Music

Music section

The Rasa String Quartet at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents Boston-based Rasa String Quartet at Next Stage on Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 pm.

The Rasa String Quartet celebrates the art of strumming and works inspired by strummed instruments, for string quartet! This program pairs old masterworks from Beethoven, Debussy, and Turina alongside newly celebrated classics from Jessie Montgomery and Caroline Shaw:

Program:
Claude Debussy: String Quartet in G Minor, II. Assez vif et bien rythmé
Jessie Montgomery: Strum
Caroline Shaw: Valencia
Joaquín Turina: The Bullfighter’s Prayer
L.V. Beethoven: String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat Major, Op. 74 “Harp”

Argentinian Duo Lerner and Moguilevsky To Perform at Next Stage 12/2

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents Argentinian duo César Lerner and Marcello Moguilevsky’s unique musical fusion of klezmer, tango, jazz, and South American folk music at Next Stage on Saturday, December 2 at 7:30 pm.

“Lerner & Moguilevsky are masters of their craft, threading various cultural ideas together into something new and exciting,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Bringing an artist to Putney from Argentina is an exciting opportunity. The thought that we’re bringing artists from around the world to our region feels positive for our community.”

Kat Wright and Brett Hughes Holiday Show at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present singer/songwriters Kat Wright and Brett Hughes with their quartet performing songs of the season at Next Stage on Friday, December 1 at 7:30 pm.

Kat Wright and Brett Hughes, two of Vermont’s most beloved songbirds, join forces once again this December for their 10th annual Vermont holiday tour. The show, a true Christmas gift featuring Tyler Bolles (Swale, Rough Francis) on upright bass and multi-instrumentalist Will Seeders (Carling & Will, Caitlin Canty), offers songs of holiday heartbreak and holiday cheer. It is bejeweled with storytelling, originals, and beloved classics alike. It’s guaranteed to warm your heart, pique your nostalgia, and create a loving container for those good ol’ holiday blues that we all know so well.

The Clements Brothers and Geneviève Racette at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present an evening of contemporary folk music with The Clements Brothers and Geneviève Racette at Next Stage on Friday, November 3 at 7:30 pm.

Québécois folk-pop singer/songwriter Geneviève Racette captivates listeners with her gentle, yet compelling, emotional resonance. Through her vulnerable lyricism and ethereal vocals, Geneviève has emerged as a rising star in both French and English-speaking Canadian music scenes. She is currently on her fifth US tour, collaborating with artists such as The Bros. Landreth, Abbie Thomas, and Halley Neal.

Since the release of her first EP in 2014, Genevieve has steadily gained recognition across Canada and the US, winning a Canadian Folk Music Award and earning glowing reviews from major outlets including Rolling Stone, Exclaim!, CBC, Women of Americana, Americana Music Association, and Sirius XM. Her latest CD “Satellite” is a collection of honest stories of self-discovery and reflection through the cycle of love which evoke moments of love, heartbreak, healing, forgiveness, and ultimately falling in love again.

Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Cyrus Chestnut Trio

by vtjazz | Music

The Vermont Jazz Center will present Cyrus Chestnut in a trio concert on October 14th at 7:30 PM. Called “the best pianist of his generation” by Time Magazine, Chestnut will appear with bassist Herman Burney and drummer Kelton Norris. 

Chestnut’s repertoire includes selections from the Great American Songbook, spirituals, jazz standards, and original music as well as surprising transformations from other genres. Along with his interpretations of jazz-related gems, his recordings include compositions by Elvis Presley, Erik Satie and even Beethoven. Chestnut carefully arranges each piece, developing it with reharmonizations, introductions and interludes. His approach is characterized by two constants: a deep connection to gospel music and a resounding sense of swing. 

Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Cyrus Chestnut Trio

by vtjazz | Music

The Vermont Jazz Center will present Cyrus Chestnut in a trio concert on October 14th at 7:30 PM. Called “the best pianist of his generation” by Time Magazine, Chestnut will appear with bassist Herman Burney and drummer Kelton Norris. 

Chestnut’s repertoire includes selections from the Great American Songbook, spirituals, jazz standards, and original music as well as surprising transformations from other genres. Along with his interpretations of jazz-related gems, his recordings include compositions by Elvis Presley, Erik Satie and even Beethoven. Chestnut carefully arranges each piece, developing it with reharmonizations, introductions and interludes. His approach is characterized by two constants: a deep connection to gospel music and a resounding sense of swing. 

