Music

Music section

French-Italian Four-hands Piano Duet Duo Ondine to Perform at Next Stage on Friday, July 19

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents French-Italian four-hands piano duet Duo Ondine at Next Stage on Friday, July 19 at 7:30 pm.

“Watching four hands cover the piano ranging from classical to contemporary pieces, the Duo Ondine is a must-see for anyone interested in witnessing piano virtuosity,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “The duo is visiting from Europe, in residency at MIddlebury College, and we benefit from their connection to Vermont by having the pleasure of presenting them.”

Duo Ondine is a French-Italian four-hands piano duet born in Geneva (Switzerland) in 2014. Ten years later, it keeps delighting the international stage with refined, virtuoso and profound programs and a precise and highly sensitive playing.

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Contemporary Mexican Ensemble Villalobos Brothers, on Saturday, July 13

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Contemporary Mexican ensemble Villalobos Brothers, on Saturday, July 13 at 6:00 pm at the field behind the Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Road, in Putney.

The Villalobos Brothers are a Grammy Award-winning family band, recognized as one of the foremost Contemporary Mexican ensembles in the world. With their unique fusion of Mexican folk, jazz, and classical music, they have captivated audiences across the United States, Mexico, India, Russia, and Canada.

“Virtuosic violinists from Mexico showcasing how traditional music can get reborn into modern culture, these brothers are making an indelible mark on modern American music,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “The Villalobos Brothers are a family band worthy of attention, praise, and adulation.”

Jennie Reichman Concert June 21 on Cedar Street

by RDavis | Music

Local singer-songwriter Jennie Reichman will present an outdoor concert on the backyard patio at 63 Cedar Street in Brattleboro on Friday June 21 at 7:00 p.m. Reichman has a soft lilting voice reminiscent of a younger Joni Mithcell. She presents songs with a clear voice that easily communicates with the audience. She plays original as well as cover songs.

The concert is free and open to the public but donations will be accepted. All proceeds will go to the musician. Refreshments will be available. Seating is limited so please bring a chair.

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Maine-based Multicultural Collaboration Bondeko, on Saturday, July 6

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Maine-based multicultural collaboration Bondeko, on Saturday, July 6 at 6:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Rd, in Putney.

Bondeko is the unlikely collaboration of neighbors in Portland, Maine’s migrant community: an Albanian crooner, a Guinian drummer, a French singer-songwriter, a Latin musician from Texas…

The result is a mix of hypnotic Roma melodies, festive Cumbia rhythms, Malenke sing-alongs, and relentless Balkan tempos, peppered with heartwarming waltzes and maybe even a lullaby in Portunhol if the vibe is right.

Cantrip at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of Celtic music by high-energy bagpipes/fiddle/guitar quartet Cantrip at Next Stage on Friday, July 5 at 7:30 pm. 

From the strong base of its Celtic roots, Cantrip branches out into the music of other European cultures. With swirling border pipes, raging fiddle, thunderous guitar, and three rich voices, Dan Houghton, Jon Bews, Eric McDonald, and Alasdair White take audiences on a cultural journey, putting their own spin on each musical style. Known for their innovative arrangements, high-energy songs and tunes, and dry wit, Cantrip has toured throughout Scotland and the US, expanding the boundaries of Celtic music along the way. 

Keith Murphy and Band, Album Release Concert: Bright As Amber at Next Stage on 6/21

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present an album release concert for Keith Murphy and Band’s “Bright As Amber”, at Next Stage on Friday, June 21 at 7:30 pm.

For many years, Keith Murphy has been forging a distinctive sound in the world of traditional song. He grew up surrounded by the rich tradition of his native Newfoundland and over the course of his later travels has incorporated elements of many other traditions including the repertoire of his adopted home in Vermont. He is a noted instrumentalist and well known for his playing with Nightingale, Childsplay, Boston Revels, Tony Barrand, Hanneke Cassel, Yann Falquet and his most enduring collaborator, his wife and fiddler, Becky Tracy. He is also the founder and artistic director of the Brattleboro Music Center’s Northern Roots Festival.

