Performers
Academy
Hilltones
South Church 4 pm
St. Johnsbury Academy’s select mixed a cappella vocal group
known as the Hilltones sing a delightfully eclectic program ranging
from sacred to contemporary. Director Alan Rowe thinks of these
talented singers as the “Academy’s vocal
ambassadors” with their performances at schools, churches,
service clubs, and lodges, plus an annual appearance at the Vermont
Madrigal Festival in Burlington. In 2008 they are looking forward to an
appearance in St. Johnsbury on March 15 with Vermont’s
premier professional vocal ensemble Counterpoint. (Mark your
calendars.)
Academy
Jazz Band
South Church 5 pm
The 15-member Academy Jazz Band performs the classic and contemporary
jazz that wows audiences whenever they play. Director Alan Rowe
annually presents them at the International Association of Jazz
Educators music festival at the Flynn Theater in Burlington.
Pina Antonelli
South Church 6 and 7 pm
Pianist Pina Antonelli has received coast to coast recognition, having
performed in major concert halls both here and abroad. She has held
recitals aboard the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth II and been a guest of
royalty around the world.
Harold C. Schonberg, the Pulitzer Prize winner and retired senior music
critic of the New York Times, had this to say upon hearing Ms.
Antonelli play at his home: “The talented
Pina–Madonna face, ivory fingers, musical brain–has
phenomenal technique, great freedom and personality in her
style…and represents the Golden Era of playing.”
Ms. Antonelli's programs with their trademark crowd-pleasing
blockbusters leave her audiences on their feet in enraptured applause.
Come hear the music she can bring from the new Steinway grand at South
Church.
Avi & Celia
St. Johnsbury School 8 and 9 pm
Schooled in tradition but not afraid to blur boundaries, roots-rock
duet Avi & Celia are striking matches and catchin’
wind. Hip-bending, blue-tinged soul soars out of Celia’s
mouth to meld with Avi’s colorful guitar creations. Their
sound is delivered with the essence of rock ‘n roll and
rooted in the traditions of folk, bluegrass, and blues. Both
22-year-old native New Englanders, Avi & Celia are filled with
spirit, vision, and ambition. They were brought together through their
shared love for rusty soul singing and old folk tunes while studying at
the University of Vermont under the names Avi J. Salloway and Celia J.
Woods-Smith. After playing around campus for an overwhelmingly positive
following, the duo decided to hit the stage, and it’s been
history-in-the-making ever since. The duo’s poignant
performances and insightful sound have landed them high profile
appearances with such acts as Rock Hero, Leon Russell and the legendary
Big Brother & The Holding Company. Their album, ‘Off
the Floor,” prompted famed Vermont music venue Higher Ground
to name them Artist of the Month last March.
The Bob Amos
Band
North Church 7 and 8 pm
The Bob Amos Band presents an entertaining and eclectic mix of
folk-rock music, featuring great original material and the band's
repertoire ranges from rock to pop, from blues to Bluegrass, and from
Celtic to country. Singout! magazine has called Bob Amos “one
of the most consistently intelligent and interesting songwriters in
American music.” In addition to Bob's songs, the band will
also be playing some cover tunes from the likes of the Beatles, the
Byrds and Bob Marley, plus a few folksy sing-a-longs. The Bob Amos Band
features Bob on guitar, Sarah Amos on percussion, Nathan Amos on drums,
and Skip Gray is welcomed into the family on bass. Bob, Sarah, and Skip
share in the powerful harmony vocals.
Burke
Mountain
Bandits with Mike Fortier
Morse Center Theater 10 and 11 pm
The Burke Mountain Bandits will rock
your night with their unique style and arrangements of
country/rockabilly music. Featuring solid backbeats, smooth walking
bass licks, “Carl Perkins” style lead guitar,
strong rhythm acoustic guitar, smooth vocals, and a splash of fiddle
thrown in as they recreate a mixture of country, rock, rockabilly, and
honky-tonk tunes including Folsom Prison Blues, Chantilly Lace, Call Me
the Breeze, a little Elvis, and a lot of Hank. It’s
refreshing, fun, foot-stomping, hand-clapping music. Featuring award
winning, National Fiddlers’ Hall Of Fame fiddler and
recording artist, Scott Campbell, Mike Gosselin on drums, and lead
singer Mike Fortier.
