2007 2007

Sat. Aug 9 at 8 pm The Dave Keller Blues Band	Dave Keller’s name is synonymous with the blues and he has been bringing the blues to Vermont. He brings his trio to The Music Box. In his early music career he paid his dues the old fashioned way – spending over 1,000 nights singing and playing his heart out in sweaty, dirt road bars, swanky ski saloons, summer fest….and more. By 1993 he had moved to Vermont and he formed a following with his solo shows. In 1996 he formed a trio and they released their first album. His second CD in 2001 was picked by Seven Days as one of the best recordings of the year. The latest CD, Play For Love, released November 2007 shows his growth as a songwriter, singer and musician. It covers a range of topics, both personal and political. It includes Jan Schultz (Fender bass), Brett Hoffman (drums) and Hammond organ wizard, Ira Friedman. You will hear them all at The Music Box. Want to know more, check out www.davekeller.com
Sat. July 12 at 8 pm Bread and Bones	Bread and Bones is an acoustic folk trio performing music that is, as described often, soulful, rootsy, haunting, well crafted and infectious. The members are Richard Ruane, Beth Duquette and Mitch Barron. Richard writes many of the groups songs. He was a winner or finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Great Waters folk Festival Songwriters Competition, the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, the Plowshares Coffeehouse Singer-Songwriter Competition and the SolarFest Songwriters Showcase. In performance, Richard’s original music is mixed with traditional songs and even some jazz standards. Beth’s expressive alto voice blends beautifully with Richard’s warm baritone. Richard plays guitar, mandolin, banjo and ukulele. Mitch Barron adds the rhythm of electric and upright bass and vocals. Beth and Richard are also involved in presenting music in Vermont. Both are on the Board of Directors and selection committees for the Ripton Coffeehouse and the Middlebury Festival on the Green. You can find out lots more about them at www.breadandbones.com
Sat. June 28 at 8 pm Spencer Lewis	He recorded his first album 19 years ago and has just released a new CD. The rich tone of Spencer’s acoustic steel string guitar, his trademark layered violin and his style of musical composition have won him fans all over New England. His songs are a blend of classical, new-acoustic, folk and country. How does he do that? In a compelling way with his cross-flat-picked guitar which combines the Carter Family’s ‘church-lick’, and Jack Elliott’s interpretive style. Before making his way as a singer-songwriter, he worked as a woodcutter, draft horseman, stone mason and landscaper. He has a clear, crisp voice and started composing music in his teens. After traveling the US he ended up in Vermont in 1972. His music has been used on the soundtracks of two films about Vermont. He has played at numerous festivals, concerts, fairs and clubs all around the northeast. Find out more about him at www.quartzrecordings.com
May 17, Saturday, 8 pm Lewis Franco and Susannah Blachly	Lewis has been called one of Vermont’s finest songwriters by Robert Resnik of Vermont Public Radio. His songs are social commentary, whimsy, and delight. He is a fixture on the Vermont music scene playing with The Missing Cats who do gypsy swing and jive swing, also with The Gross domestic products, and the duo you’ll see this night with Susannah Blachly. He started playing guitar back in the 1970’s doing rock. Now he does mainly acoustic guitar. He has songs which delight young and old alike, which, with his usual wit he says, “It’s not just Pop music…it’s Mom & Pop music.” Lewis, as you can see, will entertain you with more than just music. The other end of this duo, Susannah Blachly began studying classical violin at age 7. After college she stopped but regained the passion after a lesson with Vermont legend, Pete Sutherland in 2000. She has been composing songs and creating music ever since, producing two dynamic CDs. Her 2004 release was voted one of the top ten Vermont albums by Seven Days (Burlington’s arts and news weekly). She also plays in other bands: also in The Gross Domestic Products, and in the trio, Wagtail. More info? Try www.lewisfranco.com and www.susannahblachly.com. A fun night for $10.
