Upcoming Bluegrass Related Events

Their authentic songwriting, well-crafted arrangements and instrumental groove have thrilled audiences around the world. In 2017 they won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s prestigious Momentum Award, and earned IBMA nominations for Emerging Artist of the Year and Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year.

Every generation or so a young bluesman bursts onto the scene. Someone who sends a jolt through blues lovers. Someone who has mastered the craft for sure, but who also has the blues deep down in his heart and soul. At the age of 21, bluesman JONTAVIOUS WILLIS may be the one. “That’s my Wonderboy, the Wunderkind,” Taj Mahal said after inviting Jontavious to play on stage in 2015. “He’s a great new voice of the twenty-first century in the acoustic blues. I just love the way he plays.”

Sierra Hull, the singer, mandolinist and former child prodigy who signed with Rounder at age 13 and distinguished herself by becoming the first bluegrass musician to receive a Presidential Scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music, released 'Weighted Mind on January 29, 2016. Though she is best known for her work as a mandolin player, Hull reveals in these songs her abundant gifts as a composer and lyricist.

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present contemporary bluegrass and folk quartet The Stockwell Brothers at the Next Stage Cafe on Saturday, March 16 at 7:00 pm.  To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, JD McCliments Pub will offer an Irish dinner starting at 6:00 pm, while the Stockwells will explore the connections between folk/bluegrass music and the music of Ireland. Bruce, Barry, Alan and Kelly Stockwell's music spans traditional and progressive styles, but their trademark acoustic sound features new singer/songwriter material recast with banjo, alternative rhythms and three-part harmonies.  They cover straight ahead bluegrass songs, finger picked acoustic guitar ballads, full tilt breakdowns and traditional mandolin tunes mixed in with more unusual fare - Americana melodies riding world beat grooves and Celtic, jazzy, even neo-classical instrumentals. “Tasty arrangements; brotherly harmonies, perfectly blended instruments and great songs.” – Music Revue Featuring 2005 Merlefest bluegrass banjo contest winner Bruce Stockwell, The Stockwell Brothers have performed alongside artists from Bill Monroe, Doc Watson and Earl Scruggs to Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Jonathan Edwards and Asleep At The Wheel, recorded with Mike Auldridge and Phil Rosenthal of the bluegrass supergroup The Seldom Scene, and toured throughout the United States and in Canada and Europe.  As a trio, they have released two albums, Stobro and Leave My Dreams Alone. Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney, VT.  Admission is by a $10 suggested donation at the door.  Next Stage will provide a wine and beer cash bar.  For information, call 802-387-0102.  For more information, visit www.stockwellbrothers.com,  www.twilightmusic.org and www.nextstagearts.org.

Dervish have been bringing Irish traditional music to the world for more than 25 years. Described by the BBC as “an icon of Irish music”, the band have played at festivals from Rock in Rio to Glastonbury, toured with the Irish President and struck up tunes on the Great Wall of China. Dervish have a line-up which includes some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, fronted by one of the country’s best-known singers, Cathy Jordan.