Catamount Jazz Ensemble
South Church 10 and 11 pm
The Catamount Jazz Ensemble comes with various musicians in different
combinations. The First Night version features founder and mainstay
Barry Sahagian on bass, Coleman Bartels on drums, and Alex Wolston on
trumpet playing a contemporary cutting edge jazz rock fusion featuring
Barry's original compositions. Composer Barry Sahagian has over 40
years of professional experience and has written and published over 30
music books and CDs, including four CD's of original music. He attended
Boston’s Berklee College of Music and toured the eastern
seaboard and Canada in the 70's and 80's. Barry produces and hosts the
"Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon" series at the Catamount Arts. Coleman
Bartels started playing drums at age five and by the time he graduated
high school he had been drummer for the Barbary Coast Jazz Ensemble at
Dartmouth College and the top jazz musician in the New Hampshire
All-State Festival. He is currently in one of the most competitive
college jazz programs in the world at the Manhatten School of Music in
New York City. and was featured Alex Wolston is a local jazz musician
who is now studying full time at Johnson College and has already
recorded a CD with Steve Blair, a professor of music at the college,
and appeared at numerous gigs on the Burlington Jazz Scene. Both Alex
and Coleman were featured at a “Young Jazz Lions”
concert here this fall. If you missed them the first time, do not let
it happen again.
Contra Dance
with
The Quadrilles
St. Johnsbury Community Center (Rec Dept) 8:00
– 10:00 pm
Doug Bergstein will call the moves as The Quadrilles play the music and
the lines of dancers move up and down the hall. All the rage in 1800
and still immensely popular, Ccontra dancing is a form of American folk
dance where by the end of the evening you are likely to have danced
with everyone. Many of the basic moves in contra dancing are similar to
those in square dancing, except the dancers form a set of two parallel
lines which run the length of the hall. Anyone can contra dance; each
dance is taught by the expert caller before it is danced, who continues
to prompt the dancers as needed. Both beginning and experienced dancers
happily share the same set. Your feet are never asked to do more than
walk to the music. When he’s not teaching school or acting in
the theater, Doug Bergstein has been calling dances around the world
for the past 20 years. The Quadrilles–David Carpenter,
fiddle; Rick Commo, piano; and Madonna Commo, percussion–play
joyful music to keep you dancing long after the final notes have
disappeared into the night air. For almost two decades David Carpenter
has been the fiddler-in-residence at Maple Grove Farms where he has
entertained leaf peepers from around the world with Vermont fiddle
tunes and stories about sugaring. David plays for various dance groups
and has toured Europe and Asia. Rick is a well-known piano accompanist
in demand for any type of fiddling event, who has also fronted for many
famous musicians including Charlie Daniels, Ronnie Milsap and Dick
Curtis. Madonna can not only play the drums, piano, guitar, bass and
fiddle, but she is also an outstanding singer, who has fronted for
recording artists who include Crystal Gail, Johnny Hartford and Grandpa
Jones. Note: No street shows or boots will be allowed on the gym floor.
Bring clean soft soled shoes or sneakers for dancing or dance in your
stocking feet.
Country
Corner
Squares
St. Johnsbury Community Center (Rec Dept)s 6 - 7:30 pm
Do-si-do and allemande and grand-right-left and promenade and all those
happy Western Square Dance moves are demonstrated by the Country Corner
Squares. They welcome you to join in the fun. Come as a couple or
alone; partners are provided as needed. All the moves are taught by the
caller Barbara Connelly and friendly veteran dancers. All you really
need is a smile. But you don’t even need to bring that;
you’ll find a smile on your face before you know it. You just
won’t be able to help yourself. Note: No street shows or
boots will be allowed on the gym floor. Bring clean soft soled shoes or
sneakers for dancing or dance in your stocking feet.
Donahue
Family
Singers
Grace Church 8 pm
A last-minute addition, these three siblings performed two songs at
First Night 2007 that brought a stunned audience to their feet in
appreciation. Samantha, Sean, and Sarah Donahue–ages 13, 14,
and 15–offer a selection of sacred and inspirational songs.
Home-schooled in Stark, NH, the Donahue children are known for their
beautifully pure unison soprano and haunting harmonies. They were
featured performers at this year’s popular Fryburg Fair.
Family Fun
Fare
Academy Fieldhouse 4 - 8:30 pm
Children from toddlers to teens are invited to pop in for all the fun
as St. Johnsbury Academy's Community of Concern turns the Fieldhouse
into Family Fun Fare. And we do mean “pop-in.” Part
of the floor will be covered with bubble wrap making for a popping good
time as children head to the giant inflated obstacle course or the
bouncy Moon Walk. There’ll be balloon animals, hat-making,
and face-painting. The Youth Advisory Council will be on hand with fun
games that teach safe living. And who can tell what other delightfully
delicious entertainment "fare" kids might gobble up? So bring them to
the Fare! It's only fair!
