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Havens in Woodstock all over again

Something about this town sounds familiar to singer-songwriter Richie Havens.

“I’ve been in five different Woodstocks, and one of them was in Germany,” said Havens, who opened up the three-day Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969 and who will bring his message of peace and love to the Historic Town Hall Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

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The Local Spin Pulling some WOOL over your eyes?

While corporate radio has taken over many of the major radio stations and airways, the Internet has offered an opportunity for the rise of many new small online stations. One such station is WOOL.fm (www.wool.fm).

I’ve been to WOOL’s station in Bellows Falls, located in what looks like an old deserted building. With the tag line “Black Sheep Radio,” this station has that underground, almost college radio feel. It is one of the many LPFM (low-powered FM) stations that are struggling to survive in the era of media consolidation.

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‘Really Big Show’ features more than 20 performers

For 15-year-old Natalie Brierre and 13-year-old Taylor Ampatiellos show business is all about the big stage, the big crowd and, in Rutland, “The Really Big Show.”

The two cousins are only at the start of following their dreams of bright lights and bright stars but the pair have already had a taste of greatness on the biggest stage in the city and they will be back for more Saturday when they compete with 20 other performers on the Paramount Theatre stage in the United Way’s annual fundraiser, “The Really Big Show.”

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Guitar master Derek Trucks comes to the Paramount

After spending more than half of his life on the road, slide-guitar master Derek Trucks is going to take a break, but before he does he and his band are tearing up venues up and down the East Coast.

“Knowing we’re going into some time off, we’re really making the most of these shows,” Trucks said following a show in Durham, N.C., the first night of a 17-date tour that will come to the Paramount Theatre on Friday night.

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The Local Spin There’s time to get Trucks tickets

Upon seeing the recent press release, I went to the Paramount’s Web site and was amazed to find that the upcoming Derek Trucks Band show had not already sold out.

I’ve had tickets for quite a while (Thanks Stephanie!) and wouldn’t miss this show for anything. Someone of Derek’s caliber in Rutland is certainly noteworthy.

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Arioso and Eleva: Excellence in Vermont chamber music

Classical music is big in central Vermont, for players as well as audiences. But, until recent years, the local ensembles have been community affairs, including three orchestras. Over the past three years, though, two chamber ensembles of local professional musicians have formed – and both are presenting concerts on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7 and 8.

The Eleva Chamber Players, a three-year-old professional chamber orchestra, will present “Brilliant! An Inspiring Evening of English String Music” in Waterbury on Nov. 7 and in Barre on Nov. 8. The year-old Arioso, a group of instrumentalists and singers, will perform a diverse program including the Tchaikovsky Piano Trio, on Nov. 7 in Montpelier and Nov. 8 in Randolph.

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Musical happenings in and around the Capital City

Published: October 30, 2009
Welcome to everyone’s favorite holiday. No awkward moments with dysfunctional family members, gift-buying stress or whatnot – just dressing up in costumes, giving out candy to kids and having fun. And on a weekend, no less … the last weekend Halloween I remember was one for the ages, and I suspect this [...]

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Beausoleil: Cajun music with New Orleans spice

Most states are lucky to have inspired one style of music, for example bluegrass from Kentucky and Tex-Mex from Texas. Louisiana’s musical heritage is exceptional. From this Deep South state we have New Orleans jazz, zydeco and its cultural cousin, Cajun music.

The Celebration Series at the Barre Opera House will present Beausoleil with Michael Doucet on Friday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m. This is the nation’s premier Cajun band so hearing them should be truly memorable.

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Musical happenings in and around the Capital City

It never ceases to amaze me how many people have never heard of this column, which has run in this space for over two years now. When informed of this fact, they usually proceed to tell me that they “never read the paper,” so I guess that explains that.

It also amazes me how many people do read it, as judged by the ones who approach me on the street every weekend saying “I’m checking this out ’cause I read it in your column.” The way I look at it, it’s a win-win situation – the dedicated readers are getting the info they need, and the ones who “never read the paper” may have a reason to check it out (not that keeping up with what is happening in our community should not be enough – get informed people!). But, anyhow, on to the music:

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BIRD SONG: Andrew Bird is a rare breed

Still riding high on widespread praise for his stunning, nearly year-old breakthrough album, “Noble Beast,” virtuoso multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter extraordinaire Andrew Bird brings his lauded one-man live show to Higher Ground on Monday.

Bird, 36, who has been touring heavily since the release of “Beast” – and for the better part of his grassroots decade-plus solo career — recently announced that he would be taking a hiatus from touring following a two-month world tour at the beginning of 2010.

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