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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

PUTNEY, VT – Twilight Music presents a double bill of mesmerizing folk duos: Ordinary Elephant and Lizzy Mandell & Colin McCaffrey. The concert takes place Friday, September 19, at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT. Doors open at 6:45 pm. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the door, or $10 for livestream.

Ordinary Elephant—husband-and-wife duo Crystal and Pete Damore—has spent nearly a decade on the road, captivating audiences with harmony-rich, character-driven songs. The pair first garnered national attention in 2017, winning the International Folk Music Award for Artist of the Year with their breakout album Before I Go. Their follow-up, Honest, earned widespread critical acclaim, with the Associated Press naming it “one of the best Americana albums of the year.” Their latest, self-titled album distills their sound to its most essential form, highlighting hauntingly beautiful harmonies, delicate guitar work, and a rare kind of storytelling that resonates long after the final note.