Gopher Broke
North Church 10 and 11 pm
Drawing heavily upon the material and spirit of the early Bluegrass
pioneers such as Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers, Gopher Broke is
a traditional Bluegrass band whose soaring harmonies, interesting
arrangements, and “tear ‘em up”
instrumentals have made them one of the most popular acts in the
Northeast festival circuit. Gary Darling plays the mandolin in the Bill
Monroe style with lots of power and attack, keeping the band firmly
rooted in the traditional Bluegrass mode. Steve Wright is a huge Ralph
Stanley fan, and his banjo picking reflect the Stanley sound: clean,
bright, and with lots of drive. Steve also writes much of the
band’s original material. Chris Cruger pushes the band along
rhythmically on his mid-50’s Kay bass. Guitarist Seth
Sawyer’s fine cross-picking rounds out the sound of Gopher
Broke. He is one of the finest songwriters in New England, with some
his tunes recorded by the Gibson Brothers and the Warrior River Boys.
Come hear how these four talented singers and instrumentalists make
Bluegrass stand proud and tall in the North Country.
Graham Highlanders
and Scottish Highland Dancers
St. Johnsbury School 7 pm
The St. Johnsbury Academy's Celtic Arts program is the only high
school-based, pipe band initiative in New England. The band wears the
Graham of Montrose tartan and the Clan Graham armorial device on their
glengarries (ceremonial caps) in honor of Graham Newell, a third
generation descendant of 19th century Scottish immigrants to Peacham
and an early inspiration and namesake for the band. Since its formation
in 1998, the band has performed at Highland games and hundreds of
another events, including the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow,
Scotland, where they were the highest rated American band. With nearly
four decades of piping and pipe band experience, Derek Davidson leads
the band in their award-winning bagpipe and drum repertoire. Drum major
Andrew Adams is lead drummer for both the Dartmouth College Marching
Band and Montpelier’s Catamount Pipe Band. The Scottish
Highland dancing contingent is led by Heather Lanzetta-Morris.
Alan Greenleaf and
The Doctor
Universalist Unitarian Congregation 7 and 9 pm
Alan Greenleaf is a Vermont singer/songwriter and guitarist who has
teamed up with "The
Doctor"[a.k.a. Jonathan Kaplan] on the keyboards to form a duo that
leans heavily on the rhythmic side of Alans' music. Many of
Alan’s trademark ballads about life in these parts still find
their way into the repertoire, along with an occasional classic Blues
song and a "Grateful Dead" number from the Doctor. In addition to many
night spots across northern New England, Alan Greenleaf and the Doctor
were the featured performers at Brattleboro’s "Strolling of
the Heifers" Parade.
Gypsy Caravan
Catamount Arts 4, 8 and 10 pm
The Buena Vista Social Club of gypsy
music, Gypsy Caravan is a dazzling display of the musical world of the
Roma. Five bands from four countries unite for the World Music
Institute’s Gypsy Caravan, a 6-week concert tour across North
America and Europe where the musicians astound every audience they
meet. Their musical styles range from flamenco to brass band, from
Romanian violin and Indian folk to Raga and jazz. And with fire in
their bellies and soul in their voices, they present an explosion of
song and dance that celebrates the best of Gypsy music and the
diversity of the Romani people. “Rippling with joy, brilliant
colors, lavish costumes and vivacious musical numbers.”
Seattle Weekly
High Voltage
Street Breakz Show
Academy Gym 5, 6 and 7 pm
It isn’t hard to pick out Al Fuentes’ High Voltage
Extreme Acrobatic Dance Team. Their unique combination of high energy,
extreme acrobatic moves, and breath-taking stunts, all choreographed to
the strong rhythmic beats of contemporary music, is thrilling audiences
all across America. Al Fuentes embraced the B-Boy style of dancing
early in his life. He found it to be a positive alternative to other
forms of recreation and life in the East-Chicago suburbs. Sticking to
what he loved, Al has devoted his career to perfecting the art of
B-Boying. Assembling top dancers from around the world, his High
Voltage team epitomizes the “work hard” and
“do-what-you-love” ethic. High Voltage performs
amazing street dancing, acrobatic flips, and the raw humor of the
street that is entertaining for both young and old. Reminiscent of the
“hitting type shows” you would find in any inner
city where the performers try to dazzle you for money, High
Voltage’s shows will leave you wanting more. Their talent and
interesting personalities gathers huge crowds and make magic in every
performance. Performing regularly at Universal Studios and Disney
World, Al Fuentes’ High Voltage has also been showcased on
the Jenny Jones and Ellen Degeneres shows. Whether HV dancers are
featured in videos with Jennifer Lopez and Fergie or performing in Epic
Movie as breakdancing pirates, they are always accessible to their
number-one fans – you.
