Sunday, September 3, at 5:00
THE SLAMBOVIAN CIRCUS OF DREAMS
Tickets: $20 Advance / $25 At the Door / kids under 12 are free
Info: 802-387-0102, www.nextstagearts.org
Advance tickets: www.nextstagearts.org
Venue: SVG Multipurpose Field located at 14 Mill Street in downtown Bellows Falls, VT
Next Stage will provide a beer, wine, and cocktail cash bar, and food by Crossroads Tacos and Vermont Gelato will be available. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for outdoor seating on the lawn.
Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present acoustic/electric, folk-pop/Americana sextet The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, as part of the 2023 Next Stage “Bandwagon Summer Series.”
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.
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams is Joziah Longo, Tink Lloyd, Sharkey McEwen, RJ McCarty, Bob Torsello, and Matthew Abourezk. They have performed around the world, headlining the likes of the Wickham Festival, Fairport’s Cropredy Festival, Glastonbury, and Celtic Connections in the UK, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Strawberry Festival, and Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in the US. The Slambovians have released six critically acclaimed studio albums – “A Very Unusual Head” (2022), “A Box of Everything (2014), “The Grand Slambovians” (2012), “The Great Unravel” (2008), 2004’s double-disc “Flapjacks from the Sky,” and “A Good Thief Tips His Hat” (1998). Bandleader and songwriter Longo, (known for tall tales and philosophizing) has written two musicals with Broadway legend Theodore Mann, headlined at Carnegie Hall, and was the first American musician invited to perform in mainland China in the early 90’s ending a decade-long ban on Western music.
Twilight on the Tavern Lawn ’23 Concert Series
Twilight Music presents its 20th Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk, world beat, jazz, Americana, rock, and bluegrass summer concerts. Beginning May 28 and continuing every other Sunday through August 20, all seven free concerts begin at 6:00 pm in downtown Putney on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket). In case of rain, they will be at Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill. Bring a picnic or support our local businesses and purchase your picnic within walking distance.
Co-presented with Next Stage Arts Project, the series is sponsored by the Town of Putney, Green Mountain Well, Soundview Paper Company, Rod’s Towing and Repairs, and many other Putney area businesses and organizations. The concerts are free to the public (donations are accepted) and food will be available. For more information, call 802-387-5772.
May 28: Vermont Jazz Center Sextet
The Vermont Jazz Center Sextet is the VJC’s community outreach ensemble. Rob Freeberg (trumpet), Bill Ballard (alto saxophone), Ron Kelley (tenor saxophone), Cathy Martin (piano), Wim Auer (bass), and Steve Rice (drums) have developed programs which are performed in schools, assisted-living homes, and libraries, bringing live jazz into less formal settings. Through these performances and clinics, people who might not attend concerts at the VJC are given the opportunity to hear and learn about the music of Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, and others, with original music and arrangements often written by members of the ensemble.
June 11: The Stockwell Brothers
Bruce, Barry, Alan, and Kelly Stockwell’s music spans traditional and progressive styles, but their trademark acoustic sound features new singer/songwriter material recast with banjo, alternative rhythms, and three-part harmonies. Featuring 2005 Merlefest bluegrass banjo contest winner Bruce Stockwell, The Stockwell Brothers have performed alongside artists from Bill Monroe, Doc Watson and Earl Scruggs to Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Jonathan Edwards and Asleep At The Wheel, recorded with Mike Auldridge and Phil Rosenthal of the bluegrass supergroup The Seldom Scene, and toured throughout the United States and in Canada and Europe. Check out their upcoming events at Stockwellbrothers.com.
June 25: The Wyld Nightz Band
The Wyld Nightz Band features a diverse collection of classic rockin’ party music by six multi-instrumentalists/vocalists with decades of combined performing experience in southern Vermont. The band is Michael McKinney (guitar, cornet), Jeff Brewer (guitar, bass, banjo), Tony Speranza Jr (alto sax, pennywhistle. recorder), Tony Speranza (multi-keyboards), Matt Martyn (bass, trombone), and Pete Nichols (drums).
July 9: DiTrani Brothers
The DiTrani Brothers, by way of bent melodies and driving rhythms, play perilous tunes for the hopeful influenced by elements of Balkan music and early American jazz/swing. The band delivers both wistful and raucous performances that allude to past traditions with a contemporary sentiment. Originally from North Bend, WA, brothers Bobby and Walker DiTrani began writing songs together while traveling across the country in their decaying 88′ Nissan pickup. After playing music in the streets throughout the country, their travels eventually brought them to settle in Brattleboro, VT, where they befriended their current drummer, Eddie Gaudet. The band began touring and soon after recorded two albums, the first at The Barn in Putney, VT, and the second at The Toolshed in Port Townsend, WA. The DiTrani Brothers have since toured the country extensively, playing at venues ranging from unnamed DIY backyard stages to The House of Blues in New Orleans. Most recently, upright bass player Benjamin Richards completes the band’s current lineup. Their third album, Dust Harvest, was released on May 1st, 2023.
July 23: The Gaslight Tinkers
African, Caribbean, Funk, Reggae, and Latin grooves meet traditional fiddle music. It’s the genre-bending future of the music of the past. The Gaslight Tinkers’ blend of global rhythms creates a joyously danceable sound around a core of traditional New England old time and celtic fiddle music, merging boundless positive energy with melody and song. Since its formation in 2012 the band has lit up the East Coast, the West Coast, and the Caribbean, headlining clubs, dances, and major festivals. Playing what The Valley Advocate describes as “Music that consistently fizzes and pops with unexpected textures and turns,” The Gaslight Tinkers’ shows are packed with delightful surprises, elated crowds, and exuberant musicianship. The sound and energy of Audrey, Jopey, Garrett, and Peter are universally irresistible.
August 6: The Woodpeckers
The Woodpeckers joyfully play the classic Swing of the 1920’s and 30’s. In a highly improvisatory, good-humored, spontaneous, conversational and interactive style they freshly interpret the exhilarating music of that time, when jazz was being born and was embraced and celebrated by young and old. The quartet includes Ron Kelley; tenor sax, Walter Slowinski; clarinet, Ty Gibbons; upright bass, and Mark Anagnostopulos; rhythm guitar. All members sing.
August 20: Planet Zydeco
New England-based Planet Zydeco plays dance music of southwest Louisiana in the Cajun and Zydeco traditions. Featuring accordion, fiddle, and vocals, backed by electric guitar, bass, rubboard, and drums, Cannon Labrie, Mark Trichka, Alan Bradbury, Michelle Kaminsky, Jack Ezikovich, and Bonita Weisman mix up-tempo songs with traditional waltzes. The band has played festivals, concerts, and dance halls throughout the northeast over the past two decades.
For more info on any Twilight Music concerts, please contact: 802-387-5772 or barryastockwell@gmail.com