Next Stage

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present The Suitcase Junket – Matt Lorenz’s internationally touring, throat-singing, slide guitar playing one-man band – plus rock/folk/country/blues band Kate Lorenz and The Constellations at Next Stage on Friday, November 15 at 7:30 pm.

With warmth, wildness, unkempt vitality and sharply imaginative musicality, The Suitcase Junket works the border of Americana and rock, with image-driven songwriting, idiosyncratic storytelling and effusive vocal presence.  Artist, tinkerer, swamp yankee, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Lorenz draws from a fantastically patchwork sonic palette, shaping his songs with elements of jangly folk, fuzzed-out blues, oddly textured psych-rock and dance-hall festivity. 

Next Stage Arts Project presents an evening Americana music and art with StompBox Trio and Pumpkintown at Next Stage on Saturday, November 2 at 7:30 pm.

StompBoxTrio is a Western Massachusetts-based band that features Evelyn Harris (vocals, percussion), John Cabán (“Dobro” steel guitar, stompbox) and David Rodriguez (wood bass, foot tambourine). The trio reaches deep into the wellspring of vintage American blues, funk and soul to bring folks a hip-shaking, foot-stomping great time.

Next Stage Arts Project presents a double bill with pianist Ben Cosgrove and guitarist Mark Kroos at Next Stage on Friday, October 18 at 7:30 pm.

Ben Cosgrove is a traveling composer-performer whose music explores themes of landscape, place and environment in North America.  Ben has performed his “electric and exhilarating” instrumental music in every U.S. state except Delaware and Hawaii, and held artist residencies and fellowships with institutions including the National Park Service, the National Forest Service, Harvard University, Middlebury College, the Schmidt Ocean Institute and the Sitka Center for Art & Ecology.

Forty years after Windham Hill became a catalyst for a global musical phenomenon, its bountiful legacy of best-selling instrumental artists and Grammy-winning musicians extends into a new age with FLOW — a new four-piece ensemble comprised of Windham Hill Records Founder Will Ackerman and three of today’s most acclaimed independent artists.  FLOW is an anagram of the group’s names Fiona Joy Hawkins (Australian Pianist), Lawrence Blatt (acoustic guitarist), Jeff Oster (Flugelhorn master) and Grammy winning guitarist and producer Will Ackerman.

Next Stage Arts Project presents Blues & BBQ with Texassippi Soul Man Danny Brooks and Li’l Miss Debi and Blues Blast Music Award nominee Sunny Lowdown at the Next Stage Café, on Saturday, September 21. BBQ by Top of the Hill Grill will be for sale starting at 6 pm, with music starting at 7 pm. Admission is $10 in advance available online at nextstagearts.org or at the door. Next Stage offers a beer and wine cash bar, and there will be a dance floor.  Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT. For more information, visitinfo@nextstagearts.org.

Next Stage Arts Project is thrilled to present Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens on Saturday, September 14 at 7:30 pm, returning to Next Stage after rocking the house for sold out crowds at their two previous appearances.

Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens are an American gospel and soul music group led by front woman Naomi Shelton. The group was formed in 1999. They have released two albums with Daptone Records, What Have You Done, My Brother? (2009) and Cold World (2014).

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening with folksinger, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, storyteller, activist and author John McCutcheon at Next Stage on Friday, September 13 at 7:30 pm.  “not only one of the best musicians in the USA… he is committed to helping hard-working people everywhere to organize and push this world in a better direction” – Pete Seeger

Folk music’s “Rustic Renaissance Man” (Washington Post) John McCutcheon is a master of a dozen different traditional instruments, most notably the rare and beautiful hammer dulcimer.  His songwriting has been hailed by critics and singers around the globe.  His thirty recordings have garnered every imaginable honor including seven Grammy nominations. 

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present The Seamus Egan Project, featuring the longtime leader of the legendary Irish-American band Solas, at Next Stage on Saturday, July 6 at 7:30 pm.  Beginning with tunes from his groundbreaking 1996 album “When Juniper Sleeps,” which was the impetus for the formation of Solas, through music from his 20-year career with that iconic band, and adding some brand new tunes, Seamus, with Owen Marshall, Kyle Sanna and other musical friends, will continue to explore the further reaches of the Irish tradition and beyond.

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present Julie Ness, Dave Wysocki and Tristan Bellerive performing Joni Mitchell’s legendary album “Blue” at Next Stage on Saturday, June 29 at 7:30 pm.  Considered a groundbreaking album of the 20th century, “Blue” defined a generation with a ten song cycle, weaving a journey of hope, yearning, love, loss and heartbreak.

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music’s “Rising Star” concert series continues with  an evening of contemporary folk and Americana music with Nashville-by-way-of-Vermont singer/songwriter Caitlin Canty and Maine duo Oshima Brothers at Next Stage on Friday, May 31 at 7:30 pm.  NSAP and Twilight Music are committed to supporting young, emerging artists, and the new series puts the spotlight on exciting, ready-to-be-discovered performers who are appearing at Next Stage for the first time.

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of traditional and contemporary Scottish, Quebecois and world music from New England and Canada by Les Poules à Colin and Pipers Den at Next Stage on Friday, May 17 at 7:30 pm.

Les Poules à Colin is a Montreal-based quintet that, despite the young ages of its member (22 to 27), has been touring Canada, the US, Europe, the UK, Australia and Africa for over eight years.  Their sound seamlessly blends music drawn from some of Quebec’s finest trad musicians with North American influences that range from old-time to jazz.

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of traditional Celtic and folk music from Ireland and New England by County Clare-based trio Socks in the Frying Pan and fiddler/singer Zoe Darrow at Next Stage on Sunday, March 24 at 7:30 pm.

Socks in the Frying Pan is a multi-award winning trio from the west coast of Ireland, the universal hub of Irish traditional music.  Their dynamic vocal harmonies, virtuosic musical ability and onstage wit have captivated audiences the world around and earned the band critical acclaim and accolades including the Irish Music Association “New Band the Year” award.  With their personal flair, contemporary style and energetic approach to music, Aodán Coyne on guitar and vocals and brothers Shane and Fiachra Hayes on accordion, fiddle and banjo make traditional Irish melodies their own.

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present contemporary bluegrass and folk quartet The Stockwell Brothers at the Next Stage Cafe on Saturday, March 16 at 7:00 pm.  To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, JD McCliments Pub will offer an Irish dinner starting at 6:00 pm, while the Stockwells will explore the connections between folk/bluegrass music and the music of Ireland.   

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.