April 19, Saturday, 8 pm Paul Asbell	From his early years, playing blues on Chicago's South Side, to his present multi-faceted career based out of Northern Vermont, Paul has earned an underground reputation as a true "musician's musician." He has played and recorded with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins, Otis Rush, Magic Sam, Earl Hooker, Lightnin' Slim, Paul Butterfield and many others. He moved to Vermont in the heady "back-to-the-land" days of 1971. But he soon started playing with many artists including Rosalie Sorrells, Mary McCaslin and Bobby McFerrin. In 1981 he joined with others to form the Big Joe Burrell and the Unknown Blues Band. Many venues have welcomed him. The last few years he has been receiving enthusiastic welcomes playing all-acoustic solo concerts in the Northeast, California and Nashville. His debut solo album, "Steel-String Americana" brings original twists to old-timey country-based themes. It is a knockout. This guy can play. How does he make his fingers go that fast and smooth? In SEVEN DAYS magazine gave him the Best Musician of 2004 Award. Also, in 2004, he worked with Patti Casey in producing an album of old standard that Patti sings to his accompaniement entitled "Just an Old Sweet Song. "From blues, to standards, to jazz, to folk. This man is a wizard on the guitar. To find out more about him check out www.paulasbell.com And come see those fingers fly for $10.
March 29, Saturday 7:30 pm Clogging performance with Ann Whiting MUSIC with Mark Sustic (upright Bass, fiddle)) Frank Heyburn (fiddle) And some young fiddlers from Fiddleheads!	Ann will be clogging to the live music of Mark Sustic, Frank Heyburn and three of the Fiddleheads, Roland Clark, Hannah Crary, and Sasha Ross-Becker. Mark ( who plays several string instruments and fiddle all his life) is the teacher and mentor of Fiddleheads, a group of young people interested in learning and performing traditional fiddle tunes. The tunes they play highlight the Yankee, French, Irish, Scottish and other cultures of Northern Vermont. They have recorded 2 CDs as a group, and several members have been part of other recording projects. Many of you have seen Roland Clark here at The Music Box already as a guest fiddler with the Mud City Ramblers. As for watching Ann clog, all that needs to be said is, "Over the past few years, as a musician who works with Ann, I've marveled at the passion and creativity that she brings to clogging and stepdance. She's like a kid in a candy store as she is continually coming up with new ways to play at her art, whether it be new steps, juggling scarves, or tapping shoes worn on the hands. In a performance, Ann's enthusiasm is contagious and her sense of play never fails to draw in an audience and send them away smiling. All of this coupled with a large helping of skill and grace add up to a recipe for high energy fleet-footed fun." (Rick Klein of Atlantic Crossing) This will be a high energy night brimming with talent. Check out Ann’s website www.awclogger.com and the Fiddleheads at www.fiddleheads.org
SPECIAL WORKSHOP: March 29, Saturday 4 pm Learn to Clog with Ann Whiting	Ann is a bright, energetic dancer with an infectious enthusiasm that attracts people of all ages. Clogging and step dancing since 1979, she has performed with the Green Mountain Cloggers and the Kitchen Sync Cloggers and studied with stepdancers Lisa Beaudoin and Benoit Bourque (French Canadian), Judy Waymouth (Ottoawa Valley) and Mary Janet MacDonald (Cape Breton). She is an endlessly creative choreographer, teacher and stylist, and an inspiring solo performer. Come and spend a mud season afternoon with her! Get some exercise for your body & soul. Find out the difference between stepdancing and clogging. She will be teaching popular Appalachian clogging steps that are called the basic, lone ranger, Bertha, big kick, chug, Eddy. It works best if people wear leather soled shoes. Sneakers don't allow you to slide your feet across the floor very well. The workshop will last about an hour and costs $10 Find out more about Ann at www.awclogger.com
February 9, Saturday 7:30 pm Damn Yankee String Band	This band, self-described as: Southern Fried and hard-boiled, consists of Sarah Hotchkiss on fiddle, banjo and vocals, John Mowad on fiddle, guitar, banjo and vocals and Jen Wells on upright bass. They play old time mountain music, vintage country and hillbilly jazz ( a combo of string band, swing & country music to John’s flashy fingerpickin’ guitar work. They are cutting new territory with their own form of R & B: Rhythm and Banjo! Sarah and John are well-know fiddle teachers and John is a composer himself. The repertoire is eclectic, ranging from West Virginia mountain music, to Jimmy Rogers and Hank Williams, to rock ‘n roll. A foot-stompin’ evening to be sure. For $10. Check out their website at http://dysb.home.att.net
January 19, Saturday 7:30 pm Mark LeGrand and the Lovesick Bandits	This group brings the timeless sounds of honky-tonk music with some of the classic tunes by Johnny Cash, Buck Owens and Hank Williams, as well as Mark’s finely crafted originals. Mark has been performing in Vermont since 1967. William Craig of the Valley News says, “ LeGrand writes songs (Hank) Williams might well have sent to the top of a different era’s country charts…” He is joined by Dan Haley on guitar and Shrimp on percussion. Dan studied jazz in Portland, Ore and became a mainstay of the music scene. Later, Dan went to Germany and was part of an acoustic rock trio. In 2000 he moved to Vermont and hooked up with LeGrand. He is a master at delivering the swinging, rocking, boppin’ and bluesin’ sound. Shrimp performed R & B, gospel and jazz in the NYC area then came north and found Mark and a place to play the music he grew up with and loved as a kid. Find out more about them at www.marklegrand.com Warm up in January for $10 with these fellows!