Josh Huntsberry
North Church 6 and 9 pm
Josh Huntsberry is a 19-year old mountain of talent. His intimate,
bluesy voice, artful guitar work and formidable songwriting talents all
point to a very bright and exciting future for this young performer.
Josh's debut CD, which is receiving rave reviews, is full of memorable
melodies, clever turns of phrase and catchy guitar riffs. First Night
will mark this Virginia native's first concert in the Green Mountain
State.
Karaoke!
Kingdom Recovery Center and Academy Common Ground
Café 7 pm on
r those who want to make their own music and sing along to karaoke
back-ups, there are two venues for you to show your stuff. You are
welcome to a First Night stage in the intimacy of the
Academy’s “coffee house” in Streeter Hall
with DJ Rick Wold. The staff and friends of the Kingdom Recovery Center
at the corner of Central and Summer Streets also offer karaoke this
year, plus “Open Mic” entertainment and poetry
reading. Hot cider, coffee, and cookies will be served.
King of Silly
Morse Center Theater 6 and 8 pm
Who would guess that a radio news director’s alter ego would
be the “King of Silly”? Lyndonville’s
Todd Wellington is royally funny on his unicycle throne where he holds
court as his own juggling jester. The King of Silly keeps it all, well,
silly. His unique blend of juggling, unicycling, balloons, magic and
physical comedy are all silly, silly, silly. There's Charlie
Chaplin-esque clowning for the little kids and wild unicycling for the
older kids, and adults love it all. The show is all tied together with
a sound track consisting of classic big-band swing, ragtime, jazz, and
Latin dance music. He’s been called "the perfect combination
of talent and ha-ha..."
Todd Wellington, the Professional Silly Person, has been a fixture on
the New England family entertainment scene since 1988. He is also the
critically acclaimed author of "The Big Book of Silly." And he is
highly regarded as the only person in the world to attempt the
death-defying act of sitting on his own head 314 times in a row,
eclipsing the mark set by his low-toned 2nd cousin Marlon. His
performance credits include Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox, so what
more do you need to know? This guy sure keeps world champion company!
Kingdom County
Comic Theater
Catamount Arts 6 and 7 pm
Teens and adults are again invited to enjoy the original sketch comedy
and improvisation a troupe of local young people directed by the
Kingdom’s own movie mogul, Jay Craven. Kingdom County Comic
Theater’s bold material mimics the style of Monty Python,
Duck’s Breath Mystery Theater, and Saturday Night Live.
Ted
Lawrence’s Mini-Circus
Fuller Hall 7 and 9 pm
Ted Lawrence the well-known Upper Valley performer, educator and
all-around circus funny guy brings his Mini-Circus to First Night.
Certified to teach chemistry, physics and math upon his graduation from
the University of Vermont, Lawrence set the stability of teaching aside
to travel the world for a year clowning with the Ringling
Brothers’ Circus.
Almost 17 years later, Lawrence runs his popular annual Van Lodostov
Family Circus camps each summer, and he’s in big demand as a
performer with his one-man mini-circus throughout the Northeast.
Lawrence believes that children worldwide are entitled to the same
basic rights, few more important than education and happiness
— the second of which, he stresses, can often be best
achieved through the simple act of laughter. To those ends he traveled
to war-torn Afghanistan to teach circus skills to Afghan children.
Lawrence was only the second American to participate in the nonprofit
Danish group Mobile Mini Circus for Children’s ongoing
mission to restore a part of the culture and art that was extinguished
during the rule of the Taliban during 23 years of war. A
dyed-in-the-wool champion of the downtrodden, Lawrence did a similar
cultural exchange stint in Russia at the end of the Cold War,
“a phenomenal experience,” he says emphatically,
“a great adventure.”
And this clown couldn’t be happier. Come see his show and let
Ted Lawrence make you happy, too.
Steven Richard
Lindholm
Morse Center Theater 5 and 7 pm
An award winning singer and storyteller, Steven Richard Lindholm
delights audiences with his fun-filled and festive, family oriented
performances. His songs and stories are brimming with humor, with and
an engaging cast of original characters. Young and old alike find
something to dream, dance, clap, laugh, giggle, wiggle, hop, jump,
skip, and sing about! Steve knows the importance of engaging children
stimulating their imagination through appealing songs and skits.
