifestation and expressiveness shines through. My intention with each image is to portray an essential quality of being of the individual self.”


Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Carl Allen Quintet

On Saturday, October 17th, the Vermont Jazz Center will present world-class drummer Carl Allen with his group “The Art of Elvin.” This working band includes Tivon Pennicott, saxophones; Freddie Hendrix, trumpet; Xavier Davis, piano; Dezron Douglas, bass, and group leader Carl Allen on drums. Allen states: “The group is a tribute to Art Blakey and Elvin Jones and features music performed by both Art Blakey and/or Elvin Jones as well as some original music. In the tradition of both Art and Elvin the music is hard bop, gospel infused, hard swinging music that is designed to make one feel good. It’s high energy as well as toe tapping.”


Friday Night Blues: Guy Davis at the River Garden

“Guy Davis. He’s out of New York, and he’s America’s greatest link to the blues right now.” ~ Windsor Star, Ontario, Canada. July 31, 2015.

Guy Davis last played Brattleboro in 2008, alongside Pete Seeger in a memorable, sold-out concert at the Lathis.

Friday night, you have a chance to hear him, solo, at the River Garden.

Seating is limited to 200, all seats are just $20. Tickets and information: .

Here he is playing one of the songs on his brand new album, Kokomo Kidd:


This Friday, October 9 = The Gathering Concert with 5 Award-winning Musicians!

This will be acoustic music at its finest with Barbara Higbie (piano), David Cullen (guitar), Jill Haley (oboe & English horn), David Lindsay (guitar), and Tom Eaton (piano)! The concert is presented by Will Ackerman, (Grammy winner and founder of Windham HIll Records), who has been praised for producing some of the best acoustic instrumental music in the world in recent years at his Imaginary Roads Studio in West Dummerston. 

 The Gathering Concert will be at The Centre Congregational Church this Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets $20 – available at Hermit Thrush Brewery, 29 High Street, at the door, and at at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1990848


Heat Pump Workshop Offered in Springfield, VT October 13

Do cold climate heat pumps make sense for you? Cold climate heat pumps have rapidly emerged as a promising technology for Vermont. Come to a workshop to learn about heat pump options for both hot water and space heating to see if they make sense for your home. This workshop will cover the latest in heat pump technologies, the relative economics of using heat pumps versus other fuel sources, successful case studies, and resources to help you. The workshop will be led by Matt Sargent, Energy Consultant with Efficiency Vermont. Heat pump distributors will be on-site to share information.


Brooks Memorial Library Restored Hours of Service

Good news! Thanks to the wonderful bequest by Ronald Read his year, the Board of Trustees are restoring Brooks Memorial Library hours open to what existed before the personnel budget reductions of 2010. Beginning Saturday, September 12, the library will be open 10 AM to 5 PM, and Thursday, September 17, the library’s hours will be 10 AM to 6 PM.

Read more here – http://files.ctctcdn.com/eb13a4a9001/5490aea8-ce7c-416f-ab0e-a2af1b2ceb92.pdf


Brooks Memorial Library Change to Nonresident Fee

Nonresident library cardholders, thanks for your support! We hope you’re finding more and more reasons to invest in a Brooks Memorial Library card, including lots of resources on our website, and the expanded Catamount Library Network collection of over 400,000 items.

On Sept. 1st, card fees changed to align with Brattleboro resident tax support: 6 months = $32, 1 year = $62, 2 years = $110. If you’re not sure, . You might be surprised!


Masters of the Short Story Series at Brooks Library Oct 5 Ann Beattie’s Park City

The Friends of BML & Vermont Country store are hosting the Vermont Humanities Council’s Masters of the Short Story, a four-part reading-discussion series beginning Monday, October 5, at 7 PM. You will read great short story writers such as Beattie, Poe, Chekhov, and O’Connor. Discussions will be facilitated by long-time humanities scholar, Richard Wizansky. Ann Beattie’s Park City will be the first in the series.

The first session of the series is Monday, October 5, at 7 PM, with a discussion of Ann Beattie’s short stories,”Park City.” The other sessions scheduled are:
November 2, “Selected Works” by Flannery O’Connor
November 30, “Five Great Stories” by Anton Chekov
December 7, “Poetry and Tales” by Edgar Allan Poe


Medieval Faire – October 10th – The Grammar School

On Saturday, October 10, from 10 am to 4 pm, The Grammar School in Putney, Vermont, will transform our campus into a medieval village once again as we host our annual Medieval Faire. This event has been a family favorite for more than 25 years!

Enjoy the festivities while the King and his royal court preside over the Faire. Kids can ride a flying dragon, battle a knight, and watch a joust with medieval riding games. Fairgoers can also shop for goods in the village market and watch extravagant entertainment, including live music and a puppet show. You can even be knighted by the King himself!


Seth Glier w/ Hannah Hoffman at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery on Saturday, October 3

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present contemporary folk and pop singer/songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Seth Glier and Hannah Hoffman at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery on Saturday, October 3 at 7:30 pm.

Singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, producer and Grammy nominee Seth Glier is renowned for his fearless vocal delivery, musical exuberance and seasoned songwriting beyond his years. A troubadour in every sense of the word who averages over 250 live performances annually, 26 year-old Glier has gone from opening act to headlining his own shows and playing major festivals. He’s shared the stage with artists as diverse as James Taylor, Ani DiFranco, Edwin McCain, Martin Sexton, Emmylou Harris and Ryan Adams, and has quickly become known for his passionate live sets and powerful command of both piano and guitar.