Sat Dec 1st	Kristina Michelson Kristina Michelsen has just released her first CD entitled PIXIE DUST. She has written all the songs and the styles vary from one to the next, as well as the back-up musicians. The mix keeps you constantly involved. Of course, for local people, the funniest song is "Hippies in the Hills of Hardwick." Kristina lives in Hardwick and has been playing around in the area for a long time. More info later on who will be accompanying her at this gig.
November 18th	NOTORIOUS Notorious brings musicians Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger together playing traditional and contemporary acoustic music from around the world, creating a dynamic, swinging sound that is sure to get your feet tapping. Their show is an exciting mix of everyting from traditional American and Celtic fiddle tunes to jazz, blues and the group's original compositions. Eden is at home in the worlds of both classical and popular music. Whe has been a featured soloist with symphony and chamber orchestras, jazz and swing bands, bluegrass and American folk groups. She plays music of other cultures including Irish, gypsy, Sehpardic, Medieval and Renaissance styles. She has been a guies artist at the Aspen and Beijing International Music festivals, soloist at Teas and Wimberly jazz festivals and been on numerous recordings. Larry Unger has been a full time musician since 1984 and has performed at a wide range of concerts and festivals across the US, Canada, France, Scotland, Denmark, and Sweden. He has playes banjo with many top contra dance bands including Reckless Abandon, and has accompanied many fiddlers such as Alasdair Fraser and Matt Glaser. His style includes fingerstyle blues and slide guitar, rags and oldtime banjo tunes as well as melodies played on a handful of unusual instruments including banjo-guitar, fretless banjo and piano-harp. His original waltzes and fiddle tunes have been played and recorded by musicians around the world. Hey, wouldn't you like to spend a gloomy November afternoon with Eden and Larry? Come on over! Want to know more: www.fiddlegarden.net and www.larryunger.net
Sat Nov 3rd	Will Patton Quartet We are so glad to have the Will Patton Quartet back at The Music Box! Will Patton is a jazz mandolin master. Will has been leading bands since he was thirteen and has shared the stage with Van Morrison, Ray Charles and Bonnie Raitt. His collaborations with legendary gypsy guitarist Ninine Garcia have won critical acclaim. He plays at The Music Box with a violinist from the Vermont Symphony who also plays the hot sounds of gypsy jaxx and Brazilian choros and bluegrass, David Gusakov. Dono Schabner comes with his fast flying fingers playing gypsy guitar and any jazz standard. To put the icing on the cake is Anna Patton, Will's own daughter, and I have to say, just watching her having so much fun playing licks on her clarinet will send you home with a big smile on your face and your feet tapping. Wow, she is good! So! Come on out and see this incredible group of musicians. Right here! Want to know more, try www.wpatton.com
Sat Oct 13th	Terry times Two Terry Diers is a singer/songwriter with an engaging soulful voice that reaches deep into the heart and soul. Terry lives on his family's farm in Sharon, VT, yet brings to his music a creative, interpretive sound from far away lands that is all his own. His music has influences of New Orleans blues & jazz, African poly-rhythms and Gospel choir singing. A talented musician steeped in the folk tradition of traveling with guitar, harmonica and voice. He also plays 12 string and slide guitar, mandolin, keyboards and percussion. Terry Youk plays tenor, c-melody and soprano sax. Terry is seen also with the Dave Keller brand bringing his soulful sax sound with him. This is an unusual combination that really brings out the riches of each performer. They have a CD out together called DREAM WALKIN' which shows their rich range of musical styles. You are invited to hear them live at The Music Box!
