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Tuesday, June 8, 2021
Festivals / Music Champlain Valley Fair Announces 2021 Entertainment Lineup
Posted
By Jordan Adams
on Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 1:50 PM
The Champlain Valley Fair announced its 2021 entertainment lineup on Tuesday. Though no major touring artists will rock the Coca-Cola Grandstand this year, a number of tribute bands will appear, as well as several motorsport events. All six concerts are free with fair admission, but fairgoers will need to purchase tickets to the motorsport events.
Friday, May 28, 2021
Theater 'Hadestown' Returns to Broadway
Posted
By Jordan Adams
on Fri, May 28, 2021 at 2:03 PM
The smash musical Hadestown returns to Broadway on Thursday, September 2. Written by Vermont singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, the show won eight Tony Awards in 2019, and was nominated for an additional six. Performances on Broadway were suspended in March 2020, when all of New York City's theaters closed due to the pandemic.
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Music Higher Ground and Burlington City Arts Announce New Event Series, Backside 405
Posted
By Jordan Adams
on Tue, May 25, 2021 at 10:28 AM
Higher Ground and Burlington City Arts are teaming up for a new outdoor event series in the South End. Backside 405 will take place behind BCA Studios at 405 Pine St., and feature live music and DJs, food trucks and alcohol sales. The series, which begins this weekend, will start out with a 500-person capacity.
Backside 405 is set to run every Friday and Saturday through July. The kickoff on Friday, May 28, features DJ Disco Phantom. Saturday's show brings surf-rock band Barbacoa and psych-rock trio Quiltro. View the full lineup on Facebook.
Gates will open at 7 p.m., and music will run from 8 to 10 p.m. with a hard cutoff time. Tickets are expected to be in the $10-15 range. A season pass is available for $99.
Backside 405 is set to run every Friday and Saturday through July. The kickoff on Friday, May 28, features DJ Disco Phantom. Saturday's show brings surf-rock band Barbacoa and psych-rock trio Quiltro. View the full lineup on Facebook.
Gates will open at 7 p.m., and music will run from 8 to 10 p.m. with a hard cutoff time. Tickets are expected to be in the $10-15 range. A season pass is available for $99.
“Since most indoor venues (including HG) aren’t reopening in earnest until the end of the summer, we wanted to provide a summer stage to artists who are hungry to perform again,” Higher Ground co-owner Alex Crothers wrote in an email.
The performance area will be protected from the elements, and the shows are rain or shine. Masks are encouraged but not required for the event, according to a press release from Higher Ground.
The performance area will be protected from the elements, and the shows are rain or shine. Masks are encouraged but not required for the event, according to a press release from Higher Ground.
The Burlington City Council recently pushed back a vote to eliminate the citywide mask ordinance to June 7. Though masks are currently still required in Burlington city buildings and retail establishments, other Queen City spaces are regulated by the state's guidance, which says that only unvaccinated people need to wear masks. Capacity on outdoor events is currently limited to 900 unvaccinated people.
Find ticket info for Backside 405 here and at highergroundmusic.com.
Find ticket info for Backside 405 here and at highergroundmusic.com.
Friday, May 14, 2021
Art / Business Potter Jeremy Ayers Fends Off Corporate Copycat
Posted
By Pamela Polston
on Fri, May 14, 2021 at 5:21 PM
When is imitation not the sincerest form of flattery? When it's actually a rip-off.
Vermont potter Jeremy Ayers recently learned from an observant Instagram follower that a corporate behemoth appeared to have copied one of his designs. Clothing and home goods retailer Anthropologie was offering a mug that looked suspiciously like one Ayers has been making for the past decade.
It's a distinctive design — striped glaze, "accordion" shape. But Anthropologie's version had a crucial difference: "The handle sucks," Ayers wrote on his Facebook page. Indeed, any experienced potter — or frequent holder of mugs — could see that the semi-circular handle of the Anthropologie mug is not hand-friendly.
And, of course, there was another key difference: price. Anthropologie's mug was priced at $14.99, Ayers said. His mugs, thrown one at a time in the artisan's Waterbury studio, sell for $40 apiece.
Vermont potter Jeremy Ayers recently learned from an observant Instagram follower that a corporate behemoth appeared to have copied one of his designs. Clothing and home goods retailer Anthropologie was offering a mug that looked suspiciously like one Ayers has been making for the past decade.
It's a distinctive design — striped glaze, "accordion" shape. But Anthropologie's version had a crucial difference: "The handle sucks," Ayers wrote on his Facebook page. Indeed, any experienced potter — or frequent holder of mugs — could see that the semi-circular handle of the Anthropologie mug is not hand-friendly.