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents “Psychedelic Chanson” Ensemble Combo Daguerre on June 15

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents “psychedelic chanson” ensemble Combo Daguerre, on Saturday, June 15 at 6:00 pm at field behind the Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Road, in Putney.

Combo Daguerre, based in Brooklyn, performs original psychedelic chanson with a mostly Latin crew and a hybrid style informed by boleros, cumbia, 60’s rock, French chanson, Gainsbourg, and 1930s surrealism. It is music filled with joy and darkness, deep grooves and dirges, nostalgia and futurism.

With Olivier Conan (Chicha Libre) – cuatro, vocals; Adele Fournet – keyboards and Felipe Wurst – guitar (Banda Chuska/Tipa Tipo); Andres Fonseca – drums; Neil Ochoa (Los Crema Paraiso, Chicha Libre) – percussion and Dan Martinez – bass.

Some More Funky Music

by cgrotke | Music

I invested some free time in a new musical project that resulted in a new EP of funky tunes, so I thought I’d share. If you like dancing around, or driving around to a funky soundtrack, this might be something that interests you.

As some of you know, my first project had lyrics. Of course I didn’t like my voice, so the second EP, “Kitten In My Funk,” was all instrumentals.

For this EP, the decision was to slowly work back into lyrics – one word at a time. Each song here has a single word lyric, hence the name of the project: ONE.

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents an Odyssey of American Music with Bristol Lightning on June 8

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents an odyssey of American music with Bristol Lightning, on Saturday, June 8 at 6:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Road, in Putney.

“Bluegrass from Tennessee from Grammy-award winning musicians – what’s not to love?” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Dave Eggar has been on stages around the world in pop, classical, jazz, and so many more settings. He’s an award-winning cellist who infuses a sense of virtuosity and freshness into the Bluegrass genre. We’re excited to host Bristol Lightning.”

In 1927, the first country music records were cut in Bristol, TN/VA, by ordinary people with ordinary stories and the courage to create. Now, almost 100 years later, Bristol Lighting is born in the same town, celebrating the American stories of today. From Aaron Copland to American roots music, blues, bluegrass, and beyond, Bristol Lightning’s live shows take the audience on a high-energy adventure of bluegrass cello and mandolin, blues guitars, tap dance, and storytelling, weaving a powerful and poignant tapestry of the true creativity and resilience of the American spirit.

Singer/songwriter John Gorka Returns to Next Stage on June 2nd

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present singer/songwriter John Gorka at Next Stage on Sunday, June 2 at 7:00 pm.

Rising from a milieu of lovelorn singer-songwriters, John Gorka illuminates instead with his trademark wordplay, twisting, turning, and tying words and phrases in the way a balloon artist creates complex creatures from simple balloons. Few contemporary songwriters coax language as deftly as Gorka.

For over two decades, Gorka’s keen ear has picked up the stories of those along his path, folding them into poetry and song. His keen perceptiveness inspires people from all over the world to share their stories. By involving those tales in his music, he escapes the trap of introspection that hobbles less-gifted singer-songwriters.

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Contemporary Klezmer/rock Ensemble Midwood on June 1st

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents contemporary klezmer/rock ensemble Midwood, on Saturday, June 1 at 6:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Road, in Putney.

“Midwood is a who’s who of klezmer, jazz, and world music. Richie Barshay, the drummer, has played with Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. The violinist, Jake Shulman-Ment, is one of the most sought after Klezmer and traditional violinists in the world,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “We’re bringing some of the old world to Putney for a Klezmer dance party with Midwood. This one will be history in the making.”

Led by violinist Jake Shulman-Ment, Midwood is a contemporary klezmer/rock celebration of freedom and the Jewish tradition of wandering and migration. This new supergroup, featuring some of the most exciting young performers on the international world music stage, seamlessly traverses borders through original compositions, expansive improvisations on traditional melodies, and heart-wrenching re-imaginings of Yiddish folk songs. Their debut album on Chant Records, Out of the Narrows (2018) draws from deep Eastern European Jewish roots to explore the power of love, movement, and wilderness to transform the human mind and heart.