Sat Sept 22nd	35th Parallel    Why 35th Parallel? The group's name is inspired by the latitudinal line running through the regions from which they draw their music: the Middle East, North Africa, the Mediterranean and the US. Who are they? Mac Ritchey was once referred to as a "musical Swiss Army knife," a multi-instrumentalist who began playing music at the age of 5. He studied electronic music at Oberlin College and Anthropology at Brandeis University. Guitar has been his principal instrument for more than 20 years, but he also plays a variety of percussion and stringed instruments. He currently studies Oud with Alan Shavarsh Bardezbanian. What is an Oud? Come and find out! He also plays the Didjeridoo, Bouzouki and electronic music. The other leg of the group is Gabe Halberg who has studed music with two of India's fines Tabla masters. Again, what is a Tabla? Come and find out! This interest led Gabe finally to a degree in Tabla Composition at Goddard College. He has continued his musical training with Pandit Samir Chatterjee in NY City. He has been teaching all over New England and is dedicated to spreading knowledge of Hindustani classical music. He also plays Pakhawaj, percussion and jaw harp. They bring a whole landscape of music with them! We are lucky to have them at The Music Box! Bring all your friends to hear them! More info on them at www.35thparallel.com
Friday, Aug 17th	Isla Duo from Nashville. Deb Packard Deb Packard made her way down from Vermont to Nashville, TN to meet with a Scot from Glasgow, Peter Cairney who began his career with Contraband in 1971 playing guitar. The two formed Isla which showcases Packard's lilting, lively vocals and Cairney's rootsy, Celtic born guitar work. Both occasionally play tin whistle and dulcimer. In addition to traditional music from Ireland and Scotland, they perform centuries-old American and English folk balland, unaccompanied shape-note songs and a few original tunes. "We do music that touches us," says Packard, "the songs and stories that are part of the folk tradition....." Deb was reared in that tradtion learning to sing from a great-aunt who taught her Scottish ballads and her grandfather who sang old English and French Canadian songs. They have come up for their second appearance at The Music Box. Pleased to have them back!
Sat July 28th	Jim Daniels & Jim McGinniss This acoustic duo plays music influenced strongly by "Old Time" music from the Appalachian Mountains, with Jim McGinniss on fiddle, Jim Daniels on banjo and guitar with a fast finger-picking style. Both musicians are accomplished singers with voices that really fit the folk music they play. Drawing mainly from American string band music and bluegrass as a template for their interpretations, the group also performs original compositions with an eye on musical values that inherent in these traditions. The repertoire spans more than several generations, ranging from Celtic and Afro-American fiddle tunes, to selections by Bill Monroe, Kenny Baker, Clarence Ashley, Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, Michael Hurley, Leonard Cohen, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. An evening with this duo has storytelling to boot! Come on over and see 'em!
Sat. June 23 2007	Rebecca Padula is back with her funny, fiery, folky, bluesy, heartfelt songwriting and singing. She takes you on a tour of heart and mind with great, strong rhythms. This is her third appearance at The Music Box. She was a founder of the Burlington Songwriters Co-operative. She is a video producer and has writeen themes and incidental music for public access television. She earned a double degree in music and journalism at St. Michaels College. She was chosen as a finalist in the Solar Fest songwriter’s competition. She has played at numerous festivals and venues. Get to know her better at www.rebeccapadula.com
Sat. May 19 2007	Snake Mountain Moonshiners play swampy, gritty, wonderful string band music with Elijah Kraatz –guitar & harmonica, Max Krauss – dobro & guitar, Rudy Dauth – upright bass. Their repetoire includes a wealth of original material, as well as tunes by Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Charlie Poole and many other songs from the ages of American roots music. There is more to be found out about them at www.snakemountainmoonshiners.com
Sat. April 7 2007	Penny Lang- Canada’s First Lady of Folk! She took top honors at the Canadian Folk Music Awards this year for Best Solo Artist and Best Album- Contemporary. She is the Grande-Dame of folk-blues! Wow ! Are we lucky to host her! Lang was a significant figure on the folk scene in Quebec, Ontario and Eastern Canada in the 60s and 70s. Then she took a break to raise her son and recover herself. She returned to music in the late 80s and in 2002 was awarded the FOLQUEBEC Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2003 her first Juno nomination. She has released 8 albums and toured three continents. We are really lucky to have this legend of folk music! Find out more about her at www.pennylang.com
Sat. March 24 2007	Linda Waarner & Micah Charbonneau Linda is a great contemporary songwriter and Micah is one of the best bass players around. Linda has played with the Dave Keller Band and Cobalt Blue. She’s been at The Music Box with her own band. This round she has a number of great new songs which are brought to fruition with the talents of Michah.