New Exhibit Opens and Local Bands Perform at BMAC During Gallery Walk, Oct. 2

BRATTLEBORO, VT — A new exhibit called “” opens at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) on Friday, October 2 at 5:30 p.m. during Brattleboro’s monthly Gallery Walk. After the opening, starting at 7 p.m., Brattleboro bands . Admission is free all night.

 “” features 29 paintings by artist Kathleen Kolb of Middlebury, Vermont, accompanied by poems and other writings by poet Verandah Porche of Guilford, Vermont. Kolb’s paintings depict loggers and logging equipment, saw mills, wood chip power plants, and other scenes from the region’s vibrant forestry industry. Porche’s writings derive from interviews with loggers and foresters, as well as her own ruminations on the subject matter. Organized by BMAC in collaboration with Forest*Care; Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation; Vermont Land Trust; and Windham Regional Commission, the exhibit has been sponsored by Cersosimo Industries, Allard Lumber Co., East Mountain Forestry, and Vermont Woods Studios. Kolb and Porche are expected to attend the opening on October 2.


Electric Car and E-Bike Fair Showcases Benefits of EVs

Are you thinking about buying or leasing an electric car, scooter, or bicycle, or interested in learning about the benefits of EV ownership? Come to the second annual Electric Car and E-Bike Fair on Saturday, October 3 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at the Marlboro College Graduate School, 28 Vernon Street in downtown Brattleboro. A wide range of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, along with electric-assisted bikes, cargo bikes and electric scooters will be on display, with many available for test rides. Electric vehicle owners and local dealers will be on hand to answer questions, and table displays will provide information on electric vehicles. At 2:30 pm, local bike enthusiast Dave Cohen will offer a talk on the benefits of electric and cargo bikes.


Express Fluency Offering French Classes

I studied French for years in school and learned lots of rules and conjugations, but graduated unable to have a conversation in French. I’m guessing you know someone else who had a similar experience in a language class.

This past summer I took Express Fluency’s advanced-beginner weekend class with Maggie Smith and I was amazed by how much I remembered/picked up in such a short time. I am thrilled to be adding more French classes to Express Fluency’s course options.


BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 9/28/15

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 9/28/15

Monday, September 28, 2015

1:00 am September 11 – The New Pearl Harbor? Pt 5

2:00 am Road to Recovery: New Tech for Whole Body Health

3:00 am UVM Comm Med School: End of Life Decisions

4:35 am TED Talks: Hannah Fry – The Mathematics of Love

5:00 am At Landmark: Shura Wallin, ‘Walk to the Borders ‘ 9/14/15


Singer-Songwriter David Berkeley To Release New Album and Novella at BMAC on Oct. 7

Guest performers to include Tyler Gibbons of Red Heart the Ticker

BRATTLEBORO, VT — Singer-songwriter David Berkeley returns to the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) on Wednesday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m., for the New England release of his newest album, “Cardboard Boat,” and the accompanying novella, “The Free Brontosaurus (Rare Bird).” Joined by guitarist Bill Titus and special guest Tyler Gibbons of the Vermont-based duo Red Heart the Ticker, Berkeley will perform in the museum’s Wolf Kahn & Emily Mason Gallery, surrounded by the artwork of Jim Dine. Tickets are $16 in advance, $20 at the door. Purchase online at or call .


Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Emerging Artist Series Carlos Averhoff, Jr. and iRESI Quartet

The Vermont Jazz Center will present Cuban Saxophonist Carlos Averhoff, Jr. and his quartet iRESI on Friday, October 2nd at 8:00 PM. This is a rare opportunity for the VJC’s audience to hear a masterful and authentic conflation of North American jazz with Cuban clave. Averhoff’s concept superimposes cutting edge post bop jazz language over the complex polyrhythms of his tierra nativa. The group, which he performs and records with, includes Aruan Ortiz on piano, Francisco Mela on drums and John Lockwood on bass. Each of these musicians brings a vast knowledge of both jazz and Latin idioms – they can improvise with relaxed nuance over sophisticated rhythms.

Cuban music often uses a repetitive two-measure phrase called “clave” which is inseparably woven into the fabric of the groove. This is closely related to the way in which the repeated pattern of the drummer’s ride cymbal is a defining characteristic in swing and bebop music. Carlos, Aruan and Mela, who grew up in Cuba, have an internalized comprehension of the clave pattern. Like speaking in one’s native tongue, no thought is needed for them to imbue their music with clave – it is inserted instinctively into the natural cadence of the music and is reflected in many of Carlos’ compositions.


Weekend Creativity Series: Everything Is A Remix

Where do we get ideas? Is imitation a part of the creative process? This week we’ll look at where ideas come from, and how they get re-used, recycled, copied and remixed.

There is some historical tension between creators of existing works and those creating new works. A band puts out a song on an album in the 60’s, which gets sampled and re-fashioned into a new song that becomes a hit for someone else in 2015. A movie is created based on someone else’s story. And so on.

Lawsuits often result, because we tend to think that everything must be owned by someone. But mixed into our world of copyright law are two other principles, fair use and public domain, which are equally important.


Stroll Presents Bluesman Guy Davis in a Fundraising Performance

“Guy Davis. He’s out of New York, and he’s America’s greatest link to the blues right now.” ~ Windsor Star, Ontario, Canada. July 31, 2015.

Strolling of the Heifers presents An Evening with Guy Davis — a fundraising event for Strolling of the Heifers on Friday evening, October 9 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro). A widely-known American blues musician, Guy Davis last appeared in Brattleboro in a memorable concert alongside the legendary Pete Seeger in 2008 (also a Stroll fundraising event).