Weekend Concert Series: Fishbone in Amsterdam 2002

This weekend we present the ska-punk-funk-rock of Fishbone, live in Amsterdam at the Melkweg Theatre in 2002.

They first caught my eye with a video for a song called Modern Industry. The group was literally bouncing off walls to a reggae-ska dance number, and shouting out names of radio stations. Very unusual, I thought.

I first saw them live in the 1980’s in Cleveland opening for the Beastie Boys, who were touring to promote a new record called Licensed to Ill. Before the show, Angelo Moore, Fishbone’s singer, wandered the big hall carrying a cane with him as he slowly made his way through the audience. None of us knew who he was, but we all noticed the well-dressed cane-carry gentleman. A while later, he was on stage. Great show.


Registration Continues for Brattleboro Women’s Chorus

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus has openings for its 19th fall session. A new Thursday morning rehearsal time is being offered to accommodate women who might not be able to participate in the evening.

Registration is still open for the 2014 fall session on Wednesdays from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at All Souls Church in W. Brattleboro or alternatively on Thursday mornings from 10:00-12:00 at the Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro.

All women and girls over 10 are welcome, and there are no auditions. Songs are learned mostly by rote and by ear, and music is an eclectic mix from around the world that is spirited and spiritual. The theme this session is songs about travel, both near and far and staying home.


Screwball Comedy Films At Brooks Library – Join us Wednesday Sept 3 at 2 pm

The Brattleboro Film Festival and Brooks Memorial Library will present free afternoon screenings of nine Hollywood classic screwball comedies from Tinseltown’s Golden Era.

On Wednesday 3 Sept at 2 pm, join us for one of the landmark “screwball” comedies of the 1930s, a film that offers the radiant Carole Lombard in her definitive performance as flighty young heiress Irene Bullock, who on a society scavenger hunt stumbles on an erudite hobo residing in the city dump. 


BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 9/1/14

BCTV Ch. 8 schedule for the week of 9/1/14

                   Monday September 1       

12:00 am      Helping Seniors Understand Reverse Mortgages

1:00 am       Car Tour of Fort Ticonderoga Military Road History

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       Craft in the Southern Half – A Look at the Arts in Southern VT Ep.2

4:40 am       Vermont Musicians on the Air – Ep.2: Diane Huling


Theodore Roosevelt’s Visit To Brattleboro

If you were in Brattleboro on September 1st, 1902, there is a good chance that you might have worked your way downtown to the train station late in the afternoon in expectation of the arrival of a notable visitor.

Arrangements had been in the works for months for a visit to Brattleboro by President Theodore Roosevelt. The Young Men’s Republican club had sent an invitation and had been forming committees to schedule the visit, arrange a program of activities, decorate the parade route, and welcome him to town. As the President’s plans changed (his time available was increasingly short), so did Brattleboro’s. The reception banquet was cancelled and a more simple ceremony substituted.

The visit, Roosevelt’s welcome, and his speech made headlines, and he spoke to those assembled on the topic of good government and Abraham Lincoln.


Brooks House – The One and Only

In additional to its historical Importance and preservation, one of the prime movers behind the redevelopment and renovation of the Brooks House is the economics of Brattleboro’s daily life. Historically, Brooks House was, and remains, the largest commercial structure in Brattleboro.

In the midst of The One and Only the Brooks House continues to be an important visual symbol of what makes Brattleboro so unique. Of all of Southern Vermont’s noteworthy landmarks none capture the quintessential past and renewed hopes for the future as this Main Street frontage in the center of downtown Brattleboro.


Weekend Concert Series: Steve Earle

Let’s check in with Steve Earle, shall we?

Here he is with his guitar in 1991, live at McCabes. Where is McCabes? I do not know. Oceanside? Austin? I suppose it doesn’t matter much.

I’ve never seen Mr. Earle perform, but have heard a few of his albums, all of which seem smart, interesting, and worthy of multiple listens. He’s a good counterpart to Billy Bragg in many ways. They would make quite a pair for a double bill.


49th Labor Day Weekend Festival: Organ Recital & Orchestra Lawn Concert

Guilford, Vt. – Friends of Music at Guilford’s 49th annual Labor Day Weekend Festival presents organ music in an intimate rural barn and orchestral works on the lawn just outside by composers from five countries who span four centuries.

The Festival opens on Saturday evening, August 30, at 7:30 with “Bs of the Baroque & More” on the Guilford Tracker Organ by William McKim, who has performed a number of past recitals of solo and ensemble works on this instrument. McKim has been organist for Friends of Music’s annual Community Messiah Sing in Brattleboro for 28 of the past 32 seasons and also performed as featured pianist or piano accompanist for several other Friends programs.


150 years Ago (1864 8/27)

Hall Town, Aug. 27th, 1864.