Sat. Feb 17 2007	Mud City Ramblers mighty bluegrass with Luke Auriemmo –banjo, Neil Dean – mandolin & fiddle, Chris Lyons-Guitar and Fran Forim – upright bass. Maybe the young fiddler Roland, who astounded audiences last year, will make another appearance! The Ramblers have played at numerous bluegrass festivals including the Rattlin’ Brook Festival. Find more about them at www.myspace.com/mudcityramblers
Sat. Jan 20 2007	Laslo Cameo is Leslie Campos –fiddle & guitar and Australian Randy Bulpin –guitar & dobro playing a mix of bluegrass, folk and originals. Leslie moved to Vermont from New York City where she had a successful career playing fiddle in a variety of bands including an all-female bluegrass/country act – the Bushmills, and the Scott McClatchy Band. Randy moved to the US from Australia where he spent his time as a touring and session musician and songwriter. Check out their website:www.laslocameo.com
December 16,2006	Will Danforth	I saw Will Danforth at a performer's showcase for the Vermont Department of Libraries a few years ago and thought, " Hey, this guy would be good at The Music Box." Why? The bottom line: Will Danforth plays roots music....traditional folk, blues, classic country .....and he's been playing it for 35 years. He also has a deep well of original drawn from these styles. And he does some real tasty contemporary covers. He does all this on a lot of instruments: guitar, slide guitar, frailed banjo, mountain lap dulcimer, autoharp, blues harp, jews harp, octave mandolin. Not flash.....a solid accompaniement style driven by the song with his first instrument: his voice. He's got diversity. He says, "Music is theater, and you've gotta play a lot of roles to create a life out of it." He's got two CDs with another on its way. You can see him live and bring him back home with you, too. I am sure you will like him. And since it will be nearing the holidays, he will add a few traditional variations to the yule songs. Check out more about him at www.willdanforth.com
November 11,2006	Susannah Blachly, Kristina Stykos & George White	Susannah started playing the violin/fiddle at age 7 through college. Then stopped. Then started up again in 2000, now creating two recordings and having fun playing with many different bands, trios and duos. Robert Resnik, the host of Vermont Public Radio's folk music show, described her as a "master composer and performer of many styles of music." Her first CD was voted as one of the top ten CDs of 2004 by SEVEN DAYS. In the fall of 2004 she had the privilege of opening with the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter, Bruce Cockburn. She lives in Marshfield. Find out more about her at www.susannahblachly.com She will be joined by Kristina Stykos of Chelsea, VT. Kristina came of age in Itaca, NY and was passionate about music. Her adventures led her to the music scene in Cambridge, Mass, but fate led her up to a cabin with no running water in Vermont in 1986. Her composing and performing halted but were reinvigorated when she started a nonprofit organization in 1997 to book major acts at the Barre Opera House. As founder and director of "Live Art," she has served the community while finding herself inspired once again to play music. And play music she does. In describing her recent CD "In the Earth's Fading Light," Robert Resnik asys that "driving this CD is Stykos' guitar playing and her voice....Stykos uses a very unusual tuning, one popularized by guitarist Ged Foley in the Irish band Patrick Street. ...Stykos has made this tuning her own." More about Kristina at www.kristinastykos.com George White will be with these women. He is a fine guitarist, also. More about him later.....
SAT Oct 28	Paul Asbell	From his early years, playing blues on Chicago's South Side, to his present multi-faceted career based out of Northern Vermont, Paul has earned an underground repuation as a true "musician's musician." He has played and recorded with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins, Otis Rush, Magic Sam, Earl Hooker, Lightnin' Slim, Paul Butterfield and many others. He moved to Vermont in the headly "back-to-the-land" days of 1971. Bu he soon started playing with many artists including Rosalie Sorrells, Mary McCaslin and Bobby McFerrin. In 1981 he joined with others to form the Big Joe Burrell and the Unknown Blues Band. Many venues have welcomed him. The last few years he has been receiving enthusiastic welcomes playing all-acoustic solo concerts in the Northeast, California and Nashville. His debut solo album, "Steel-String Americana" brings original twists to old-timey country-based themes. It is a knockout. This guy can play. How does he make his fingers go that fast and smooth? In SEVEN DAYS magazine gave him the Best Musician of 2004 Award. Also, in 2004, he worked with Patti Casey in producing an album of old standard that Patti sings to his accompaniement entitled "Just an Old Sweet Song." From blues, to standards, to jazz, to folk. This man is a wizard on the guitar. To find out more about him check out www.paulasbell.com And see him at The Music Box!