As a youth Cyrus Chestnut was immersed in, and continues to follow, the spiritual beliefs of the Baptist church. His training as a musician followed a path from church musician to the Peabody Conservatory Preparatory Program and the Berklee College of Music. He quickly became knowns as a consummate sideman, touring the world and making recordings with jazz several jazz legends. He is now recognized as a leader in his own right. Chestnut currently holds the position of Master Instructor of Jazz Piano and Improvisation at Howard University. He continues to tour and record as a soloist, with his own groups, and as a high-level sideman at noted jazz festivals and venues. 

Next Stage Arts Presents Double Bill Featuring Walter Parks & The Unlawful Assembly and Big Lazy

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents a double bill featuring the reimagined historic spirituals and hymns of Walter Parks & The Unlawful Assembly, and the “guitar noir”/”crime jazz” of Big Lazy, on Friday, October 27 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, in Putney.

The Unlawful Assembly reimagines and tributes historic spirituals and hymns which universally inspire, empower and unite. Leader/guitarist/singer Walter Parks, longtime sideman to Woodstock legend Richie Havens, is joined by featured artists drummer/producer Steven Williams, and Ada Dyer, who’s currently touring worldwide with Bruce Springsteen, on vocals.

In one live-concert experience The Unlawful Assembly entertains and informs while successfully melding roots music of divergent origins. The soundtrack to American black history – old-school spirituals, gospel, blues, and prison work chants intertwine with swamp hollers, shaped-note hymns and Appalachian reels of white homesteader origin.

Antje Duvekot and Pete Bernhard at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of contemporary folk music with Antje Duvekot and Pete Bernhard at Next Stage on Sunday, October 22 at 7:00 pm.

Antje Duvekot is a German-born, American-raised singer/songwriter whose songs have been critically praised for their hard-won wisdom, dark-eyed realism, and street-smart romanticism. Her bicultural upbringing and relative newness to English have helped shape her unique way with a song, giving her a startlingly original poetic palette. They are the keys to the powerful, even revolutionary, empathy that informs everything she writes. She has won some of the top songwriting awards including the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, the Kerrville Folk Festival Best New Folk Award, and the Boston Music Award for Outstanding Folk Act.

Since the release of her debut studio CD “Big Dream Boulevard,” which was voted #1 Folk Release of 2006 by the Boston Globe and was named to the Top 10 Releases of the Year by National Public Radio’s Folk Alley, Antje has been touring extensively, criss-crossing the US and Europe. She is a compelling live performer and has played at major festivals, including Newport, Mountain Stage, Philadelphia, Falcon Ridge, Great Waters, and Kerrville. This fall, Antje celebrates the September 15th release of her fifth album “New Wild West.”

Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series – Burlington Taiko

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents a concert of traditional Japanese taiko drumming with Burlington Taiko, on Saturday, October 21 at 3:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Rd, in Putney.

For more than thirty years, Burlington Taiko has educated New England communities about Japanese culture and entertained them with traditional Taiko drumming.

Honored three times by the International Taiko community, the group has been invited to perform in Japan. With hundreds of performances under their belt, they’ve performed for an estimated half a million people.

Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir Return To Putney

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents “dirty gospel” band Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir, on Saturday, October 14th at 3:00 pm at the Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Rd., in Putney.

“Reverend Vince utilizes his mixture of gospel, funk, and dance music as a platform to preach peace, tolerance, and love of humanity,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “We hosted the Rev and his Love Choir last year inside the theater, and after that evening of religious intoxication through music, we knew we had to bring him back as part of our Bandwagon Series.”

After coming to New York in the 90’s to enter the seminary, studying to be a Methodist minister, Reverend Vince Anderson dropped out to follow his second calling – music. His band, The Love Choir, defines its style as “dirty gospel,” busting out trumpets, guitars and a keyboard. Together, they have played a now-legendary weekly show in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for over twenty years. Reconnecting with his faith and using his intense soulful music, he began to preach a type of spirituality that meets people where they are, is open to all, and moves everyone that sees him play. Reverend Vince is also deeply involved in social activism, working with other progressive faith leaders at home and around the country to build inclusive communities.

Internationally Renowned Composer/2018 Guggenheim Fellow Felipe Salles Presents His Groundbreaking Multimedia Work The New Immigrant Experience at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents Internationally renowned composer/2018 Guggenheim Fellow Felipe Salles’s groundbreaking multimedia work “The New Immigrant Experience”, on Friday, October 13 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, in Putney, Vermont. The project captures the experiences of Dreamers in America in concert.

“Felipe Salles is a jazz composer who uses his personal narrative of an immigrant to help us understand the human stories behind headlines in the news,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “We love presenting artists who utilize their artistry as a lever for social change and bringing us together. We’re proud to bring Salles into local schools to talk with kids and present his craft.”

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Seeks New Singers!

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus welcomes new members to sing with us in an Open Rehearsal tomorrow, September 14th. Come join in the singing in person on Thursday mornings or evenings, or virtually on Friday mornings (just for the month of October). This Open Rehearsal is for to new singers to come and check out the chorus to see if it is a good fit for them. Advance registration is required for all singers via our website.

The Chorus welcomes anyone ages 10 and up who identifies as female or non-binary, and whose vocal range comfortably includes the A in the middle of the treble staff. All abilities are welcome and no auditions are required. 

Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series – Soggy Po Boys

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series and Twilight Music present an evening of brass-fueled, swinging music of New Orleans by the Soggy Po Boys, on Sunday, October 8 at 3:00 pm at West River Park in Brattleboro, VT. The jazz septet brings The Big Easy to street corners, clubs, festivals, and concert halls, celebrating the sounds and stories of New Orleans.

The Soggy Po’ Boys have spread the good news of New Orleans music across the northeast and beyond since 2012. Stu Dias (vocals, guitar), Eric Klaxton (clarinet, soprano sax), Josh Gagnon (trombone), Nick Mainella (tenor sax), Mike Effenberger (piano), Brian Waterhouse (drums), and Scott Kiefner (bass) explore the vast musical traditions of New Orleans, looking beyond NOLA jazz to include traditional Caribbean tunes, Meters funk, soul, and brass band/street beat music. Next Stage Production Director and Twilight Music’s Barry Stockwell notes “the Soggy Po Boys lit up a full house at Next Stage on a cold, December, Saturday night with the uplifting sounds and spirit of New Orleans – we’re thrilled to bring the party outdoors as part of the Bandwagon Summer Series.”

Next Stage Arts Presents Double Bill featuring Priya Darshini and the Argentinian Chamamé of the Alejandro Brittes Quartet

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents a double bill featuring the Hindustani and Carnatic-influenced New Age music of Priya Darshini, and the Argentinian Chamamé of the Alejandro Brittes Quartet, on Friday, October 6 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, in Putney, Vermont.

Born in Chennai, raised in Mumbai, India, and based in New York, Priya Darshini’s distinct style takes inspiration from her diverse cultural and life experiences. Rooted in Hindustani and Carnatic Indian Classical music, her improvisational mastery, and vast knowledge of music from around the world, Priya’s music is elegant, tranquil, virtuosic, intricately layered, and pushes compositional boundaries while effortlessly weaving her distinct multicultural experience into a unique and timeless musical tapestry. As John Schafer of WNYC remarks “[Priya Darshini’s] music incorporates a world of influences and lives on the periphery, much like herself.”

New Orleans Brass Band this Sunday in Guilford

by DonInGuilford | Music

The Celebration Brass Band of Southern Vermont and the Christ Church Guilford Society invite everyone to a free concert on the lawn of Christ Church on Route 5 in the Village of Algiers, this Sunday, September 10 at 2:00 pm. This event was postponed from July due to rain.

The concert will honor those lost during the Covid-19 pandemic. Those attending are invited to write down the names, birthdates and dates of passage, cause of death, and/or any family related information that they might want to share, omitting whatever they prefer to keep private. Or, you may simply call out the name during this part of the program. At the end of each set, a reader will call out memories of the deceased over a slow drumroll, and invite members of the audience, and the band, to call out their name. Then the band will roll into a dirge, in the timeless New Orleans tradition.

This is the second outdoor concert at the historic 1817 church this summer. The series began with the BUHS Jazz Band and honored retiring director Steve Rice.

Indie Folk-Rock Duo Sway Wild to Perform at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents indie folk-rock duo Sway Wild, on Thursday, August 31 at 7:00 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, in Putney, Vermont.

Sway Wild was born on a small island in the Salish Sea.

Following a two-month sailing voyage through the remote anchorages of British Columbia, acclaimed indie-folk duo Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer, returned to their San Juan Island, Washington home still hungry to explore. The result was nothing short of an artistic epiphany; an evolution of sound that called out loudly for a new name. Sway Wild released its self-titled debut album worldwide in 2019.

Chris Smither Returns To Bellows Falls, Bringing The Suitcase Junket With Him – Ray Massucco Concert Series September 23

by hahrenholz | Music

Chris Smither, the towering figure in American acoustic blues, knows what he’s doing. He burst onto the singer/songwriter scene in the late 1960’s with a unique finger-picking style and a ragged world-weary voice. And then he just kept going. Along the way he amassed major fans, folks like the late founder of Little Feat, Lowell George, and Townes Van Zandt, who, amongst other things, always credited Smither with saving his life in a Florida swimming pool one hazy night, and Bonnie Raitt, whose recording of Smither’s “Love You Like A Man” entered the pantheon of stone-cold classics any number of years ago. Now, with eighteen albums under his belt and one of the most stellar reputations a living guitar god could hope to have, Smither returns to Vermont this September for the third Ray Massucco Concert Series show on Saturday, September 23, at the Bellows Falls Opera House.

Opening the show is Windham County’s favorite son, Matt Lorenz, aka The Suitcase Junket. “It is super exciting to see these two on the same bill,” enthuses Ezra Veitch of Ray’s the Roof Productions, organizers of the series. “Both Suitcase and Smither deconstruct the blues, rearrange it, and put it back together in a way that is purely their own.”

Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents genre-bending ensemble Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp on Saturday, September 16 at 5:00 pm at the Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Rd, Putney. Mixing free jazz, post-punk, highlife, brass band, symphonic mixtures and kraut rock, OTPMD’s sound only goes beyond the limits of genre. 

Founded in 2006 by Vincent Bertholet (Hyperculte), the Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp is a large-scale project. Designed as a real orchestra, the size of the ensemble has varied over time. Now with 12 members, 14 in the past or 6 at the beginning, the ensemble has scoured the stages of Europe to demonstrate that the formula “the more the merrier” has never been more true than on stage.

Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents The Slambovian Circus of Dreams

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series and Twilight Music present acoustic/electric, folk-pop/Americana sextet The Slambovian Circus of Dreams on Sunday, September 3 at 5:00 pm at the SVG Multipurpose Field in Bellows Falls, VT. For over 25 years, the Sleepy Hollow, NY-based Slambovians have expanded the borders of Americana music with a rootsy rockin’ psychedelica, fantastic stories, and electrifying live performances – a mix of Washington Irving, Woodstock, and British Invasion that’s “mightily impressive and hugely original rock from the cool end of Americana” (Maverick Magazine).

The music of The Slambovian Circus of Dreams has been described as “hillbilly-Floyd,” “alt-country, roots-rock,” and “surreal Americana” – a clear indicator of its singularly indescribable uniqueness. The sextet’s melodic avant-folk conjures with an exotic instrumental arsenal (accordion, cello, mandolin, theremin) in addition to standard rock regalia, and a palette of styles ranging from dusty Americana ballads to huge Pink Floydesque cinematic anthems. Dancing freely between all existing religious and philosophical mythologies, the music is uplifting, empowering, and a lot of fun.

Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block Band to Play on the Bandwagon Summer Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Balla Kouyaté & Mike Block Band on Saturday, September 9 at 5:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Rd, in Putney, Vermont.

Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block have been collaborating for over a decade, bonding over their shared interest in music from across the world, and their commitment to innovating on their instruments. Balla Kouyate, a balafon player and singer coming out of the Djeli tradition of Mali, was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship from the NEA. Mike Block is an American cellist/singer/composer, and a Grammy Award-winning musician with the Silkroad Ensemble originally trained in Western Classical music. They have teamed up with friends from America and West Africa to create an exciting fusion of musical styles in a 6-piece band that features Sekou Dembele (djembe/vocals), Idrissa Kone (talking drum/calabash/percussion/vocals), Luke Okerlund (electric guitar) and Mike Rivard (bass/sintir).