Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir Return To Putney

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents “dirty gospel” band Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir, on Saturday, October 14th at 3:00 pm at the Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Rd., in Putney.

“Reverend Vince utilizes his mixture of gospel, funk, and dance music as a platform to preach peace, tolerance, and love of humanity,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “We hosted the Rev and his Love Choir last year inside the theater, and after that evening of religious intoxication through music, we knew we had to bring him back as part of our Bandwagon Series.”

After coming to New York in the 90’s to enter the seminary, studying to be a Methodist minister, Reverend Vince Anderson dropped out to follow his second calling – music. His band, The Love Choir, defines its style as “dirty gospel,” busting out trumpets, guitars and a keyboard. Together, they have played a now-legendary weekly show in Williamsburg, Brooklyn 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.


Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents genre-bending ensemble Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp on Saturday, September 16 at 5:00 pm at the Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Rd, Putney. Mixing free jazz, post-punk, highlife, brass band, symphonic mixtures and kraut rock, OTPMD’s sound only goes beyond the limits of genre. 

Founded in 2006 by Vincent Bertholet (Hyperculte), the Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp is a large-scale project. Designed as a real orchestra, the size of the ensemble has varied over time. Now with 12 members, 14 in the past or 6 at the beginning, the ensemble has scoured the stages of Europe to demonstrate that the formula “the more the merrier” has never been more true than on stage.


Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents The Slambovian Circus of Dreams

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series and Twilight Music present acoustic/electric, folk-pop/Americana sextet The Slambovian Circus of Dreams on Sunday, September 3 at 5:00 pm at the SVG Multipurpose Field in Bellows Falls, VT. For over 25 years, the Sleepy Hollow, NY-based Slambovians have expanded the borders of Americana music with a rootsy rockin’ psychedelica, fantastic stories, and electrifying live performances – a mix of Washington Irving, Woodstock, and British Invasion that’s “mightily impressive and hugely original rock from the cool end of Americana” (Maverick Magazine).

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.


Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block Band to Play on the Bandwagon Summer Stage

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Balla Kouyaté & Mike Block Band on Saturday, September 9 at 5:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Rd, in Putney, Vermont.

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 Silkroad Ensemble originally trained in Western Classical music. They have teamed up with friends from America and West Africa to create an exciting fusion of musical styles in a 6-piece band that features Sekou Dembele (djembe/vocals), Idrissa Kone (talking drum/calabash/percussion/vocals), Luke Okerlund (electric guitar) and Mike Rivard (bass/sintir).


Bandwagon Summer Series Brings Vermont Institution Bread & Puppet to Putney

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents beloved Vermont institution Bread & Puppet, bringing their touring production to Putney on Thursday, August 24 at 6:00 pm at the Grammar School at 159 Grammar School Lane, in Putney, Vermont.

The Bread and Puppet Theater celebrates their 60th anniversary with The Mother Dirt Circus!
Audiences will delight as Bread and Puppet draws on its distinctive iconography to call attention to the urgent issues of the day. Young and old will thrill to see stilt dancers and paper maché beasts of all sizes accompanied by the riotous Bread and Puppet Circus Brass Band. A colorful spectacle of protest and celebration performed under the Vermont summer sky.

Sourdough rye with aioli will be offered after the performance and The Bread and Puppet Press and Cheap Art Emporium will be open for your perusal.


Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Native Son and a Beloved Musician of New Orleans Glen David Andrews and His Band

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents native son and a beloved musician of New Orleans Glen David Andrews and his band, on Saturday, August 5 at 6:00 pm at The Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Rd, in Putney, VT.

Glen David Andrews, the prodigious trombonist and vocalist, returns to the Bandwagon Summer Series to captivate audiences once again! Andrews, touring in celebration of his highly anticipated new album, “Le Trème Carnaval,” is known for his electrifying performances and soulful compositions.

