Music

Music section

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present New England’s acclaimed folk/roots quartet Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem at Next Stage on Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 pm.

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem feature 4-part vocal harmonies, indelible songs, fiddle, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, and a homemade percussion kit of cardboard boxes, tin cans, caulk tubes, packing-tape tambourines, bottle-cap rattles, Mongolian jaw harps, and a vinyl suitcase. Over the past 20 years, the quartet has toured its uplifting, healing performances to concert halls, festivals, and residency engagements across North America, and has released seven CDs on Signature Sounds. From the Newport Folk Festival to California World Music Festival and beyond, this band’s steadfast brew of wit, camaraderie, and musicality leaves audiences everywhere humming and hopeful, spirits renewed.

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Seeks New Singers!

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus welcomes new singers to sing with us on March 16 or 17. Come join in the singing either in-person on Thursday mornings or evenings, or virtually on Friday mornings. Our first two weeks of rehearsals on March 16 and 23 are open to new singers to come and check out the chorus to see if it is a good fit for them (provided they email us in advance). Advance registration is required for all singers.

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. 

RUNA at Next Stage on April 2nd

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present Celtic-American Roots music quintet RUNA on Sunday, April 2 at 7:00 pm at Next Stage.

Celebrating 14 years together as a band, RUNA continues to push the boundaries of Irish folk music into the Americana and roots music formats.  Interweaving the haunting melodies and exuberant tunes of Ireland and Scotland with the lush harmonies and intoxicating rhythms of jazz, bluegrass, flamenco, and blues, they offer a thrilling and redefining take on traditional music.  RUNA has been honored internationally, winning “Top Group” and “Top Traditional Group” in the Irish Music Awards and three Independent Music Awards including “Best LIVE Album,” “Best World/Traditional Song,” and “Best Bluegrass Song.”

House of Waters and Ben Cosgrove at Next Stage on 3/25

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY, VT— 3/7/2023 — Next Stage Arts presents a double bill featuring international fusion band House of Waters, and composer and multi-instrumentalist Ben Cosgrove, on Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts.

“A virtuosic hammered dulcimer player like Max ZT is a sight to be seen,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “House of Waters can’t be placed in any boxes. Musically, it’s rich and earthy, ethereal and grounding. This is a show for the music lover to see something that doesn’t regularly happen.”

“One of the most unique groups you will ever come across . . . I can only describe their sound as being a sound which one has longed to hear without truly realising it.” (The Bubble)

“In today’s world, there are no musical boundaries,” says Max ZT of ‘House of Waters,’ a trio that makes those words come alive as they incorporate elements of West-African, jazz, psychedelic, indie rock, classical and world music into their astonishingly unique sound.

Guilford Chamber Singers Seeking Singers for June A Cappella 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. We are a well-regarded ensemble led by Tom Baehr, veteran director of our 13 concerts since 2014. This concert’s repertoire consists of songs about avians and apians; that is, birds and bees. They include “Skylark,” “Blackbird,” a song about a nightingale, and of course bees and other insects.

The Foreign Landers at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of bluegrass and folk music by The Foreign Landers on Thursday, March 16 at 7:00 pm at Next Stage.

Drawing from the musical styles of their homelands, transatlantic, multi-instrumentalist duo David Benedict (from South Carolina) and Tabitha Agnew Benedict (from Northern Ireland) join with Nate Sabat on acoustic bass and Julian Pinelli on fiddle for their 2023 tour to celebrate the release of the CD “Traveler’s Rest.” David and Tabitha’s authenticity and originality in songwriting, instrumental prowess on guitar, banjo, and mandolin, evocative vocals, and unique transatlantic touch all combine to create a unique sound that is inexpressibly foreign and yet familiar.

Walter Parks & Rob Curto’s Swampalachian Trail on 3/10

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents Walter Parks and Rob Curto’s “Swampalachian Trail” on Friday, March 10 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage

Walter Parks, longtime guitarist sideman to Woodstock legend Richie Havens joins accordionist extraordinaire Rob Curto in presenting their self-described “Swampalachian” acoustic and roots style – a blend of reels, hollers, spirituals and blues. Their project reimagines the historic soundtrack to the building of America reminding us all regardless of political and cultural diversity, that whereas we may be bonded by an often painful history, we are nonetheless moved and united in the present day by the love of great music.

