All posts by mctvblog

Festival on the Green 2018: The Ballroom Thieves

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[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]“A rock band in a folk suit,” The Ballroom Thieves – lead singer and guitarist Martin Earley, cellist Calin Peters and percussionist Devin Mauch – have been releasing their own fresh blend of spirited blues, folk and rock since 2012. With last year’s self-released album Deadeye, the band earned their own spot among celebrated music makers and is nominated for 5 Boston Music Awards, including Artist Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Live Artist Of The Year, Folk Artist Of The Year and Male Vocalist for Earley. Last year, the band took home three awards – Live Artist Of The Year, Americana Artist of the Year and Folk Artist of the Year.The band has spent the last three years in a sustained state of touring that took them across the country and to venerable stages like the Newport Folk Festival, Boston Calling, Calgary Folk Festival and Milwaukee’s Summerfest.

For more info on the band, visit: http://www.ballroomthieves.com/media/

 Producer: MCTV

The Great Believers author Rebecca Makkai in conversation with Stephen Kiernan

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[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]Rebecca Makkai discusses her third novel, The Great Believers with author Stephen Kiernan, at Middlebury Marquis Theatre in an event co-sponsored by The Vermont Book Shop, Middlebury Marquis Theatre, and the Pride Center of Vermont.

The Great Believers is a dazzling new tale of friendship and redemption in the face of tragedy and loss during and after the AIDS crisis in 1980’s Chicago. In the New York Times Book Review, to be published in paper on Sunday, June 30, Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours, said The Great Believers is “an absorbing and emotionally riveting story about what it’s like to live during times of crisis. And who among us believes that, at any point in the near future, we’ll cease living in times of crisis, whatever form they may take?” And Becky Dayton, of The Vermont Book Shop, wrote, “it’s a vast fictional landscape of both time and location, but Makkai works magic with themes of art, illicit love, and family bonds to braid it all together into a rich, cohesive, and deeply affecting narrative.”

Rebecca Makkai, a graduate of Bread Loaf School of English, has taught at Iowa Writers’ Workshop and Northwestern University. She is the author of The Borrower, The Hundred-Year House, which won the Novel of the Year Award from the Chicago Writers Association, and Music for Wartime. Her work has appeared in The Best American Short Stories, Harper’s, and Tin House, among others. She lives outside Chicago with her husband and two daughters.

Stephen P. Kiernan is the critically acclaimed author of The Hummingbird, The Curiosity, and The Baker’s Secret. He has also written two nonfiction books, Last Rights and Authentic Patriotism. When not in his home of Charlotte, Vermont, he travels the country speaking and consulting on how to expand use of hospice, palliative care and advance directives.

 Producer: MCTV

Festival on the Green 2018: The Barbra Lica Quintet

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[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]Juno-nominated artist Barbra Lica is a fast-rising star in the Canadian music scene and has been receiving accolades for a unique vocal ability that stresses subtlety and grace. Based in Toronto, Canada, Barbra’s live show captivates audiences all over North America with her genuine warmth and confident stage presence.
A deep passion for the music of classic vocalists like Doris Day and Ella Fitzgerald led Barbra to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance at the University of Toronto. Shortly after graduating, Barbra was runner-up in the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition with judges Al Jarreau and Gretchen Parlato. Now a seasoned live act on the Canadian club and festival circuit, Barbra consistently performs in intimate spaces and prestigious theatres, such as Toronto’s Jazz Bistro and Koerner Hall.

​“Barbra Lica is a dazzling performer who has talent to burn and vocals that will knock you over.”– Ross Porter (CEO & President, JAZZ.FM91)
“Lica smiles when she sings. You can heart it. When you see her in concert, you’ll see it too. In a word, refreshing”
– Tim Tamashiro, Host, CBC Radio

For more info on the band, visit: http://www.barbralicamusic.com/

 Producer: MCTV

Festival on the Green 2018: Genticorum

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[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]Over the past 15 years the trad Quebec group Genticorum has become a fixture on the international world, trad, folk and Celtic music circuit. The band’s five albums met with critical acclaim in Canada, the United States and Europe, assuring the band a brilliant future. Known for its energy and its stage presence, Genticorum has given more than 800 concerts in more than 15 countries.
Firmly rooted in the soil of their native land, the energetic and original traditional ‘power trio’ also incorporates the dynamism of today’s North American and European folk cultures in their music. They weave precise and intricate fiddle, flute and accordion work, gorgeous vocal harmonies, energetic foot percussion and guitar accompaniment into a big and jubilant musical feast. Their distinctive sound, sense of humour and stage presence makes them a supreme crowd pleaser.