Sat Sept 16	Wind That Shakes the Barley	This group is a favorite all around Vermont for their traditional style of singing and playing tunes from the Celtic tradition, the Maritime provinces, New England traditional music and their own original tunes written in the style of the old time music they play. The band includes Steve Brittain on Scottish small pipes, low whistle and Bodhran (with a weebit 'o storytelling thrown in), Bob Smith on Concertina and bodhran, RachelClark playing flute and whistles, and Bob Demarco with the bouzouki, fiddleand guitar. They have a number of CDs and have played at many festivals throughout the Eastern US. This group always brings joy to your heart. They all live in Vermont but have travelled near and far playing their music. Their music will go from a storytelling ballad, to a fiery jig, to one of Bob Smith's sea shanties. They will keep your feet dancing and your heart singing.
Sat August 19	CAIM	CAIM is Scotland's Heather Innes and Ireland's Jacynth Hamill. They sing together as an acapella Celtic duo, occaisionally accompanied by the Irish drum called the Bodhran. Their first album was entitled "Caim, Sung Prayers in the Celtic Tradition: based on the books of Canon David Adam, former vicar of Lindisfarne. It features Celtic prayers, original and ancient, set to the music of traditional Irish airs and pieces especially composed for the Album. Their album, "The Land I Call My Home," is aScottish and Irish folk album recorded during Caim's tours of Canada, Australia and the US. "Creators of the Tides" features Celtic songs and prayers on a 'sea' theme. "New Life From Ruins" is a Zen/Celtic blend of shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo)flute pieces and prayers. "Caim Ceilidh" gives the flavour of a Celtic house ceilidh and features Caim singes songs in English, Irish gaelic and Scots Gaelic, a capella and with Celtic harpist Thomas Loefike. Hearing them at The Music Box is like coming to a Ceilidh here in the Northeast Kingdom. Don't miss this special event. They only come to the States every few years! Find out more about them at www.musicinscotland.com/ClunieMusic/caim.htm
Sat July 15th	The Will Patton Quartet	Will Patton is one of the best known jazz mandolin players in Vermont.He has been playing music since starting piano lessons at 6 years old. Hehas been playing music all over the world: New York, Philidelphia, LosAngeles, Montreal, Paris and Rio De Janeiro playing rock and roll, folk,bluegrass, Brazilian music and jazz. His bands have opened for Van Morrison, Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt, EarlScruggs, Maynard Ferguson, John McLaughlin and Toots Thielemans. He hasperformed with jazz pianist Mose Allison and recorded with fluegelhornistValery Ponomarov of Art Blakley's Jazz Messengers. For the last ten years he has been concentrating on extending the roleof the mandolin in jazz and Brazilian contexts. As the same time he hasalways been attracted to the romantic sound of the Gypsy jazz traditiontypified by Django Reinhardt. He has numerous recordings. He will be joined by Anna Patton on clarinet, Dan Schadner and David Gusakov on violin. David's career has seenhim doing classical music with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra to bluegrasswith Pine Island and Banjo Dan and the Midnite Plowboys. You can find out lots more about Will Patton at his website: www.wpatton.com
Fri June 30	Erica Wheeler	Erica Wheeler is an award-winning songwriter based in Western Massachusetts. She has been a nationally touring artist for over a decadeand has four critically acclaimed releases to her credit. She has beenfeatured on NPR's All Things Considered, WXPN's World Cafe. She has sharedthe stage with Shawn Colvin, the Indigo Girls, Greg Brown and many others. With a voice that echoes with a little bit folk, a little bit new country and a little bit bluegrass, her music is an imaginative and ultimately unforgettable ride through the beauty of the American landscapeand the lives lived there. On stage she is fun and funny. You will like her music. She has been one of my favorite singer-songwriters and I am excited to have her at The Music Box. She has anumber of CDs and her music is played on VPR. You can find out more about her at www.ericawheeler.com
Sat. June 17	Staber and Chasnoff $8 at 8 pm	Dick Staber, that is, with his fantastically fast fingers on the mandolin, and Judith Staber who plays guitar, produce a pure mountain sound reminiscent of the Monroe Brothers. Judith began playing guitar as a teenager during the folk boom era. She studied voice at the High School of Music and Art in New York City. Dick took up the mandolin in 1964. He has played with Del McCoury, Don Stover and Bob Paisley. He has contributed to many albums and has 3 solo albums to his credit. Staber and Chasnoff have 3 recordings together containing a generous mix of original and traditional songs, as well as a few carefully selected covers. They have toured Europe twice and were proud to represent the USA at the 2004 European World of Bluegrass festivals and concerts. Check out their website at www.staberandchasnoff.com
Sat. May 13	Marty Morrissey and Robert Resnik	Two of Vermont's best known folk singers, Marty Morrissey and Robert Resnik will bring to stories and songs of old Vermont. Robert is well known by the folk music community as the host of All The Traditions, the Sunday Folk Music Program on Vermont Public Radio. He also plays MANY instruments: guitar, accordion, clarinet (his is blue!). Marty also is master of music having been a long time member of the Highland Weavers (along with Robert). The two have just put out a new CD called OLD AND NEW VERMONT SONGS. The recording takes you on an informal history of Vermont. These two musicians are veteran storytellers. So the evening will make you feel like you have returned to the old days of kitchen junkets, and music at your neighbors. And, as many of you are acquainted with the intimate atmosphere of The Music Box, this is a venue conducive to their show. So come for a trip through Vermont history by music.
