Music

PUTNEY — Next Stage Arts presents The Howard Levy 4 plus special guest Eugene Friesen on Saturday, July 25 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill in Putney. Doors open at 6:45 pm.

Led by Grammy Award–winning harmonica virtuoso, pianist, and composer Howard Levy, The Howard Levy 4 is a dynamic Chicago-based ensemble that defies easy categorization. Blending jazz, blues, Latin, Brazilian, and world music influences, the group creates an expansive and deeply engaging musical experience rooted in both virtuosity and spontaneity.

Joining Levy are guitarist Chris Siebold, bassist Joshua Ramos, and Brazilian drummer Luiz Ewerling. Together, they perform inventive arrangements of American and Brazilian classics alongside a diverse repertoire of original compositions that seamlessly weave together cultures, rhythms, and musical traditions.

PUTNEY, VT — On Friday, May 29, Next Stage Arts welcomes Baklava Express, a Brooklyn-based ensemble whose music blurs lines between tradition and innovation, evoking the vibrant energy of an open-air Mediterranean marketplace. The concert begins at 7:30 pm, with doors opening at 6:45 pm, at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill in Putney.

Baklava Express has built a reputation for crafting a rich, high-energy sound that draws from a wide range of musical traditions, including Turkish, Greek, Armenian, Arab, Mizrahi, and Sephardi influences. Their original compositions weave these ancient roots together with subtle elements of jazz, flamenco, and rock, resulting in a sound that feels both timeless and distinctly contemporary.

An evening of creativity and community returns to Next Stage Arts on Thursday, May 21, as Vermont Timbre hosts its popular Open Mic night.

Located at 15 Kimball Hill in Putney, Vermont, Next Stage Arts provides an intimate and welcoming setting for this ongoing series led by Amelia Struthers and Mike Mrowicki. Performers of all kinds—musicians, poets, storytellers, and other creatives—are invited to share their work in 10–15 minute sets, resulting in a varied and engaging evening shaped by local voices.

The Queralt Giralt Soler Trio will bring a distinctive blend of global influences and intimate musical storytelling to Next Stage Arts on Friday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:45 p.m.

Led by cellist, vocalist, and composer Queralt Giralt Soler, the trio offers an evening of original music and inventive reinterpretations that move fluidly between classical, jazz, and Catalan folk traditions. Giralt Soler’s work is rooted in a deeply personal musical language, where cello and voice intertwine to create textures that are both lyrical and exploratory.

Friday, April 24 | 7:30 PM | Next Stage Arts, Putney, VT

Experience the transcendent music of Ablaye Cissoko and Cyrille Brotto, two masterful musicians bringing their acclaimed project Djiyo—meaning “water”—to Next Stage Arts. With the kora and diatonic accordion at the center, the duo creates a luminous dialogue that flows like a river across cultures, blending Manding and Occitan traditions into a sound both meditative and deeply human.

After nearly three years of touring and over 100 concerts worldwide, Cissoko and Brotto reunite for an intimate performance full of grace, warmth, and emotional depth. Their music is at once contemplative and quietly ecstatic, inviting listeners on a spiritual journey that clears the mind and awakens the senses. Hailed as “a gem from start to finish” by Songlines UK, Djiyo exemplifies the beauty of musical conversation and cross-cultural collaboration.

Step into a vibrant world of music, dance, and tradition as the Veronica Robles Quartet brings its electrifying performance to Next Stage Arts in Putney on Sunday, April 19. Doors open at 1:15 PM with the show beginning at 2:00 PM.

Veronica Robles, a celebrated female mariachi singer, musician, and Latin American folkloric dancer and choreographer, has become a cultural icon in Boston’s Latino community. Known for her powerful voice and dynamic performances, she weaves together music, dance, and storytelling to celebrate Latin American heritage and the beauty of cultural diversity.

Two of the most exciting ensembles in contemporary klezmer and Yiddish music come together for a rare double bill at Next Stage Arts on Friday, April 17. Doors open at 6:45 PM; the show begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $10 for livestream access via nextstagearts.org.

Jake Shulman-Ment & Abigale Reisman: Two Strings

Violinists Jake Shulman-Ment and Abigale Reisman are redefining the klezmer string band tradition. Their collaboration, Two Strings, combines breathtaking virtuosity, a deep connection to Yiddish and Eastern European musical traditions, and fearless improvisation. Joined by longtime collaborators Pete Rushefsky on tsimbl and Raffi Boden on cello, Jake and Abigale present a mix of original compositions, newly set early 20th-century radical Yiddish poetry, and rediscovered works from forgotten manuscripts. Their music—haunting, ecstatic, and deeply alive—blurs the line between past and present, sounding at home in a concert hall, a wedding canopy, or a lively tavern.

It may look like the heating season is almost over, but for the most vulnerable among us this is the hardest time to keep warm. Fuel assistance funds have been used up and they rely on the Windham County Heat Fund to fill the gap. Many allotments have already been cut back and now fuel prices are going crazy. Home heating fuel has gone up one dollar a gallon this past week and it is rising.

Help your neighbors and hear some great jazz on Saturday March 21, 7:30 p.m. at the Vermont Jazz Center.

Kick off your weekend with a night of rhythm, melody, and infectious energy at Next Stage Arts in Putney on Friday, April 3. Doors open at 6:45 PM, with Luke Concannon opening the show, followed by the high-octane Gaslight Tinkers at 7:30 PM.

Luke Concannon brings a lifetime of music-making rooted in Irish family gatherings, where singing, dancing, and guitars filled every room. As the lead singer and co-writer of UK chart-toppers Nizlopi—best known for The JCB Song and a key influence on Ed Sheeran—Luke now shines as a solo artist. His 2022 album Ecstatic Bird in the Burning debuted at No. 12 on both the UK and US folk charts, earning praise for its heartfelt, community-centered songwriting.

Vermont Timbre—Amelia Struthers and Mike Mrowicki—invite the community to an evening of music, poetry, and storytelling at their Open Mic on Sunday, March 29 at Next Stage Arts in Putney. Doors open at 6:15 PM, and the show begins at 7:00 PM. Admission is a $10 suggested donation, and RSVPs are encouraged at nextstagearts.org.

The night will feature a special performance by Peter Siegel of The Gaslight Tinkers, alongside open slots for local musicians, poets, and performers. Sets will run 10–15 minutes, depending on sign-ups, offering a supportive stage for sharing original work or favorite pieces.