And, of course, there was another key difference: price. Anthropologie's mug was priced at $14.99, Ayers said. His mugs, thrown one at a time in the artisan's Waterbury studio, sell for $40 apiece.
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Festivals / Music Burlington Discover Jazz Festival Announces Lineup
Posted
By Jordan Adams
on Tue, May 11, 2021 at 2:49 PM
The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival is back.
From Friday, June 4, through Sunday, June 13, the annual music marathon returns to various locations around the Queen City, centering on the Church Street Marketplace, organizers announced in a press conference on Tuesday. In 2020, BDJF pivoted to a fully virtual experience called the Burlington ReDiscover Jazz Festival. This year's edition marks the first major live event to hit the Green Mountains since the coronavirus pandemic decimated the performing arts industry in March 2020.
BDJF 2021 will be scaled down from past years, but will nonetheless include a robust selection of local and regional artists, as well as local school band performances. Except for a few ticketed shows at Main Street nightclub Nectar's and Church Street mainstay Halvorson's Upstreet Café, all BDJF performances will be free to the public. See the full lineup below.
While the bulk of BDJF shows will happen on the Church Street Marketplace, green spaces such as Roosevelt Park, Starr Farm Park & Playground and Smalley Park will also host performances. These include sets from Dwight & Nicole (Saturday, June 5), Kat Wright (Sunday, June 6) and Matthew Evan Taylor featuring JACK Quartet (Sunday, June 13). An extension of the Flynn's 2020 event series, Hurly Burly, the park shows will feature artists performing on makeshift stages wheeled in on the back of flatbed trucks.
Additionally, the entire block of Main Street in front of the Flynn will become a Hurly Burly block party on Saturday, June 12, with performances from Ray Vega and his Latin Jazz Sextet, plus psych fusion outfit Barika.
Other performances of note include what are being called "conversations" between disparate artists who've never previously worked together. Conceived of and curated by Saint Michael's College associate professor of art Bill Ellis, the unique pairings include saxophonist Brian McCarthy and rapper Edwin Owusu (fka S.I.N.siZZle), pianist Tom Cleary and Afro-jazz duo KeruBo's Irene Kerubo Webster, vocalist Amber deLaurentis and cumbia bandleader Maïz Sandoval, guitarists Paul Asbell and Mikahely, and violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain with percussionist Gopal Niroula. Dates and times are TBA.
From Friday, June 4, through Sunday, June 13, the annual music marathon returns to various locations around the Queen City, centering on the Church Street Marketplace, organizers announced in a press conference on Tuesday. In 2020, BDJF pivoted to a fully virtual experience called the Burlington ReDiscover Jazz Festival. This year's edition marks the first major live event to hit the Green Mountains since the coronavirus pandemic decimated the performing arts industry in March 2020.
Related Burlington Discover Jazz Festival Goes Virtual
Burlington Discover Jazz Festival Goes Virtual
Music News + Views
The festival kicks off on June 4 with an event called 50 Saxophones on the Burlington Waterfront. Led by local funk icon Dave Grippo, scores of local sax players will converge for the inaugural event.
While the bulk of BDJF shows will happen on the Church Street Marketplace, green spaces such as Roosevelt Park, Starr Farm Park & Playground and Smalley Park will also host performances. These include sets from Dwight & Nicole (Saturday, June 5), Kat Wright (Sunday, June 6) and Matthew Evan Taylor featuring JACK Quartet (Sunday, June 13). An extension of the Flynn's 2020 event series, Hurly Burly, the park shows will feature artists performing on makeshift stages wheeled in on the back of flatbed trucks.
Additionally, the entire block of Main Street in front of the Flynn will become a Hurly Burly block party on Saturday, June 12, with performances from Ray Vega and his Latin Jazz Sextet, plus psych fusion outfit Barika.
Related The Flynn Announces New Event Series, Hurly Burly
The Flynn Announces New Event Series, Hurly Burly
Live Culture
PDF jazz_lineup.pdf
Saturday, May 1, 2021
LGBT / Theater Vermont Pride Theater Evolves Into Vermont Social Justice Festival
Posted
By Margaret Grayson
on Sat, May 1, 2021 at 8:00 AM
After 10 years hosting festivals and benefits to celebrate LGBTQ theater, the Vermont Pride Theater at the Chandler Center for the Arts is relaunching as the Vermont Social Justice Festival. The event, which will begin in summer 2022, is widening its scope to examine diversity, inequality and other issues.