Accompanying himself on guitar and banjo, Steve encourages children to
use their imaginations to deepen their thoughts and to help them
understand the world around them. Believing the only limits are those
we put on ourselves, he loves to show children that opportunities are
all around them to follow their dreams.
Willem Lange
Grace Church 10 pm
Vintage North Country stories from one of the most beloved storytellers
in northern New England. Willem Lange also sings, but promises only two
or three songs in this set. Best known in these parts as a commentator
for Vermont Public Radio and a host both Vermont and New Hampshire
Public Television, Will’s stories come from the rich mix of
his life as former director the Dartmouth Outward Bound Center, a
building and remodeling contractor, and founder of the Geriatric
Adventure Society. These outdoor enthusiasts have skied the 200-mile
Alaska Marathon, climbed in Alaska, the Andes, and Himalayas,
bushwhacked on skis through northern New England, and paddled rivers
north of the Arctic Circle. He also writes a weekly column,
“A Yankee Notebook,” which appears in several New
England newspapers and his annual readings of Charles Dickens'
“A Christmas Carol” continue unabated. He's an
adopted member of the Dartmouth Class of 1957. After forty years in New
Hampshire, he recently moved to Vermont.
The Manix
Academy Gym 10 – 11:45 pm
The Manix areis a high powered and
divinely witty rock band from the green hills of Vermont. This band of
St. Johnsbury Academy students is led by lead singer, songwriter, and
lead guitarist Mark Nolan, whose rhythmic rantings are complemented by
the booming bass of Nate Amos and the melodic rhythm guitar of Cody
Marston, all topped off with a delectable dollop of drums from Nick
Gallerani. Winners of the prestigious Battle of the Bands at Higher
Ground Music in Burlington this past summer, The Manix will definitely
make you want to get up and dance.
Marko, Master
Magician
Fuller Hall 8 pm
He entered life as Mark Gagnon but at age nine he was starting to
presto-change himself into Marko. Since then he has performed
extensively in North America and around the world and in over 25 years
of trickery has earned a reputation as “one of the
country’s best magicians.” Add Marko’s
sharp as a tack wit to his unbelievable illusions and you have a
performance that is as amusing as it is amazing.
Marko, Master
Hypnotist
Fuller Hall 10 pm
For his biggest trick of the evening, Marko changes a sizable portion
his audience into hilarious performers. A certified National Guild
master hypnotist, Marko studied under the world renowned Ormond McGill
from whom he learned how to get people to make fun without making fun
of people. So don’t hesitate to be put under
Marko’s spell; he promises not to embarrass you or
compromised. Marko knows that you are the star of his shows and he will
make you shine!
Masceo
St. Andrew’s Church 7 and 9 pm
Yes, that’s his name. Prounounced MAY-SEE-O. Masceo Williams,
actually, but what really counts is that he’s a
singer-songwriter with a
funky mix of modern rock built on the foundation of solid musical skill
and emotionally inspiring lyrics. He might also throw in few favorite
cover tunes. Starting out on the West Coast, Masceo’s musical
journey across the United States took him to open mikes in many places
and the creation of several bands. Now he has landed in New Hampshire,
where right off he met inspiring people and the music he was writing
and thinking about was improving far beyond what he could imagine.
Catch what he has come up with in his solo acoustic act.
Nobby Reed Project
St. Johnsbury School 10 and 11 pm
Nobby Reed has always been about playing the guitar. Like so many
others of his generation, he picked up
the instrument during his early years in a magical time when some of
the world's greatest electric guitarists were making their presence
known. But Nobby was different. He didn't just pick up the guitar; the
guitar became part of him, and Nobby played the blues. He learned how
to make the guitar do the talking, how to make it sing, how to make it
cry from the depths of his soul and rejoice with the angels. This man
can sweep an audience away to another place with his guitar playing
alone.
Nobby Reed hit the road with his own band and the Nobby Reed Project
was born. Drummer Eric Belrose has been with the Project since the
beginning. Bassist Ray Bushey joined in later and Belrose and Bushey
became one of the tightest and most powerful rhythm sections you are
ever likely to hear.
No Strings
Marionette Co.
St. Johnsbury School 4 and 5 pm
Welcome to the mysterious and magical
world of marionettes as they journey through the lavish settings and
enchanting stories into a world of imagination, enlightenment and
laughter. The No Strings Marionette Company brings the
company’s original production of “Jack and the
Beanstalk.” Come join these intriguing puppets as they retell
this well-loved tale with all the magic and mischief their marionettes
can muster! The stage is hardly big enough to contain fifteen lovingly
hand-crafted marionettes, let alone one ravenous, rummaging Giant. A
sense of adventure, optimism, and three magic beans catapult Jack high
into the sky where his destiny awaits. You'll thrill to the unexpected
twists in this exciting production, which is tremendously suitable for
people of all ages. This timeless art form engages young and old alike
in virtual reality the old fashioned way–LIVE! With puppets!