“For a three piece, Genticorum makes a very full and glorious noise, both instrumentally and vocally… This is a band that’s going to go places.”— SING OUT!

For more info on the band, visit: http://www.genticorum.com/

 Producer: MCTV

Festival on the Green 2018: Night Tree

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[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]Though each member of Night Tree originates from a different musical world, the six members have come together to a create a new sound that is unique to their instrumentation and musical voice, both attracting and bewildering enthusiastic crowds while connecting folk music lovers, café radio junkies, jazz enthusiasts, free-improvisers, and beyond.
These six conservatory-trained musicians have absorbed genres from across the globe. Night Tree is unique, not only for its abnormal instrumentation of two fiddles, cello, accordion, saxophone, percussion, and the occasional viola and mandolin, but for their collective representation and incorporation of traditions from Irish, Classical, Swedish, Jazz, Klezmer, and Afro-Cuban music. Each artist’s personality is given a spot to emerge with fiery improvisation, individual compositions, and a pristine ear. The band thrives on playing in darkness as to allow themselves the opportunity to solely listen with the absence of any possible visual distractions. They react to each other at any given time, in a matter of seconds. They have learned to get inside each other’s musical minds, creating one blossoming and unpredictable wave of sound that is Night Tree.

“I’m thrilled to have been part of this brilliant young band’s debut album. They play with such spark and musicality. Thoughtful compositions, precise, inventive arrangements. An absolute joy. Go hear them!” -Séamus Egan, founding member of SOLAS and Night Tree producer

For more info on the band, visit: http://nighttreemusic.com

 Producer: MCTV

Festival on the Green 2018: The Bengsons

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[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]Husband and wife duo, The Bengsons, blend rousing, all-join-hands group choruses, spry melodies and energetic, frenetic rhythms to create rock/art/theater performances. The Bengsons have appeared at such venues as Joe’s Pub (NYC), NYU’s Skirball Center (NYC), 92YTribeca (NYC), MASS MoCA (North Adams, MA), FlynnSpace (Burlington, VT), Z Space (San Francisco), On The Boards (Seattle), Pianos (NYC), Rockwood Music Hall (NYC), University of Southern California (LA), and the Market Theater (Johannesburg, South Africa). Their music has been featured for the past three years on So You Think You Can Dance (FOX). Abigail Bengson has also appeared as a member of tUnE-yArDs, including an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Abigail Nessen Bengson possesses “not only a tremendous musical talent, but a raw honesty, a sincere righteousness.” – The New York Times

“The band has to rise to every music journalists list as a must see band soon, because it is unlike anything you have ever seen. Its as fast and furious as a punk show but as creative and clever as an Off-Broadway play. Boundaries for The Bengsons do not exist and their shows are a testament to this.” – The Huffington Post

“Quirky and radiantly emotive.” – Timeout New York

For more info on the band, visit: http://bengsons.com/

Producer: MCTV

Festival on the Green 2018: James Hill & Anne Janelle

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[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]A ukulele and cello duo might seem like an odd combination, but only until you hear the music these two create. James Hill is widely regarded as one of the best ukulele players in the world and Anne Janelle is “a cellist of true beauty” (Ottawa Citizen) who has performed with Kanye West and Bruce Cockburn.
Together, James and Anne craft a sound that is intricate, enchanting and engaging: “a crystal clear sound filled with warmth” (Bob Mersereau, CBC).
Their album True Love Don’t Weep won the 2008 Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Traditional Album of the Year.
They are accomplished instrumentalists and some of the finest songwriters of their generation. Their music has been
described as “inventive, entertaining, beautifully written and brilliantly performed” (R2 Magazine).
In short, a night out with James Hill & Anne Janelle is “the perfect evening of tunes, stories and musical virtuosity”
(Wellington Dominion-Post).

“If you thought James Hill was simply the ukulele wunderkind, his latest album will convince you that he is also a great songwriter.” – Penguin Eggs
A fine songwriter and ukester par excellence.” – Raffi

For more info on the band, visit: https://www.jameshillannejanelle.com/[ezcol_1third] Producer: MCTV