Karan Casey at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present trailblazing Irish singer/songwriter Karan Casey on Thursday, March 2 at 7:00 pm at Next Stage. For her March ’23 US tour with fiddler Sheila Falls and guitarist Matt Heaton, Karan premieres songs from her brand new album “NIne Apples of Gold,” mixed with favorites from her previous eleven albums.

Singing songs charged with a sense of social responsibility in a career spanning over 25 years, Karan Casey was among the vanguard of the Irish music revival’s “third wave” of the early 1990s, and a founding member of the seminal Irish American band “Solas” before launching her solo career in 1999. Though steeped early on in Irish traditional and folk music, Karan has long followed an eclectic path, whether studying classical music, fronting jazz bands, or working with Frank Harte, a much-revered folk/traditional singer from Dublin. The list of artists that she’s collaborated with is similarly diverse – James Taylor, Maura O’Connell, Karen Matheson, the Boston Pops Orchestra, Liam Clancy, Tim O’Brien, The Chieftains, The Dubliners, and Béla Fleck, among others. A Waterford, Ireland native, Karan has performed extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Japan.

Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Johnathan Blake’s Trion

by vtjazz | Music

Three of the top musicians in jazz come together to perform as a “Trion” – a three charged particles unified as one – in an evening of energetic music at the Vermont Jazz Center on February 18th, 2023 at 7:30 PM

The Vermont Jazz Center is pleased to present an evening of adventurous music on Saturday, February 18th at 7:30 PM with Johnathan Blake’s Trion. This chord-less jazz trio (includes no chordal instrument such as piano or guitar) features three of the leading players of their generation: Chris Potter on tenor saxophone, Linda May Han Oh on acoustic bass and band leader Johnathan Blake on drums. Reviewing their self-titled recording Trion Apple-music states “Blake rides a hurricane as he convenes with two giants…Each player is amply and repeatedly featured but the trio sounds like a genuine collective, not stars hunkering down in their respective corners.” The repertoire of the group ranges from original compositions and pop tunes, to Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk standards, all performed with an open-ended concept.

Cecilia Zabala and Eugene Friesen at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY, VT— 1/12/2023 — Next Stage Arts Project presents an evening of global music with Cecilia Zabala and Eugene Friesen at Next Stage on Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 pm.

Cecilia Zabala of Buenos Aires, Argentina is a rising star on the global music scene. With 10 CDs and close to 20 years international touring experience to her credit, Zabala’s music embodies the deep soul of the acoustic guitar, from its Iberian and North African roots, to its versatility as a worldwide voice of modern musical expression.

Cecilia Zabala’s distinction as a performing artist is multi-dimensional. From a technical perspective, she is a master singer and instrumentalist, conservatory trained, and a respected guitar instructor in the cosmopolitan center of Buenos Aires. But her musical vision is far from staid. Her music bridges genres from the European classical guitar tradition to Brazilian bossa nova and MPB, from Chilean Nuevo Cancion and its Argentine relative, Nuevo Cancionero, to global jazz. Her music combines many elements of global folkloric music, in a synthesis that bridges so many styles and genres that it can fairly be described as “sui generis,” or without comparison. In one respect, the essence of her artistic identity is as a singer songwriter, but with a poetic rather than narrative character that seems distinctly South American. Her music is dreamlike, and steeped in the deep soul of her native Argentina, and by extension, Spain. In performance, whether solo or with an ensemble, Zabala is mesmerizing, from start to finish. As an instrumentalist, her performances are hypnotic. As a singer and presenter, she’s both seductive, and a bit of a sorceress, or as they say in Argentina, a “bruja.”

Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block at Next Stage on February 5th

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents a concert with Malian balafon player and singer Balla Kouyaté and American cellist, singer, and composer Mike Block, on Sunday, February 5 at 4:00 pm. Composer, kora player, percussionist and vocalist John Hughes opens.

