Music

Music section

Vermont Jazz Center Concert to Benefit Windham County Heat Fund

by RDavis | Music

The Vermont Jazz Center (VJC) is hosting a benefit concert for the Windham County Heat Fund on Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jazz Center, Cotton Mill Hill, Brattleboro, VT. The concert will celebrate the 80th birthday of bassist Cameron Brown.

Bass maestro Cameron Brown has been teaching at the VJC’s Summer Jazz Workshop since 2006.

His contributions and historic legacy will be honored as he and his New York-based band perform on March 21. All proceeds will go to the Windham County Heat Fund.

Dance Party with The Gaslight Tinkers + Luke Concannon: The Genre-Bending Future of the Music of the Past

by hahrenholz | Music

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.

Guilford Chamber Singers Seeks Singers for June Concert

by fomag | Music

Guilford Chamber Singers, sponsored by Friends of Music at Guilford, is seeking voices for our June concert, A Cappella a la Carte (exact date TBA).

We are a well-regarded ensemble led by Tom Baehr, veteran director of multiple FOMAG concerts since 2014.  Repertoire would be part-songs covering 5 centuries, 17th to 21st.  The lyricists are quite varied, including Elgar, Campion, Thoreau, Emerson, Blake, Sterndale Bennett and more.

Vermont Timbre Hosts Open Mic with Special Guest Peter Siegel

by hahrenholz | Music

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.

Twilight Music Brings a Songwriters’ Circle—and a Headliner—to Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Putney’s Twilight Music series continues its tradition of intimate, listening-room concerts with a standout Singer/Songwriter Showcase on Friday, March 20, at Next Stage Arts. The evening opens with a special in-the-round set from Early Risers, Jake Klar, and Lizzy Mandell, before culminating in Andrea von Kampen’s debut performance at the venue.

Doors open at 6:45 pm, with music beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the door, or $10 for the livestream, available at nextstagearts.org.

The opening set brings three distinct voices together in a collaborative circle. Early Risers—known for their close harmonies and roots-rich arrangements featuring banjo, mandolin, piano, guitar, and shruti box—reunited in 2015 after solo careers and quickly found national traction. Their debut album, Making Life Sweet, topped the Folk DJ Charts, with multiple tracks landing in the top ten.

Opening Doors Project Brings “Race & Song” to Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY — Music, memory, and meaning will take center stage at Next Stage Arts on Saturday, March 14, when the Opening Doors Project presents Race & Song: A Musical Conversation with Pamela Means and Alastair Moock.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:45 p.m., at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill in Putney. Tickets are available at nextstagearts.org for $20 in advance, $25 at the door, or $10 for the livestream option.

Where Tradition Takes Flight: Kalos with Dan Houghton & Rachel Clemente at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

On Friday, March 6, Next Stage Arts in Putney becomes a meeting place for tradition and daring invention when Twilight Music presents Kalos plus Dan Houghton & Rachel Clemente. With pipes, fiddle, guitars, harp, and fearless twists, this is high-energy traditional folk that respects its roots while gleefully pushing past their edges.

At the heart of the evening is Kalos, a trio known for reshaping Celtic roots music with rhythmic drive, intricate arrangements, and an infectious sense of joy. Eric McDonald, Ryan McKasson, and Jeremiah McLane are masters of tradition who deliberately explore its shadowed corners, creating music that feels both ancient and startlingly new. Their sound is complex yet inviting, propelled by pulse and precision, and grounded in deep artistic integrity.

Corey Harris and Sunny Lowdown Bring Acoustic Blues to Putney

by hahrenholz | Music

On a cold winter night in late February, the blues will feel warm and close at hand in Putney.

On Saturday, Feb. 28, Next Stage Arts welcomes Corey Harris with Sunny Lowdown for an evening of acoustic blues that promises depth, groove, and soul. Doors open at 6:45 PM, with the show beginning at 7:30 PM, at 15 Kimball Hill in Putney. Tickets are available at nextstagearts.org for $22 in advance, $26 at the door, or $10 for the livestream.