May 2005	Artie Traum and Lafe Dutton Saturday, May 28	Artie Traum has been making music for over 35 years. He has recorded over 20 albums with Sony, Capitol, Shanachie, Narada and Rounder. He started with folk and now is an acclaimed acoustic jazz guitarist. He is touring the US representing Taylor guitars. Lafe has been a rover and a label exec for Warner/Electra/Atlantic Records. He now lives in Montpelier and plays his own wonderful music.
June 2005	June 18, Saturday, 8 pm Atlantic Crossing	Atlantic Crossing performs songs and instrumental music of New England, Quebec, Maritime Canada, the British Isles, as well as original material inspired by these musical arrangements. They have performed at numerous festivals and concert series. They have been featured on Vermont Public Radio and have toured throughout the US and England. They also are a high energy contra dance band and have performed at major dance series in Boston, Washington DC and Seattle. They are in the register of Juried Artists of the Vermont Arts Council, a selection of Vermont's best artists. They have produced 3 CDs. Pam Poulston of Burlington's Seven Days, news and arts weekly, says,"Like a fine wine, Atlantic Crossing's take on tradition is a taste worth acquiring."
July 2005	July 8, 8pm, Jim Daniels and Jim McGiniss	This acoustic duo plays music influenced strongly by "Old Time" music from the Appalachian Mountains, with Jim McGinniss on fiddle, Jim Daniels on banjo and guitar,(both are accomplished singers). Drawing mainly from American string band music and bluegrass as a template for their interpretations, the group also performs original compositions with an eye on musical values that inhere in these traditions. The repertoire spans more than several generations, ranging from Celtic and Afro-American fiddle tunes, to selections by Bill Monroe, Kenny Baker, Clarence Ashley, Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, Michael Hurley, Leonard Cohen, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.
August 2005	Thursday, August 11, 8 pm $10 The Rose Tattoo with Rik Palieri	The Rose Tattoo gave an unforgettable concert at The Music Box 3 years ago. These are people who make folk music. They are folk. All but Rik are from the West, but all of them have a rose tattoo somewhere secretly on their bodies! They sing of the rails. Of the West. They've lived the life of the rails. They will be playing at the Champlain Valley Folk Festival this year. They will tell you stories and take you back in time. This is the living folk process. This the group that the legendary Utah Philips often sang with. I had such a great time when they came here the last time- even though that time it was in July and the hottest day of the summer! I hope that August will be cooler for us, but the music will still be hot! Reservations suggested!
September 2005	Spencer Lewis at the Music Box on Sat. Sept. 17	Lewis Spencer, well-known Vermont, singer, songwriter, guitarist and fiddler, will bring his own brand of music to The Music Box in Craftsbury on Sat, Sept. 17 at 8 pm. Lewis was born and raised in New York City and struggled with classical violin as a child. He first picked up a guitar when he was 13 and was drawn to traditional, Appalachian-style picking. After high school he ambled up to Vermont, where his parents had connections in Wilmington, a ski town full of bars. Well-versed in the mainstream folk artists Lewis was able to find steady work. A couple of years of that was enough. He decided he wanted to see the "real" Vermont and headed up to Waterville where he lived for 10 years logging with a draft horse and getting to know the local people. He reflects that the move saved his own music since he no longer had to get a job playing in a bar 5 nights out of 7. Instead, he concentrated on his own sound. Now after many recordings, and having his tunes played on Public TV, Spencer is spreading that sound. He augments his music living by doing stone masonry. He now lives in Bethel. "The main key is learning to do with what you have," he says. "I know there's guitar players and violinists who can do circles around me, but it's all in how you put it together that makes something work." And make it work, he does.