Dear Wife,-

I received a letter from you yesterday Hope you received my last. It was short but it was good, was it not? Warren’s wound was not considered dangerous, though it was very severe. My old bunk mate at Brattleboro was wounded. The shot came from a flank fire and in some way passed between the heel cord and the bone without touching either. We fought all day. We drove the rebels back. Drove them up a long slope of a hill side, through a corn field; after getting up the hill the land was in ridges. About two hundred yards from the crest of one hill to another. We drove them one ridge too far. They were not driven back immediately on our right, and there was a wooded ridge that came in between in this shape. 


Future Fest 3 Brings End of Summer Art, Music, and Fun To Brattleboro

The Future Collective is throwing its third annual music and arts festival this weekend, August 29 – 31, with a summer’s worth of live music, dance, art, games, and even a carnival.  If you haven’t come out for a Future event recently (or yet), then this is your chance with shows scheduled day and night at a variety of venues.

On Friday, come out to the Stone Church for the kickoff show with a silent auction and live performances from the likes of Wooly Mar, The Grudges, And The Kids, and many more.  Music starts at 7:00 pm.


Brattleboro School of Dance Class Registration, Sept 5-7

Applications for scholarships due September 1

Brattleboro, VT — (August 25, 2014 ) — Brattleboro School of Dance classes for the 2014-15 season begin Monday, September 8. Individuals can register online at the Brattleboro School of Dance web site or visit the studio, located at 22 High Street in downtown Brattleboro, the weekend of September 5-7.

An Open House will take place from 5:00-8:00pm on Friday, September 5 offering dancers and their families a chance to tour the studio and meet members of the faculty. Free pizza and beverages will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration continues on Saturday, September 6 from 1:00-6:00pm and Sunday, September 7 from 12:00noon-2:00pm.


Movie Monday

Free Monday Morning Movie Brattleboro Senior Center

September Schedule:

Monday Morning Movie “Goes International”

Persepolis – Sept. 8th – 10 am


BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 8/25/14

BCTV Ch.8 schedule for the week of 8/25/14

                   Monday August 25          

12:00 am      Craft in the Southern Half – A Look at the Arts in Southern VT Ep.1

12:30 am      Jenni Johnson and the Jazz Junketeers

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       Car Tour of Fort Ticonderoga Military Road History

5:00 am       Vermont Musicians on the Air: Ep.1 Mark Shelton


Andrew Bartzis on WVEW

its time for another experience that you won’t soon forget..this tuesday on “buttahmilk” its galactic historian, Andrew Bartzis.

Andrew Bartzis is a Reiki master and Shaman with the unique ability of being able to access multiple Akashic Records at will. Known as the Galactic Historian, he is able to read and share individual, cultural, global, and galactic histories with those who come to him.


West Brattleboro Association Reschedules Free Movie Night

On Thursday, August 28th, the West Brattleboro Association will present its first free movie night.  “Triplets of Belleville” (appropriate for families) will be shown at dusk outdoors next to the West Brattleboro Fire Station after being rained out on the 21st. There will be movie shorts beginning at 7:30 followed by the main feature at 8.

At 7 pm bike-powered smoothies from the Bellows Falls Community Bike Project will be for sale. 
There will be music and circus toys.  There will also be ice cream donated by the Chelsea Diner and free
popcorn.  There may also be a Listening Booth!


Nye Ffarrabas: A Walk On The Inside

Still time to see this unforgettable exhibit at the CX Silver Gallery in West Brattleboro. There is no admission fee. Nye has been there to meet visitors Thursdays through Sundays, 3 pm to 8 pm. The exhibit ends next week, Sept. 7.

Nye is easy to talk to. She sees connections in “ordinary” things. I found the opportunity to share in her unique perspective to be eye-opening. 


Weekend Concert Series: Billy Bragg

By informal request, Billy Bragg is our featured performer this weekend. Here he is playing live for a small audience in Austin in 2013 on radio station KEXP during a SXSW.

I chose this one because it was filmed quite nicely, but better performances can be found elsewhere on the internet. Consider this a simple introduction that can lead to further study.


150 Years Ago (1864 8/22)

Bolivar Heights, (Md),

Aug. 22nd, 1864.

Dear wife,-

Accept this. We have been in a hard skirmish. I am all right. Alva Warren badly wounded. Our regiment lost 35 men in killed and wounded. Our regiment. Col. Hale and Maj. Dwinnell both wounded. We held the Rebs though all day.


Come Play At The BMC This Fall!

Brattleboro Music Center Fall Lessons & Classes

If you’ve always wanted to play an instrument, take voice lessons, or return to an instrument you put down long ago, this fall at the Brattleboro Music Center is the perfect opportunity to do so.  

The BMC’s fall semester begins the week of September 8th and offers individual lessons, as well as classes for kids, teens, and adults; instrumentalists, singers, and non-musicians; absolute beginners and accomplished musicians.