Puppeteers Dan Baginski and Barbara Paulson masterfully manipulate rod,
string and control to animate their figures, channeling thought into
gesture, transforming wood into being. The No Strings Marionette
Company invites you to the wonders of traditional puppet theatre by
performing in full view of their audience.
Not the Best
Universalist Unitarian Congregation 6 and 8 pm
One wintry evening, three friends were making music around the
woodstove in a cabin in the hills of Vermont. When it came time to
think up a name, they decided that having fun was much more important
to them than being perceived as anything fancy and from that day
forward they have been known as Not The Best. They continue to have a
lot of fun playing an eclectic blend of music from old time,
toe-tapping fiddle tunes, to bluegrass and folk, with even a little bit
of country thrown in, blending their multi-instrumental talents with
their beautiful harmonies and entertaining a wide variety of audiences
through the obvious delight they themselves derive from the music. Paul
Amey on fiddle, mandolin, guitar and vocals, will occasionally, if
prodded enough, even tell a story or two. Tom Bishop plays old-time
banjo, big bass fiddle, harmonica and baritone vocals. Samantha Fixter
finger-picks her guitar, and plays big bass fiddle, hammer dulcimer and
sings. Not the Best? You be the judge.
Point of View
Morse Center Theater 9 pm
They’re two St. Johnsbury Academy students who have been
getting to play guitar and sing whenever they have some down time. This
fall they decided it was time to give their act a name and came up with
Point of View. And the point of view of their music is a unique
alternative folk style. Zach Ummer has performed in the Colgate Country
Showdown for the last five years and has just started to perform and
promote his own music. Jake Machell has been playing guitar and writing
songs since he was able, both with garage bands and on his own. They
both are looking to college with an eye to some aspect of the music
business as their future careers.
Planetarium Show
Fairbanks Museum 6, 7, 8 and 9 pm
The stars will be out at this special New Year’s Eve
planetarium show called “Zodiac Nights.” Every
evening is clear and warm in the Rotary Planetarium at the Fairbanks
Museum. Relax under the stars and see an exciting view of the sky while
you learn some of the wonders of our solar system. Be forewarned,
seating capacity is only 45, so reserve a place by presenting your
First Night button at the Museum on or before New Year’s Eve.
Professor
Marvel’s Magic Show
Morse Center Theater 3 and 4 pm, St. Johnsbury School 6
pm
Bob Shelley, aka Professor Marvel, aka
“The Wizard of Ha’s,” earned his nickname
over 25 years of entertaining with comedy and magic, appearing on stage
and television across North America. Professor Marvel’s
ridiculously funny magic show has become the longest-running magic show
of its kind. A tribute to the grand old traveling shows of yesteryear,
complete with costumes of the 1890’s when salesmen hawked
their snake oil elixirs with claims of outrageous miracle cures.
Nowadays, the only thing Professor Marvel is selling is laughter.
It’s a fast-paced mix of comedy, magic, music, zany stunts
and visual gags—hilarious fun for the whole family. Professor
Marvel, has broken all attendance records at the Paramount Theater with
his shows at First Night Rutland's New Year's Eve celebration.
Prydein
Academy Gym 8 – 9:45 pm
Welsh for "Britain," Prydein is bagpipe rock to its fullest extent.
Prydein combines the music of the ancient Celts with the music of their
own native country to bring forth a new form of Bagpipe based
Celtic-Rock. Coupled with screaming guitars, a driving bass and the
funkalicious rhythm of the drums the great Scottish Highland pipe has
found its place. You don’t know what you’re missing
if you think the pipes should be played on some distant, foggy mountain
by some old guy in a kilt. Powered by columns of speakers pumping
scorching guitar, Prydein bridges the gap between the red-blooded
Celtic music of old with contemporary ska, rock, funk, hip hop as well
as more traditional stylings. With their amazingly high energy this
music is just what William “Braveheart” Wallace
would have listened to if he were around today! With Iain Mac Harg and
Hazen Metro on highland bagpipes, flute and tin whistle; Aron Garceau
on guitar; and Andy Smith on bass, Prydein makes music you can't just
hear anywhere, anytime. Be grateful that after their busy schedule of
summer festivals, they are getting out their pipes and drums out of
winter storage just for First Night St. Johnsbury.
