The Local Spin: Vermont Rally

by Tom Irish

04.17.08

So here I am spinning once again for the vacationing George Nostrand.

George told me I could write about an upcoming summer event I’ve been involved in but before getting into that, here’s a benefit happening this week for a most worthy cause …

Uncle Sam’s Pub on State Street is hosting a benefit for The Westcott Family on Sunday, April 20. Becky Westcott, wife and mother, was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer and is going through radiation and chemotherapy, which as one might expect makes for difficult times for this family of four. Please come out and generously show your support from 1 to 6 p.m. while enjoying music by solo artist Ryan Fuller and the band Konundrum.

Now for that summer event … The Vermont Rally is an American Motorcyclist Association sanctioned event taking place at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland from June 6-8. Originally conceived as a motorcycle event the community could “rally” around, it has become all of that and much more.

In addition to producing the Vermont Rally Web site, I also booked the music (you knew there had to be some music in there if it’s making me spin!). A whopping 25 acts coming from locales ranging from Montreal to Florida have been confirmed for this three-day event.

Featured in the final Saturday evening slot is the area’s own Duane Carleton and The Backwoods Messiahs who this week will perform Friday at The Clear River Tavern from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. You can also catch Duane solo tonight at South Station Restaurant from 5 to 8 p.m. and again at The Clear on Saturday night. Saturday afternoon finds him at the K1 Base Lodge from 2 to 5 p.m. with the multitalented Jeff Poremski.

Other acts lined up for the Vermont Rally include Swamp Cabbage, The Holy Goats, Sarah Wallis, Cell 213, Crazy Hearse, Karl Dietel, The Thunder Road Band, CrowFeather (who asked I mention you request his single “Honey Pie” on 101.5!), Red Hot Rider, Ryan Fuller, Ziggy Jagger, Carnival Hill, Stonewall, Dominique Briar, Drag, Spectris, Konundrum, Gutterpup, Send Help, Adria, The Dubois’, The Peace, Harry Jingles and No Mercy. To each and every one of you — thank you!

Bands will perform one-hour sets alternating between two stages throughout the event. See the full schedule, get more info about the bands and find out how to get involved at www.vermontrally.com. This is sure to be a great kickoff to a huge summer of music in the region and you won’t want to miss it.

George also asked that I get this one in: The Vegas Brothers are a five-piece band that will be at Sidelines playing a wide range of covers and original music Saturday night. Check ‘em out — sounds like a new band in town.

Lastly, I’d like to publicly thank the entire Nakazawa family for their vision and enormous support making the Vermont Rally possible. Without that, it just wouldn’t be happening. Along with events like the upcoming ZZ Top concert, Friday Night Live, concerts in Depot and Main Street Parks, The Long Trail Festival, Harvest Moon, and others too numerous to list, music is making Vermont an even more alluring destination for summer travelers and giving us all more reason to embrace this wonderful region we live in.

Tom Irish is a local Web designer and musician (and now writer?) also known as “Ziggy Jagger” due to his involvement in that band. He wishes he could grow a beard like George’s, but then he’d feel compelled to rename the band something like “Rumpelstiltskin” or do lots of ZZ Top covers!

George would love to write about you (as well as George) when he returns all rested and relaxed next week … send your musical news to localspin@gmail.com and he just might.