Vermont Pride Theater began a decade ago to bring LGBTQ voices to the stage in Randolph and has since presented more than 50 events. According to Chandler executive director Karen Dillon, 10-year lifespan was always the plan; that milestone gave the Chandler board a chance to deliberate on what would come next.
Using Vermont Pride Theater as a springboard, they decided to go bigger.
Vermont Pride Theater began a decade ago to bring LGBTQ voices to the stage in Randolph and has since presented more than 50 events. According to Chandler executive director Karen Dillon, 10-year lifespan was always the plan; that milestone gave the Chandler board a chance to deliberate on what would come next.
Using Vermont Pride Theater as a springboard, they decided to go bigger.
Friday, April 23, 2021
Video 'Pandemic Passings' Video Documents Transitions in the COVID-19 Era
Posted
By Elizabeth M. Seyler
on Fri, Apr 23, 2021 at 9:13 AM
What does the word “passing” mean to you? For Vermont artist and healer Tracy Penfield, it could mean a transition, such as a move, a divorce, a job loss or the death of a loved one. Or it could be a transformation brought on by circumstance or inspiration.
Penfield’s new video, Pandemic Passings, cocreated with fellow artist Tess Holbrook, documents a range of passings Americans have experienced during the COVID-19 era. In the 51-minute video, 10 people aged 13 to sixtysomething, share their own passing stories. Hailing from Vermont, other New England states, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York City, professionals and amateurs alike sing, dance, read prose and show visual art and photographs. The video premieres on YouTube Sunday, April 25, at 7 p.m.
Penfield’s new video, Pandemic Passings, cocreated with fellow artist Tess Holbrook, documents a range of passings Americans have experienced during the COVID-19 era. In the 51-minute video, 10 people aged 13 to sixtysomething, share their own passing stories. Hailing from Vermont, other New England states, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York City, professionals and amateurs alike sing, dance, read prose and show visual art and photographs. The video premieres on YouTube Sunday, April 25, at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Burlington Burlington Mourns Beloved Bartender Monique Ford
Posted
By Dan Bolles
on Tue, Apr 6, 2021 at 4:53 PM
The first flowers appeared by the front door of Three Needs Taproom in Burlington sometime on Sunday night. By Monday morning, several more bouquets had joined those in the entryway of the Pearl Street bar, along with candles, a few cards and at least one bottle of Polar seltzer. As of this writing on Tuesday afternoon, the shrine is overflowing onto the sidewalk with flowers, tokens, candy, chalk drawings and other offerings to the memory of a Burlington legend.
Monique Ford died suddenly over the weekend. The cause has not yet been determined. Her unexpected death sent shockwaves through the Burlington community and beyond. In Queen City circles, social media have largely focused on two topics since Sunday: people registering for or getting the coronavirus vaccine and those sharing memories and grief about "Mo."
Monique Ford died suddenly over the weekend. The cause has not yet been determined. Her unexpected death sent shockwaves through the Burlington community and beyond. In Queen City circles, social media have largely focused on two topics since Sunday: people registering for or getting the coronavirus vaccine and those sharing memories and grief about "Mo."
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Media Media Note: Josh Crane and Myra Flynn Join Vermont Public Radio
Posted
By Jordan Adams
on Tue, Mar 23, 2021 at 5:14 PM
Podcast producer Josh Crane and singer-songwriter Myra Flynn, a former journalist at the Burlington Free Press, have joined Vermont Public Radio as engagement producers. They'll primarily support the station's Brave Little State podcast, an investigative program that uses audience-sourced queries as the foundation of its stories.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Art Judge Says Vermont Law School Can Cover Controversial Murals
Posted
By Margaret Grayson
on Wed, Mar 17, 2021 at 6:00 PM
In an order last week, a judge denied a preliminary injunction filed by artist Sam Kerson to stop his mural at Vermont Law School from being covered on the grounds that covering it would violate a federal statute protecting artwork. Kerson, the judge wrote on March 10, “is unlikely to succeed on the merits in this case.”
VLS is free to install acoustic panels on a frame in front of the mural, which the school says will not touch or damage the painting in any way. Kerson, who filed suit in December in U.S. District Court, wanted to halt that construction for the duration of the trial.
VLS is free to install acoustic panels on a frame in front of the mural, which the school says will not touch or damage the painting in any way. Kerson, who filed suit in December in U.S. District Court, wanted to halt that construction for the duration of the trial.
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