Pumpkin Hill
Singers
Grace Church 9 pm
For over 30 years the Pumpkin Hill Singers have
delighted an ever increasing loyal following with their eclectic mix of
music from many times and places. With songs ranging from quiet to
quick, from classical to corny, from folk to formal, well, you could
say the Pumpkins really cover the field (but we won’t).
Director Susanne Terry and tenor and poet Steve Parker have paired up
in more ways than one (they are also married) to become a prolific song
writing team and have produced a variety of homegrown songs that tell
wistful and winsome stories of life in the hills of Vermont. Over the
years, the singers of Pumpkin Hill have changed, with only a couple of
charter members still in the group, but the signature four-part
harmonies have, if anything, grown sweeter with age. The
“Pumpkins” are accompanied by the guitar and
woodwinds of Ellen and Jeff Gold and the percussion of David Hare.
Ben Schwendener
Trio
South Church 8 and 9 pm
Ben Schwendener comes up from Boston with two musical colleagues to
play original high-energy music for jazz trio. Ben is a pianist,
composer, and educator who has been a part of the vital Boston music
scene since the early 1980's and is currently on the jazz faculties of
both New England Conservatory and Longy School of Music. As a
performer, Schwendener has appeared throughout the United States,
Europe and Japan with his group, as a sideman and solo pianist.
Percussionist Michael Calabrese holds the drum set chair in their Jazz
Orchestra and Jazz Composer’s Workshop Orchestra, while
completing his undergraduate degree at the New England Conservatory of
Music. He is comfortable playing many different styles of music
including jazz, avant-garde, rock, pop, hip-hop, ska, and Balkan music.
By the age of 19, he recorded with singer/songwriter Cheryl Engelhardt
and toured with her to major cities on both coasts. He has also played
for Lake Street Dive. As an avid and frequent performer at the
Conservatory, he has had the opportunity to share the stage with jazz
greats such as Roscoe Mitchell and Harvey Mason.
A busy Boston bassist and band leader, Bridget Kearney has
performed in festivals and clubs across the United States and abroad,
apprearing in Shanghai, China, with Jeremy Udden, at the Panama Jazz
Festival in Panama City with Carmen Staaf and with Richie Barshay and
throughout the United States with her touring bands, Lake Street Dive
and Joy Kills Sorrow. Lake Street Dive's "Sometimes When I'm Drunk and
You're Wearing My Favorite Shirt" was a winner in the John Lennon
Songwriting Contest.
As a special treat, dancer Shari Repasz will be interpreting several of the trio's songs.
St. Johnsbury
Afro-Caribbean Drum Ensemble
Grace Church 11 pm
As the local “conguera” playing and teaching
percussion, Linda Warnaar has been developing this dedicated group of
drumming aficionados for 12 years now. Originally getting together for
their own enjoyment and the spiritual companionship of drumming, they
have become an exciting performance group worthy of a much bigger
audience. They will welcome the New Year with the driving rhythms of
the Caribbean, including a couple of powerful Haitian chants.
St. Johnsbury
Ballet Studio
Fuller Hall 4 pm
Liliana Cubero Fernandez’s St. Johnsbury Ballet Studio and
her “Junior Company” returns to First Night St.
Johnsbury for the 14th time after a one-year hiatus. They perform a
veritable rainbow of colorful dances to a full spectrum of music
ranging from Latin salsa to classical by such composers by Vivaldi and
Bach. With a degree in dance from the National University of Costa
Rica, Liliana has taught for over 30 years. Six of her students have
gone on to study dance in college and five have become professional
dancers and/or teachers themselves. She has returned to her native
Costa Rica with her Junior Company several times to perform in a
cultural exchange with other dancers from Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Silent Movie
Classics with Robert K. Legon
Grace Church 3 pm – Cartoon Show 4 and 5 pm
–
Comic Shorts Films
were just “movies” before they also became
“talkies.” In the absence of a soundtrack the
bigger movie houses turned to the organ with its ability to mimic a
wide variety of orchestral sounds and put the emotion into the motion
and the drama into the drama on the screen. The nearly lost art of
improvising scores is being preserved by a handful of masters of the
theater organ. One such artist is Robert K. Legon who has traveled
throughout the Northeast from his Boston area home to demonstrate the
incredible versatility of “the king of
instruments,” in this case the modern digital sounds of the
highly versatile Rodgers organ of Grace United Methodist Church,
complete with their dual-screen movie projection system.