With his commanding vocals and virtuosic trombone skills, Glen David Andrews has established himself as a true force in the world of contemporary jazz and funk. A native son and a beloved musician of New Orleans, Andrews is a warrior for cultural preservation at a time when indigenous traditions are being threatened in the city. His music is packed with beauty, hard-earned truths, compassion, humor, anger, joy, and – most of all – hope.


Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Somerville, MA-based Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Somerville, MA-based Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band, on Saturday, July 29 at 6:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Rd, in Putney, VT.

“The power of a large Balkan Brass Band just can’t be denied,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “We’re thrilled to have Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band lead our community in a dancing and fun evening of music.”

Raunchy circus roots. Polished precision performances. A joyful cacophony of Balkan, Klezmer and funk, with a tasteful thrash of metal thrown in for good measure. No matter the occasion, Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band has got the brass to get you up and dancing.


Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Klezmer Re-groove Ensemble Klezperanto!

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents klezmer re-groove ensemble Klezperanto!, on Saturday, July 22 at 6:00 pm at West River Park, 333 VT-30, in Brattleboro, VT.

“Klezmer and dancing go hand-in-hand, and Klezperanto delivers on that promise,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “The Boston-based Klezmer all-star lineup includes members of the Klezmer Conservatory Band – they know this idiom. With Klezperanto, they expand its power and impact, and we’re excited to bring that energy to the region.”​​

Klezperanto! presents Eastern European melodies as you’ve never heard them before, from Bogota to the Black Sea. With solid klezmer roots, spectacular technical virtuosity, and a wry sense of humor, Ilene Stahl and an all-star line-up of Boston’s best musicians re-groove traditional klezmer and Mediterranean melodies, celebrate the golden age of Colombian big bands, rip up Romanian surf tunes, slay a few standards, and blow past every posted limit to bring you irresistible dance music from everywhere except your cousin’s friend’s bar mitzvah. Klezperanto’s fans know: It’s No Hora Show!


Boston-based Tap Ensemble Subject:Matter Comes to the Bandwagon Summer Stage

Next Stage Arts brings Boston-based tap dance ensemble Subject:Matter to the Bandwagon Summer Stage on Saturday, July 8th, at 6:00pm. The performance will take place at the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA), 10 Town Crier Drive, in Brattleboro. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate, children under 12 free. Visit nextstagearts.org for tickets and more information.

Subject:Matter brings an assortment of music from their varied musical catalog, including jazz standards from their show “Songbook,” funk tunes from their show “Blowout,” and new music from their upcoming premieres this fall.


Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series to Present a Dance Party with Salsa Ensemble LPT & Reggae Band The Human Rights

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents a salsa and reggae dance party with Jacksonville, FL-based 10-piece salsa ensemble and Toronto-based modern roots reggae band The Human Rights, on Saturday, June 24 at 6:00 pm at The Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Rd, in Putney, VT.

“This is one we’ve been dreaming about – a double bill with a reggae band and a 10-piece Salsa orchestra,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “The double bill showcases a lot of Caribbean influences in one day of dancing and fun. LPT was meant to perform in March of 2020, and with a lot of stops and starts, we’re glad to be able to pair them with our Reggae friends to the north.”


International Musical Collective Sia Tolno & Afro Dead to Perform at Cooper Field as Part of the Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Guinean musical artist Sia Tolno and international musical collective Afro Dead, live at Cooper Field on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at 6:00pm. Sia Tolno will perform both solo and as the lead vocalist of Afro Dead, which reimagines the music of the Grateful Dead in an African style.

Sia Tolno is an award-winning global touring & recording artist, vocalist and songwriter, from Guinea/Sierra Leone, steeped in Afrobeat, Afro-blues, Mandinga and Soukous styles of African popular music. Her music is both personal and universal, singing about her unique past while making it relevant to the global masses. She has worked with Tony Allen (Musical director for Fela Kuti) and Lusafrica records, and her new album is being recorded in Barcelona produced by Aaron Feder in collaboration with Slow Walk Music.