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Dominican Jazz Guitarist Yasser Tejeda, on May 25

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Dominican jazz guitarist Yasser Tejeda, on Saturday, May 25 at 6:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Road, in Putney.

“This Bandwagon Series, we’re excited to have a lot more Latin-influenced artists like Yasser Tajeda,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Yasser was one of the headliners at this years’ GlobalFest at Lincoln Center, and when I saw his virtuosity on the guitar, his expression, and the joy he brought to the music of the Dominican Republic, I knew he’d be a great fit for our programming.”

Yasser Tejeda is an award-winning Dominican composer, guitarist, vocalist, and producer. According to Billboard, Yasser is giving traditional folkloric music a new spin with jazz, rock, and Caribbean rhythms in “a frenzied celebration of ancestral union.” At the same time, Juan Luis Guerra, the most influential Dominican artist in the world, praised his mission, calling it a “marvelous example of what’s happening with Dominican music.” Yasser hopes to incite an awakening while inspiring new generations to explore, promote and uplift their roots.

Tejeda has released three commercial albums, La Madrugá (2023), Kijombo (2019), and Mezclansa (2009), with his group Palotré, while also surprising his followers with an acoustic EP called Interior in 2021. Mezclansa was dubbed one of the “100 essential recordings of Dominican music” by the Dominican National Association of Art Writers (Acroarte). His second album Kijombo received six awards from Dominican Republic’s Premios Indie, including Best Album. La Madrugá, which is Tejeda’s latest offering, features his latest collaboration with Vicente García, “En El Naranjo”, as well as the singles “Tu Ere’ Bonita” and “Todo Va a Marchar”.

Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Opens May 18th with Mehrnam Rastegari & Habbina Habbina

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series opens its season with Persian musician Mehrnam Rastegari and Mediterranean surf trio Habbina Habbina, on Saturday, May 18 at 6:00 pm at The Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Road, in Putney.

“When we kick off the Bandwagon Series, we are looking for an artist that delivers on our Bandwagon promise of diversity, virtuosity, and creativity,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Mehrnam is a rising star in the New York City World Music scene. The pairing of Mehrnam and Habbina Habbina brings joy, dancing, and a unique sonic experience. People should come prepared to dance!”

Hanneke Cassel Band featuring Keith Murphy and Jenna Moynihan, plus Yann Falquet to Perform at Next Stage in May

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present Hanneke Cassel Band featuring Keith Murphy and Jenna Moynihan, plus Yann Falquet, at Next Stage on Thursday, May 16 at 7:00 pm.

Effervescent and engaging, Boston-based fiddler Hanneke Cassel’s fiddle music fuses influences from the Isle of Skye and Cape Breton with Americana grooves and musical innovations. She has performed and traveled across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Hanneke’s music is a blend of the contemporary and traditional, described by the Boston Globe as “exuberant and rhythmic, somehow wild and innocent, delivered with captivating melodic clarity and an irresistible playfulness.”

The Hanneke Cassel Band features Jenna Moynihan on 5-string fiddle/vocals and Keith Murphy on guitar/vocals. Jenna Moynihan is regarded as one of the best in the new generation of fiddle players. Versatile and inventive, her fiddling style draws strongly from the Scottish tradition, but is in no way bound by it. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Jenna performs as part of a duo with cutting edge harpist Mairi Chaimbeul and is the regular fiddler for the Seamus Egan Project. Newfoundland-born guitarist Keith Murphy began absorbing his native musical languages – folk songs, ballads and dance music – from an early age. A proficient multi-instrumentalist, he has long applied considerable energy to the rhythmic side of music, becoming a valued band member and highly sought-after sideman on guitar, mandolin and foot percussion.

Singer/Songwriter Carsie Blanton Returns to Next Stage Arts in May

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present singer/songwriter Carsie Blanton, at Next Stage on Thursday, May 9 at 7:00 pm.