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 Silk Road Ensemble originally trained in Western Classical music.

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present New England’s acclaimed folk/roots quartet Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem at Next Stage on Sunday, January 22 at 4:00 pm.

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem feature 4-part vocal harmonies, indelible songs, fiddle, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, and a homemade percussion kit of cardboard boxes, tin cans, caulk tubes, packing-tape tambourines, bottle-cap rattles, Mongolian jaw harps, and a vinyl suitcase. Over the past 20 years, the quartet has toured its uplifting, healing performances to concert halls, festivals, and residency engagements across North America, and has released seven CDs on Signature Sounds. From the Newport Folk Festival to California World Music Festival and beyond, this band’s steadfast brew of wit, camaraderie, and musicality leaves audiences everywhere humming and hopeful, spirits renewed.

Antje Duvekot and The Sea The Sea at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of contemporary folk music with Antje Duvekot and The Sea The Sea at Next Stage on Saturday, January 14 at 7:30 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.

Film Screening and Concert Feature Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir, at NextStage On 1/7

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents a screening of The Reverend, a documentary feature film, followed by a Q&A with director Nick Canfield on Saturday, January 7 at 2:00 pm at Next Stage. The subjects of the film, Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir, perform at Next Stage at 7:30 pm.

Monday nights in Brooklyn are world-famous because of Reverend Vince and His Love Choir,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “He’s the musician of the musicians of New York, attracting a packed house every Monday night with a who’s who list of attendees dancing. This has been a dream of ours to bring this documentary film of him, followed by Vince and the Love Choir.

THE REVEREND follows the spiritual and musical journey of Reverend Vince Anderson. After coming to New York in the 90’s to enter the seminary, Vince dropped out to follow his second calling – music. With his band The Love Choir, he has played a now-legendary weekly show 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. Filmed over several years and featuring Questlove and members of TV On The Radio, The Reverend is a rocking concert film as well as an intimate portrait of Reverend Vince’s inspiring personal and spiritual life. 86 minutes.

Winter Solstice Mini-Fest Featuring Matt Flinner and Low Lily at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an acoustic music Winter Solstice Mini-Fest featuring multi-instrumentalist Matt Flinner and folk/roots trio Low Lily on Saturday, December 17 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage. The four award winning musicians, accompanied by double bassist Steve Roy, celebrate the Solstice playing energetic instrumentals and songs for the season on mandolins, guitars, fiddle, and banjo, and singing in 3 and 4 part harmony.

Grammy-nominated mandolinist Matt Flinner has made a career out of playing acoustic music in new ways. Whether it’s with his own Matt Flinner Trio or with Phillips, Grier, and Flinner, the Frank Vignola Quartet, Darrell Scott, Steve Martin, Robbie Fulks, the Ying Quartet, Leftover Salmon, or the Modern Mandolin Quartet, Flinner’s style and compositional ability have established him as one of the most accomplished and musically diverse mandolinists in the world.

Jazz Chamber Ensemble The Global Trio Performs at Next Stage Arts on December 3rd

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents an evening with Boston-based jazz chamber ensemble The Global Trio, featuring pianist Chase Morrin, cellist Naseem Alatrash, and percussionist George Lernis, on Saturday, December 3 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts.

“Earlier this year, we hosted these musicians as part of the Berklee World Strings Ensemble,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “These three were the highlight of the show, and when we had the opportunity to bring them back, we jumped on it. They represent different cultural and faith traditions, blending elements of jazz, world music traditions, and soulful expression – we couldn’t be more proud to present this to our community.”

The Global Trio features piano, cello, and percussion, breaking boundaries in jazz, classical, and folkloric traditions from the Middle East. Seeking new sounds of inclusion and global jazz, Morrin, Alatrash, and Lernis create dynamic, energetic, and surprising compositions in order to tell stories from around the world and to bring the world of improvisation and spontaneous musical communication to the stage.