Queralt Giralt Soler Trio Brings Lyrical, Genre-Blurring Sound to Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts welcomes an intimate and adventurous evening of music on Friday, February 20, with a performance by the Queralt Giralt Soler Trio, a group known for its poetic fusion of cello, voice, jazz, and Catalan folk traditions. The concert begins at 7:30 PM, with doors opening at 6:45 PM, at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney.

Cellist, vocalist, and composer Queralt Giralt Soler creates music that resists easy categorization. Drawing from her classical training and deep roots in Catalan folk music, she blends lyrical cello lines with expressive vocals, jazz improvisation, and contemporary textures to form a sound that feels both expansive and deeply personal. Her performances invite listeners into a rich emotional landscape—quietly powerful, exploratory, and full of nuance.

Masters of Nordic Folk: Frigg Brings “Nordgrass” to Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts will welcome an electrifying night of Nordic folk music on Thursday, February 5, when internationally acclaimed Finnish band Frigg takes the stage with opening set by fiddle duo Teho. The show begins at 7:00 pm, with doors opening at 6:15 pm, at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney.

Hailing from Finland and celebrated worldwide, Frigg is among the most exhilarating and innovative bands in contemporary folk music. The six-piece ensemble are true masters of the Finnish folk tradition, known for delivering heart-bursting, life-affirming tunes with astonishing precision and joy.

Named after the Norse goddess of love and fertility, Frigg has forged a singular sound they call “Nordgrass”—a captivating fusion of Nordic folk music and American bluegrass. Their violin-driven melodies soar over ringing strings and the deep, propulsive pulse of double bass, creating music that feels both ancient and entirely fresh. The result is hypnotic, infectious, and often impossible to sit still through.

Endless Butter: A Communal Feast of Poetry and Music

by hahrenholz | Music

Midwinter calls for warmth, words, and community—and Endless Butter: A Communal Feast of Poetry and Music offers all three.

On Sunday, February 1, from 1–4 pm, Next Stage Arts in Putney will host an afternoon inspired by the legend of St. Brigid, patron saint of poetry, fertility, and everyday miracles. The title nods to one of her most beloved miracles: endless butter—an emblem of abundance, generosity, and shared sustenance during the lean months of winter.

This gathering brings together an extraordinary roster of regional poets, musicians, and a storyteller for a relaxed, come-and-go celebration of art and connection. Poets include Sarah Anderson, Katie Bachler, Megan Buchanan, Michael Carter, James Crews, Dede Cummings, Alice Fogel, Lyedie Geer, Taylor Mardis Katz, Brad Peacock, Ben Pease, Erin Pesut, Nellie Prior, and Diana Whitney. Music will be woven throughout the afternoon by Elijah Berlow, Gráinne Buchanan, Jake Klar, Shawn Magee, Hannah Mohan, and Brendan Taaffe, with Michael Kohout serving as seanchaí—traditional storyteller and keeper of tales.

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music Present a Singer-Songwriter Showcase

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts, in partnership with Twilight Music, welcomes an evening of intimate storytelling and rich musical textures on Friday, January 30, with doors at 6:45 PM and the show starting at 7:30 PM. Tickets are available at nextstagearts.org: $20 advance, $25 at the door, or $10 for the livestream.

The evening features Southern Vermont’s own Jason Scaggs, Emily Margaret, and Michael Roberts, opening with an intimate in-the-round set. Jason Scaggs blends Appalachian roots with Southern Vermont’s adventurous spirit, fusing bluegrass traditions with improvisation and groove-forward rhythms. Emily Margaret, an 18-year-old from Guilford, VT, captivates with a voice that moves effortlessly from subtle intimacy to full-bodied power, blending influences of R&B and jazz into deeply personal songs. Michael Roberts, described by Seven Days Vermont as “a Vermont treasure,” brings his wide-ranging experience—from indie folk to ambient soundscapes—creating a textured, soulful performance.

Next Stage Hosts Winter Solstice Celebration, Community Sing-Along, and Cookie Swap on December 20

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY — Next Stage Arts invites the community to gather for an afternoon of light, music, and togetherness at its Winter Solstice Celebration on Saturday, December 20. The event features hands-on activities, a festive cookie swap, and a joyful community sing-along, all free and open to all ages.