Carsie Blanton is a songwriter with hooks, chutzpah, and revolutionary optimism. Inspired by artist-activists including Nina Simone and Woody Guthrie, her catalog careens through American popular song from folk and swing to pop-punk protest anthems.

Canadian Polish Folk Music Ensemble Polky at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents Polish folk music made in Canada with Toronto’s Polky, at Next Stage on Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 pm.

Toronto’s Polky, led by multi-talented immigrant female musicians, delights audiences with traditional vocals, unusual instruments, and energizing performances. Drawing deep inspiration from Poland’s rich cultural tapestry, they push musical boundaries by fearlessly blending Polish traditional music with sounds and rhythms from across the globe.

Duo Andalus featuring LALA Tamar at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents an intimate encounter of voice and strings, sounds and cultures, with Duo Andalus, featuring LALA Tamar, at Next Stage on Sunday, April 28 at 7:00 pm.

“Take a trip through the Mediterranean – Flamenco, Ladino, Moroccan, Jewish, Arabic – merging together with Duo Andalus. Lala Tamar’s vocal virtuosity blends with Ofer Ronen’s flamenco guitar style and oud,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “We love the journey music brings us on, and for this show, we may ask audiences to bring a passport.”

Session Americana plus Sam Robbins at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present roots and folk/rock quintet Session Americana with Eleanor Buckland, plus singer/songwriter Sam Robbins at Next Stage on Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 pm. 

Session Americana is a rock band in a tea cup, or possibly a folk band in a whiskey bottle. The Boston-based band/collective of musician’s musicians craft a musical experience unlike any other. On stage is a collapsible bar table wired with microphones, a vintage suitcase recast as a kick drum, an old Estey field organ, a pre-war parlor guitar, a mandocello and all of its smaller siblings, a harmonica case fire damaged when Jack’s bar went up in flames and graffitied by Depeche Mode roadies, and an assortment of other instruments that get passed around as the quintet trades off lead vocals and shares songwriting credits in this freewheeling modern hootenanny. The anything-could-happen feel of a Session Americana show depends on craft that’s not accidental or easily won; they bring a kind of ease and genuineness to this timeless music, sometimes presenting the latest batch of original songs, sometimes reaching back into depths of the American “song bag.” Eleanor Buckland has been one-third of  the Boston-based folk/rock trio Lula Wiles since 2014.

Ordinary Elephant and Early Risers at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present an evening of acoustic folk music from far and near by Louisiana-based Ordinary Elephant and Putney-based Early Risers at Next Stage on Friday, April 12 at 7:30 pm.

Mesmerizing folk duo Ordinary Elephant has spent the better part of the last decade on a never-ending tour that’s earned Crystal and Pete Damore widespread critical acclaim and made fans of luminaries like Tom Paxton and Mary Gauthier. In 2017, the couple took home the International Folk Music Award for Artist of the Year on the strength of their breakout album “Before I Go,” and two years later, they returned with the similarly lauded “Honest,” which the Associated Press hailed as “one of the best Americana albums of the year.”

Violinist Johnny Gandelsman Presents “This Is America: Part III” at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents violinist and former member of Silkroad Ensemble Johnny Gandelsman, performing works written in response to the turbulent and disconnected time of the early pandemic and the murder of George Floyd. The anthology of compositions will be performed at Next Stage as part of Gandelsman’s year-long residency at the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth on Wednesday, April 3 at 7:00 pm. Part II of the series was performed at Next Stage in February, to a deeply appreciative audience.

“We are thrilled to host Johnny Gandelsman at Next Stage Arts for an extraordinary evening of music that transcends boundaries. Johnny’s upcoming show, a co-presentation with Dartmouth Center for the Arts at Dartmouth, is not just a performance; it’s a journey into the heart of his latest project, ‘This is America.’” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “With roots in the groundbreaking Silk Road Ensemble and as a founding member of Brooklyn Rider, Johnny brings a wealth of cultural influences to the stage. His ability to seamlessly blend genres is a testament to his artistry. Join us for an unforgettable night as we explore the musical landscapes he has crafted through his collaborations and solo endeavors.”