October 2005	October 15 Karen McFeeters Trio	Karen is returning to The Music Box since her last appearance a couple of years ago Karen has released her second CD entitled MAYBE DAY which I love and is even better than her first CD which was chosen as one of the top ten releases in Vermont in 2002.      The trio consists of Karen playing either keyboards, guitar and a bass player (Craig Anderson and John Gibbons). The trio has played for Burlington First Night. She writes catchy songs you will hum as you hear them, and covers a few songs with her own arrangements. By day she is a medial speech and language pathologist specializing in voice therapy and lives in St Albans. Her own voice can hit the high notes of Joni Mitchell.      Steve Lemcke of THE BURLILNGTON FREE PRESS says, "One of the prettiest voices to emerge from the folk singer/songwriter clique in some time....among the ranks of the creme de la creme of local songstesses." You will be sure to like her as I do.
November 2005	Nov.12 The Mud City Ramblers	High energy bluegrass with Neal Dean on mandolin and fiddle, Luke Auriemmo on banjo, Chris Lyons on guitar and with Fran Forim on upright bass. They have been playing all around at bluegrass festivals in Vermont and New Hampshire. They played at the Rattling Brook Bluegrass Festival in Belvidere this past summer. They are, indeed, from Mud City (a map site above Morrisville), though Fran lives on Mud Island Road in Glover.
Dexcember 2005	Dec. 2 Dana and Susan Robinson	Dana, a former resident of the Northeast Kingdom, returns again with Susan, now his wife and musical partner. Adding Susan to Dana's already incredible musical talent, results in a terrific night of a mixture of traditional and original music with Dana on guitar, fiddle, mandolin and fiddle along with Susan on Banjo. Check out their website at www.robinsongs.com
Jan 2006	Jan 14 Rebecca Padula with Mitch Barron	Rebecca is a singer's singer/songwriter who performs new folk, jazz and blues with a New England sensibility that includes some political tunes about the environment and spoofs on the tourism economy. By day she works in public access television and is the producer/director of The Instant Coffeehouse. She will be joined by Mitch Barron on both electric and upright bass. Mitch is getting to be a regular at The Music Box. He was last spotted here with Karen McFeeters and will be playing next month also. Check out www.rebeccapadula.com
Feb 2006	Feb 11 Richard Ruane and Friends: Beth DuQuette and Mitch Barron	Richard runs the Ripton Community Coffeehouse and is a great singer/songwriter himself. So good, in fact, that he was a 2005 finalist at the Kerrville (Texas) New Folk competition. That festival has become THE place for songwriters to meet and to play and to get recognition. He was also a 2005 finalist for the Great Waters Folkj Festival Songwriting Contest and a 2004 finalist for the SolarFest Songwriter Showcase competition. His music has been described as well-crafted, soulful, rootsy, haunting and intelligently infectious. What more could you want? Beth Duquette with harmonies and vocals and Mitch Barron on Bass (electric and upright). Check out www.richardruane.com
March 2006	March 18 Pete and Karen Sutherland	Pete has been described as "Practically the most musical person you may ever meet" by the Champlain Valley Folk Festival. He is a legend in Vermont. A fiddler. Guitarist. Songwriter. He has also produced MANY recordings for people all over New England. Look at those credits and don't be surprised to find Pete Sutherland there as producer and/or musician."If I were mixing an album, I'd get Pete Sutherland's ears," says SING OUT! magazine. His wife, Karen, is well known both as a folk singer and as a singer of classics. In addition to her very active performing career in the folk world, she has researched, collected, transcribed and performed songs native to several rural communities in North Americ.. She has performed with many groups in the US and abroad, including the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and the Pitten International Music Festival in Austria. This duo will bring their extraordinary voices, musical talent and knowledge to The Music Box. It is a show you will really not want to miss. I have been wanting to get Pete and Karen here for ages. And now the time has come! Check out their website: www.epactmusic.com
April 2006	April 15 Rick Ceballos	Rick Ceballos will bring you an evening of traditional and original music played on banjo, concertina and button accordion. He is often seen around Vermont playing with other musicians as back-up. He has a rich voice and sings many traditional songs. He also plays many lively instrumentals. His songs range from the whimsical to the sweet to the ones that get your feet stomping.
May 2006