The celebration begins from 2:00–3:00 pm with luminaria decorating, offering families and individuals a chance to create glowing artworks to brighten the darkest time of year. At the same time, community members are invited to participate in a cookie swap drop-off, bringing a batch of homemade treats to share.

Antje Duvekot and Seth Glier at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present contemporary folk singer/songwriters Antje Duvekot and Seth Glier on Saturday, December 20 at 7:30 PM at Next Stage. Together, Antje and Seth create an evening of luminous storytelling—songs of heart, conscience, and connection that illuminate both the inner and outer landscapes of our lives.

Antje Duvekot is a German-born, American-raised singer/songwriter whose work has been critically praised for its hard-won wisdom, dark-eyed realism, and street-smart romanticism. Her bicultural upbringing and relative newness to English have shaped a unique poetic voice, giving her songs a startlingly original palette. These qualities underpin the powerful, empathetic perspective that informs everything she writes. Antje has won top songwriting honors, 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.

A Night with Broadway Composer David Yazbek Comes to Putney

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents A Night with Broadway Composer David Yazbek on Saturday, December 13 at 7:30 pm (doors at 6:45) at 15 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT. Tickets are $30 in advance / $35 at the door at nextstagearts.org.

What’s left for the celebrated composer-lyricist behind The Band’s Visit, The Full Monty, Tootsie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Dead Outlaw, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown—a career that’s earned him multiple Tonys and Grammy nominations?

Celebrate the Season with “An Irish Christmas” at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music invite you to a magical evening of traditional Irish and original holiday music with John Doyle and Cathie Ryan on Friday, December 5 at 7:30 pm. “An Irish Christmas” brings the warmth and joy of the season to life through song, story, and memories of festive Irish traditions.

John Doyle and Cathie Ryan are longtime friends and collaborators, celebrated across the globe for their mastery of Irish music. While they have toured extensively throughout Europe, they rarely perform as a duo in the U.S. They are both members of the acclaimed ensemble The Irish Music Masters and were featured in the PBS special The Soul of Christmas. Together, they blend traditional tunes with original songs that continue to shape the Irish music tradition.

Mandolin Masters Matt Flinner & Joe K. Walsh Bring an Intimate Evening of Acoustic Brilliance

by hahrenholz | Music

Two of the finest mandolinists in the modern acoustic world are coming together for a special evening of music that promises to delight fans of bluegrass, roots, and contemporary string band sounds.

Matt Flinner, a National Banjo and Mandolin Champion, has spent decades pushing the boundaries of acoustic music. From performing at bluegrass festivals before his teens to touring and recording with artists ranging from Steve Martin to the Modern Mandolin Quartet, Flinner’s artistry is widely celebrated for its musicality, innovation, and versatility.

The Clements Brothers and The Early Risers at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of contemporary folk, roots, and Americana music with The Clements Brothers and The Early Risers at Next Stage on Friday, October 10, at 7:30 pm.

The Clements Brothers—George (guitar) and Charles (upright bass)—are identical twins from the heart of New England. They have been writing and performing music together for as long as they can remember, first emerging on the Americana scene in 2012 as part of the internationally touring grassroots band The Lonely Heartstring Band, releasing two albums on Rounder Records. More recently, George has played the role of Paul Simon in the national hit The Simon and Garfunkel Story, while Charles has performed in the bass section of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Drawing on roots, rock, bluegrass, jazz, and classical influences, The Clements Brothers craft a unique singer-songwriter sound, blending harmonies only possible with their identical voices—at once enthralling and intimate, groovy and serene.

Save A Life – Windham County Heat Fund Concert

by RDavis | Music

The Windham County Heat Fund is presenting a concert on Sunday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the Heart Rose Club (formerly Shriners’ Hall), 11 Green Street in Brattleboro. It might seem that the title for our event is an exaggeration, but it is not.

Earlier this year Trump fired all of the people who administer the funds for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The funds, about four billion dollars, were thought to be available but there will be no one to administer them. I have contacted state and federal officials and no one knows what the status of the LIHEAP program is.

Heat Fund Concert September 14

by RDavis | Music

The Trump administration has destroyed the federal fuel assistance program. The heat fund is trying to make up some of the shortfall with a $100,000 Go Fund Me Goal.

The Thomas THOMPSON Trust is matching every dollar of the first $20,000 donated.