Slant Six Swing
Band
Streeter Hall Dining Room 7 – 9:45 pm
Lovers (and just good
friends) of swing music have a treat in store for them anytime they
avail themselves of the opportunity to enjoy the music of the Slant Six
Swing Band. This safe sextet features the effervescent yet sultry
vocalist Heidi 'The Sapphire of Bombay' Walsh; John 'Mr. Band' Young,
keyboards, sax, harmonica, children's toys, and vocals; Doug 'Have
Time, Will Fiddle' Reid, violin, vocals and assorted tolerable other
sounds; Lonny 'Perfesser' Gustafson, pedal-steel and 6-string guitars,
sax, trumpet, trombone, hambone, sweet potato, and vocals; Gary
'Where's The Fire?' Lotspeich, basso electrico et profundo; and Brett
'The Human Metronome' Hoffman on drums. Having honed their craft for
the past five years in area garages and home workshops, the Slant Six
Swing Band has established a broad and intriguing repertoire of jazz,
blues, big band, pop, and Western swing standards, adding its own
collective flavoring and interpretation. In other words, this Slant Six
won't stall on a cold evening. Come and find out for yourselves.
Swing dance lesson
Streeter Hall Dining Room 6 pm
Michelle Decker started
“Dancing with the Northeast Kingdom” and gives
ballroom and Latin dance lessons to the St. Johnsbury community. Come
learn basic East coast swing/jitterbug dancing and then
you’ll be all set to dance to the music of the Slant Six
Swing Band. Dancers are advised to bring sturdy and sensible shoes.
Thrive Dance
Company
Fuller Hall 5 and 6 pm
With young blood, extreme enthusiasm, and high ambitions, local dancers
Laurel Askren, Sarah Poekert, and Rebecca McGregor are moving together
as the Thrive Dance Company. With experience in ballet, modern, jazz,
and contact improvisation, these young women have come together to
bring quality dance to the Northeast Kingdom. The young dancers have
grown up always having dance in their lives and the desire to share
their knowledge and love of dance with others.
The three ladies have studied together intensively and toured various
seasons throughout Costa Rica. Also, Laurel and Sarah were invited to
bring their duet, Wanting to Find, to "Evolve", the Northampton Valley
Arts Project Dance Festival. Sarah Poekert dances in The Dance Theater
at Roger Williams University where she studies Dance Performance. Sarah
performed Martha Graham's Steps in the Street. Laurel Askren is
currently pursuing a BA in Dance at Hampshire College in Amherst,
Massachusetts. Rebecca McGregor is full-time dance instructor at Lyndon
Institute and the founder/coordinator of the Vermont State Dance
Festival. She was awarded the Youth Impact Award for her choreography
“All Roads Lead to One” and the Johnson State
College Rising Star Alumni Award. Rebecca is the Vermont coordinator
for a new tri-state project, “Extending the Dance
Map,” a project to prepare dancers to run dance residencies
in the classroom.
Bill Tobin
St. Andrew’s Church 6 and 8 pm
Bill Tobin on the harp makes the sweetest sound this side of, well, you
know, the place with all the beautiful harp music. After discovering
his mother’s Celtic harp, Bill Tobin learned to play so well
that he has since performed and delighted audiences across northern
Vermont and New Hampshire at hundreds of concerts, weddings and
celebrations. He has also won numerous awards in harp competition,
including the New England Scottish harp championship. Tobin plays his
own highly regarded contemporary compositions that range from ethereal
meditative pieces to lively jigs. His arrangements of well-known
classical and sacred music are equally appreciated. An outdoor
enthusiast, Bill’s music is often inspired by the peace and
joy that is found in nature.
Windrose
Grace Church 6 and 7 pm
One of the finest blends of voices in the
Northeast Kingdom, Windrose features the lush vocals of Becky Canedy,
Cathy Sargent, Pat Webster, and Mark Breen. Their wide range of song
styles, performed a cappella or with Breen’s guitar
accompaniment, moves easily from ballads to Broadway to blues. Their
unique choreography and prop comedy delight audiences. Whether you
enjoy their trademark renditions of 50’s doo-wop songs or
just want to see Mark Breen when his head is not in the clouds, come
see Windrose, one of First Night’s favorite
“perennials,” blooming beautifully as ever.
New
Year’s Fireworks Finale
Academy Gym Midnight, 2008
First Night revelers will gather in front of the Academy Gym to welcome
the New Year. This year’s First Night includes the
traditional raising of our big lighted ball at midnight to touch off a
spectacular light show by North Star Fireworks with a high-powered
soundtrack by Nek Sound. And maybe a few surprises at this town-wide
celebration of the New Year! Everyone is welcome! No button required!
