[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]CFI ~ The finest VT musicians exploring the common language of funk, jazz, reggae, blues & rock at a level that is very, very high indeed…both vocal and instrumental. CFI is: George Petit on guitars, John Rivers on electric bass, Geza Carr on drums and Mike Hartigan on keyboards. Also, Connor Young, Avery Cooper, Nate Reit, Jake Whitesall and Rob Debruyn. The evening’s concert will be performed with a full 9 piece band including a four-piece horn section. They brought the house down at thier recent 2022 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival appearance. Come dance and hear what fans are raving about!
[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]Oshima Brothers magnetic sibling sound and contagious joy result from a lifetime of making music together. Raised in a musical family in rural Maine, the brothers have honed a harmony-rich blend of contemporary folk and acoustic pop. On stage, Sean and Jamie create a surprisingly full sound with dynamic vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, octave bass, loops, and percussion. The brothers live in Maine but are often on the road performing, producing music videos, and dancing.
“Sean and Jamie are two of the most inspirational people I’ve met. They perform a roots-based pop sound that is infectious and fun, and even though a little wistful, this song gets in your head and won’t let go.” — Chris Wienk, WEXT
“’Online’ comes into play with sauntering swagger, the Oshima Brothers taking more blues-centric melodies into their fold… Musically, the song dances somewhere between influences ranging from John Mayer to This Wild Life, with alternative folk production melding with more of a contemporary rhythmic strut.” — Popmatters
[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]“We welcome Middlebury Music Center’s Steel Drum Camp for this Brown Bag concert. Through drumming and singing they will present Caribbean music and culture. Working together as an ensemble they will create thier own musical production on steel drums from Trinidad.
[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]“…The Carter Family for the millennial generation……” – The Boston Globe
“If you like your bluegrass served with a little punch, attitude, grit and gravy … Damn Tall Buildings will slide in nice as a welcome edition to your listening rotation.
Bluegrass at heart, but pulling from a wide range of influences including swing, ragtime, jazz, and even a hint of contemporary perspective in the songwriting, they offer virtually unmatched energy and enthusiasm, underpinned by intelligent songs that don’t skimp on the infectiousness…” – Savingcountrymusic.com
[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]Reggie Harris is a musician, storyteller and educator who has been a vibrant force in musical, educational and historical circles for over 35 years. Steeped in the tradition of African American spirituals, folk, gospel, rock and the music of civil and human rights, Reggie’s writing, research, field work and recordings have amassed an amazing repertoire of African American music, blending spirituals and freedom songs, the old with the new. A songwriter of great depth and passion, Reggie’s songs reveal thoughts about life and love and some of the deep aspects of the human experience and cover topics from his own personal journey to world issues and history.
[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]We’re so happy this wonderful band will be with us this year! Radio Free Honduras is a diverse collective of Chicago musicians, all united under one goal – supporting the artistry of Charlie Baran and bringing this tremendous talent into the spotlight where it belongs. Founded by Dan Abu-Absi, longtime guitarist for JT and the Clouds and Birds of Chicago, Radio Free Honduras plays mostly Baran originals, but their live shows often include a wide variety of reimagined cover songs. This band provides Charlie with the wide musical pallet his talent (and songs) deserve. Abu-Absi has gathered a large, revolving collective of some of Chicago’s most talented musicians; lively percussion, eclectic instrumentation, and rich harmonies all provide the backdrop, allowing Charlie to do what he does best – stunning guitar work, tapping into what seems a limitless supply of energy and enthusiasm for music.
“Traditional Honduran music with Rhumbas, Los Lobos inspired rock, and south of the border soul. Baran has made a record that feels right at home as a summer sound-track for Chicago’s eclectic Latin neighborhoods.”(Illinois Entertainer)
[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]Awarded the OPUS prize for “Discovery of the Year 2017-2018”, among many other accolades since their first album release in 2017, this trio has been winning over the hearts of listeners worldwide, young and old alike. É.T.É are Élisabeth (fiddle, step-dancing, vocals), Thierry (bouzouki, podorythmie, vocals), and Élisabeth (cello, vocals). The word été in French means summer–a fitting tribute to how their original, lively take on Québec traditional music is infused with a new vitality. With lovely vocal harmonies, deep groove, and rich instrumentation, É.T.É are an explosive trio on stage, transforming the nostalgia of a kitchen party into an unforgettable show experience that celebrates the joie de vivre of Québecois culture.
[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]In 2022 the Vermont Folklife Center is celebrating 30 years of innovation in tradition in their Vermont Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program (VTAAP). In the words of program founder Greg Sharrow, “the making of art is an irrepressible force that is true of everyone!” VTAAP works to create opportunities for traditional arts in Vermont communities to grow and thrive, helping to shape identity and support both individual and community wellbeing.
An apprenticeship is a face-to-face learning opportunity where a master artist passes on their skills to one or more apprentices through hands-on work. During the past 30 years, Vermont Folklife Center has supported over 350 apprenticeships representing everything from the arts of native Abenaki and of English, French, Polish and Irish immigrants, to those of Lao, Somali Bantu, Congolese, Bosnian, Tibetan and Bhutanese Nepali refugee communities.
Anniversary festivities are taking place throughout 2022 including at the 2022 Festival on the Green! The July 12th showcase highlights three virtuosic artists who have been involved with VTAAP over the years and have made major efforts to pass on their artistic mastery to the next generation:
Migmar Tsering – Migmar plays traditional Tibetan music on the dranyen, a long-necked, seven-stringed instrument. Born in Tibet, brought up in India, and a Vermonter since 2011, Tsering is a singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and Tibetan dance instructor. He is the founder of the Rolyang Lobling school (in English, “music class”) where he has worked with dozens of apprentices to make Tibetan music and dance happen in Vermont.
Pete Sutherland – Pete is a living legend of the traditional music and dance scene in Vermont, and is nationally recognized as a musician, composer, visual artist, writer, and storyteller. Within the apprenticeship program he has worked with multiple students to share his knowledge of Franco-American fiddling, Vermont song and fiddle repertoire, and most recently, contra dance piano accompaniment with Emmett Stowell of Waitsfield, VT who will join him on the FOG stage.
Shyam Nepali – Hailing from the centuries old Gandharba musical tradition of Nepal, Shyam has enjoyed an almost 30 year long career bringing the sounds of the Nepali Sarangi (described as “the wooden bird that can fly”) to audiences around the world. Shyam has filled a very unique and important role in the Sarangi tradition of Nepal, expanding on the work of his Grandfather, Magar Gaine, and his father, Ram Sharan Nepali, legendary Sarangi players who broke new ground on the world of Sarangi playing, with their technical and artistic innovations to the instrument. Since 2018 Shyam has been working with apprentices within the Bhutanese-Nepali community in Burlington, planting the seeds of a new generation of Vermont sarangi players.