Ethiopian Ensemble QWANQWA Performs at Next Stage Arts on November 18th

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents an evening with Ethiopian ensemble QWANQWA on Friday, November 18 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts.

“The legacy of Ethiopian music has a rich history,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “It’s amazing to watch the musicians of Ethiopia carrying and building upon that rich tapestry of cultural music coming out of Eastern Africa. Qwanqwa exemplifies the virtuosity and talent in current Ethiopia – we’re excited to host them at Next Stage.”

Brought together by a shared passion for the power of Ethiopian music, this group shines an experimentalism based in the virtuosity of rooted traditions. With swirling mesenko (one-stringed fiddle), punk krar solos (electric lyre), wah-wah-violin, bass krar boom, and the unstoppable rhythm of heavy kebero (goat-skin drum) beats, powerful traditional lead African diva vocals, Qwanqwa keeps the people wrapped in celebratory attention. After making a splash at world renowned festivals Roskilde and WOMEX, and after 2 European tours under their belt, this world traveling ensemble is hitting the road in 2018 and beyond.

AJ Lee & Blue Summit and The Stockwell Brothers at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of contemporary bluegrass and Americana music from far and near by California-based AJ Lee & Blue Summit and Vermont-based The Stockwell Brothers on Saturday, November 5 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage.

Although falling loosely under the bluegrass label, AJ Lee & Blue Summit generally plays without a banjo, with Sullivan Tuttle and Scott Gates on acoustic guitars, AJ on mandolin, Jan Purat on fiddle, and Chad Bowen on acoustic bass. Drawing from influences such as country, soul, swing, rock, and jam music, the band uses the lens of bluegrass as a vessel through which to express and explore the thread that binds and unifies all great music. Since their first concert in 2015, the quintet has performed around the world, released two CDs, and garnered numerous awards including Northern California Bluegrass Society’s Best Female Vocalist, Best Bluegrass Band, Best Mandolin Player, and Best Guitar Player, as well as International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Vocalist Award and Freshgrass Band Contest winner.

Pierre Bensusan and Tim Sparks Acoustic Guitar Summit at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present an Acoustic Guitar Summit with guitar virtuosos Pierre Bensusan and Tim Sparks at Next Stage on Wednesday, October 26 at 7:00 pm. 

If World Music means the fusion of traditional, contemporary, jazz, classical, and pop music, then French-Algerian acoustic guitar legend, vocalist, and composer Pierre Bensusan is one of the most eloquent World Music musicians of our time.  Winner of the Independent Music Award for his triple live album “Encore,” voted Best World Music Guitarist by Guitar Player Magazine reader’s Poll, and winner of the Rose d’Or at the Montreux Festival for his debut album, Pierre is recognized as one of the greatest guitar players of the 21st century.  Since his first performances in 1974 in France, the “The Prince of DADGAD” has sold half a million albums and given thousands of concerts around the globe, both solo and through numerous collaborations.  “Pierre can only justly be compared to someone of the stature of Keith Jarrett; so total is his mastery of the solo instrument, his dazzling harmony, his many innovations, and his deft command of counterpoint, the jazz idiom, folk expression, and all genres between and beyond.” (Guitar Player Magazine)

Next Stage Arts Project Presents Tony Trischka & Robot Plane plus Hot Mustard

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an afternoon of banjo and bluegrass with Tony Trischka & Robot Plane and Hot Mustard, as part of the 2022 Next Stage “Bandwagon Summer Series,” on Sunday, October 9 at 3:00 pm at West River Park in Brattleboro, VT. A mix of the new and the old, the concert features banjo legend Tony Trischka’s brand new quartet, while twin banjo band Hot Mustard reunites after an eight-year hiatus to open the show.

Steeped in Bluegrass, while stretching out into Celtic, Americana, and Progressive music, Tony Trischka & Robot Plane includes acoustic music all-stars Jacob Joliff (mandolin), Jared Engel (acoustic bass), and Hannah Read (fiddle). These extraordinarily versatile and talented musicians are alumni of bands such as Country Cooking, Breakfast Special, Joy Kills Sorrow, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Bela Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart.